For Educators

EGC Resources — Curriculum Standards

Kindergarten Standards SpreadsheetDownload
First Grade Standards SpreadsheetDownload
Second Grade Standards SpreadsheetDownload
Third Grade Standards SpreadsheetDownload
California Health and Nutrition StandardsDownload
Guide to Agricultural Education PracticesDownload
Outdoor Classrooms and Learning SpacesDownload

EGC Resources — Activities

Food Explorers Activity ListDownload
Word SearchesDownload
Fruit Fly Trap InfographicDownload

Scroll down to find resources for Curriculum, Professional Development, Assemblies & Guest Speakers, Field Trips, and Books for Educators.

Curriculum

The Edible Schoolyard Project – Free lesson planning sorted by grade level and program development resources.

Education Outside – K-5 science curriculum, instructional materials, lesson planning resources and best practices.

Growing Minds Lesson Plans – Free lesson planning and set curriculum sorted by grade level (P-12).

Junior Master Gardener – Hosted by Texas A&M Extension, this program contains extensive curriculum and educator resources for grades 3-12. Complete curriculum books are for a fee; blog and other resources are free.

KidsGardening.org Educator Resources page – Offers extensive selection of lesson plans, activity guidelines, book recommendations and other resources for curriculum development.

LifeLab.org Curriculum and Educational Support Tools – Curriculum and educational aids available for a fee.

Think Garden – Public television-produced video collection helps teach elementary students about the art and science of growing food, with an emphasis on biological and environmental concepts. It also addresses topics related to nutrition and economics.

Professional Development

The Edible Schoolyard Professional Development – Berkeley-based summer training session, plus options for custom professional development opportunities.

Master Gardeners School Garden Workshops – UC’s Master Gardener program provides educator training, as well as site-specific assistance in developing a school garden.

LifeLab.org Professional Development – Various professional development opportunities offered on-site or at LifeLab’s headquarters in Santa Cruz, CA. Services provided for a fee.

Assembly & Guest Speakers

Master Gardeners Request a Speaker Program – With at least 8 weeks of advance notice, UC Master Gardeners are available to come give a presentation on a variety of topics. Presentations are minimum 60 minutes to groups of at least 15 people.

Field Trips

The Heal Project – San Mateo County Farm (El Granada, CA) – Delivers farm-based, science backed lessons with hands-on learning to create an outdoor educational environment that fosters curiosity, a love of fresh food and respect for our natural world. For grades K-12.

LifeLab.org (Santa Cruz, CA) – Offers garden-based field trips for preschool through middle school students in the Garden Classroom on the UC Santa Cruz CASFS Farm.

Books

The Power of a Plant: A Teacher’s Odyssey to Grow Healthy Minds and Schools (Stephen Ritz & Suzie Boss, 2017) – Autobiographical book describing one teacher’s journey bringing gardening into a low-income urban school environment.

The Little Gardener: Helping Children Connect with the Natural World (Julie Cerny 2020)