Grades: preK-5th grade
Subjects: Math, Science, Language arts, Social studies, Music and Art
Class Duration: A series of five to six 1-hour sessions
Series cost: $300 with Extension instruction, or free if you teach it from the online curriculum

 

Students help Detective LePlant and his partners, Bud and Sprout, unlock the mysteries of plant life. The GPE provides lessons designed to introduce students to plant science and increase their understanding how foods grow. Activities enhance student's math, science, language arts, social studies, music and art.
 
Lessons include soils, photosynthesis, bulbs, what plants need to grow, plant reproduction and seeds. Hands-on activities can include growing lettuce in a bag, growing paper-white narcissus, making a seed viewer, making a plant monster called Plantenstein from different plant parts, after lunch gardening-growing plants from sweet potatoes, carrots, avocados, beets, turnips and pineapples, creating a soil map and worm composting. Check out Great Plant Escape website at www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe
 
 
Worm Composting

 

Grades: preK-12
Subjects: Biology, Geography, Nutrition, Ecology, Language arts (if the vast vermiculture reading list is assigned in the classroom), hands-on daily (M-F) lab of worm care
Class Duration: One 45 minute to 1-hour session
Cost: $75 includes one worm bin and one instruction session 

 
Students will learn about worm anatomy, reproduction, diet, environmental role and benefits of worms.   After short lesson, students will put together a worm bin that they can keep and care for in their classroom all school-year long.  Once your school has made the initial investment in a worm bin, you can continue using those worms as long as you continue to care for your bin. After one year, you can split the worms and start a second bin from scratch.  Wonderful, nutritious compost for your garden will result. Check out the Adventures of Herman the Worm website at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms
 
 
Insect Petting Zoo

Grades: preK-12
Subjects: Biology, Entomology 101, Ecology, Geography
Class Duration: One 45-60 minute session
Cost: $50

 
Students will learn about insects, their anatomy, life stages and function through hands-on, "touch and feel" interaction with Madagascar hissing cockroaches, giant millipedes, tarantula and any number of additional insects we have found in the garden that month. Check out the Let's Talk about Insects website at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/insects 
 
From the Garden to the Table

 

Grades:  preK-12
Subjects: Biology, Vocabulary, Health Promotion, Prevention and Treatment, Comprehension, Geography, Social Systems
Class Duration: One 45-60 minute session
Cost: $50
 
Students identify fruits and veggies, understand the plant family they come from, hear about each vegetable's health benefits and nutritive values.  A nutrition organizer guides children through many different kinds of plant-derived foods and uses including seeds, oils, nuts, vegetables and fruits.   The class also reviews how a plant is grown, and identifies the needs of a growing plant.   At the end of the lesson the teacher can decide to either plant their own vegetables to be grown in the classroom, or to prepare a healthy snack from just vegetables, dried fruits, seeds and nuts.
 
 
The Growing Connection- Earthbox Maintenance/Global Economy

 

Grades: PreK-12
See www.thegrowingconnection.org for start up costs

 

The Growing Connection is sponsored by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Students will learn how to grow nutritious vegetables in Earthboxes (www.earthbox.com). Chicago Growing Connection schools will be matched with a Master Gardener to help with programming and to provide technical assistance. Schools will have the opportunity to connect with a Growing Connection school in Ghana, Mexico or other less-developed countries. Students will connect through email and instant messaging, learning about each other's gardens, crops and cultures.

My First Garden

Grades: preK-12
Subjects: History, Math, Poetry and various Science subjects- ecology, biology
Class Duration: Six, 1- to 2-hour sessions
Cost: varies by site and needs - Requires outdoor space

Start a school garden or get help with a school beautification project. University of Illinois Master Gardeners can provide guidance and technical assistance as you develop your garden or project. Learn how to integrate the garden into your curriculum.  There are a select number of Master School Gardeners available for regular site visits.
Participants will learn how to choose a site, plan, organize and manage the garden. Participants will learn how to involve children and problem solve. www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden
 
 
Make Your Own Sprouting Buddy

Grades: preK-12
Subjects: Language arts, science, art
Class duration: one 45-60 minute session, minimum of 7 days light maintenance
Cost: $50 per classroom

 
Indulge your students' imaginations while they re-create their favorite character in a potted creation that they will decorate themselves, and watch grow.  They will receive a Botany 101 lesson on seed germination, soil health, stem and leaf structure and function while they decorate and design a face on their pot.  The lesson doesn't stop when the session ends though.  Students must continue to properly water and care for their pot for the grass or lettuce "hair" to grow- growth is visible after 3 days, and flourishing after 7-10 days.
 
 
Lettuce in a Bag

 

Grades: preK-12
Subjects: Sciences- biology, ecology, botany
Class duration: One 45-60 minute class session
Cost: $50

 
Have your students make their own mini-greenhouse a grow lettuce indoors anytime of year.  Students will learn about plant basics- seed germination, soil health, plant structure, plant care and discuss the importance of the 4 primary plant growth factors while they plant their own lettuce or herbs.  See also the Great Plant Escape- Teachers Edition online  www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe for information on how to do this yourself.