Afterschool Garden & Cooking Curriculum

  • Hungry Explorers Afterschool Curriculum | Pre-K & Kindergarten

    Grades: Pre-K & Kindergarten
    Theme: Sensory Discovery, Nature Play & Foundational Gardening
    Location: Arts & Letters United Garden
    Schedule: Fall 2025 – 10 Weekly Sessions (160 minutes each)

    Program Objectives

    • Introduce foundational garden and cooking concepts through hands-on exploration

    • Engage the five senses to spark curiosity and confidence in outdoor learning

    • Foster early social-emotional growth through collaborative activities

    • Encourage care and observation of living things

    • Promote fine motor development and early science literacy through play

    Weekly Session Overview

    Session 1: Welcome to the Garden! (Sensory Adventure)

    • Focus: Introduce the garden space and group routines

    • Activities:

      • Garden scavenger hunt (colors, textures, smells)

      • Create name tags using nature materials

      • Garden rules song and movement game

    • Snack Activity: Fruit & herb-infused water tasting

    • Skill Focus: Using eyes, ears, hands, and nose to explore

    Session 2: Dig In! (Soil & Worms)

    • Focus: Introduction to soil, digging, and garden tools

    • Activities:

      • Dig & scoop sensory bin play

      • “Worm rescue” with rubber worms

      • Decorate and plant in a small pot

    • Snack Activity: Make "dirt cups" with crushed cookies and edible worms

    • Skill Focus: Tactile exploration & tool handling

    Session 3: Seeds & Sprouts

    • Focus: What do seeds need to grow?

    • Activities:

      • Plant quick sprouting seeds (radish, peas)

      • Use spray bottles to water garden beds

      • Seed matching and counting game

    • Snack Activity: DIY trail mix with sunflower seeds and dried fruit

    • Skill Focus: Fine motor planting, pattern recognition

    Session 4: Leafy Greens & Garden Colors

    • Focus: Recognizing and naming colors in the garden

    • Activities:

      • Nature color hunt with paint chip cards

      • Leaf rubbings and sorting activity

      • Garden rainbow mural

    • Snack Activity: Rainbow veggie sticks with yogurt dip

    • Skill Focus: Color identification & sorting

    Session 5: Tiny Garden Helpers (Insects & Pollinators)

    • Focus: Learn about bees, butterflies, and worms

    • Activities:

      • Bug costume relay race

      • Build bee puppets or butterfly wings=

      • “Find the Pollinators” movement game=

    • Snack Activity: Butterfly snack bags (pretzels, fruit, cheese)

    • Skill Focus: Roleplay & imaginative movement

    Session 6: Water & Weather Watchers

    • Focus: How water and weather help the garden grow

    • Activities:

      • Dance like the rain! Movement-based storytelling

      • Build rain catchers or puddle splash science

      • Make garden weather flags

    • Snack Activity: Banana “raindrops” with nut/seed butter

    • Skill Focus: Cause-and-effect & body awareness

    Session 7: Garden Senses Adventure

    • Focus: Engage all five senses

    • Activities:

      • Blindfolded scent station (mint, rosemary, lemon balm)

      • Texture touch trays (seeds, dirt, leaves, pebbles)

      • Sound safari with instruments

    • Snack Activity: Apple slices with cinnamon or garden herb butter

    • Skill Focus: Sensory integration & vocabulary building

    Session 8: Harvest Helpers

    • Focus: Helping the garden and preparing for harvest

    • Activities:

      • Gentle picking of herbs or vegetables

      • Washing and sorting harvested items

      • Create a “market basket” with drawings

    • Snack Activity: Veggie “taco boats” in lettuce leaves

    • Skill Focus: Matching, washing, and preparing food

    Session 9: Garden Picnic & Storytime

    • Focus: Reflect, relax, and retell garden experiences

    • Activities:

      • Group read-aloud of a garden story

      • Paint story stones or garden scenes

      • Set up a picnic blanket and help serve snacks

    • Snack Activity: Garden muffins and berry tea

    • Skill Focus: Narrative recall, sequencing, and taking turns

    Session 10: Celebration & Family Share

    • Focus: Share garden learning with families

    • Activities:

      • Decorate garden crowns and “I’m a Garden Explorer” badges

      • Garden parade and song performance

      • Host family for snack samples and a mini-tour

    • Snack Activity: Garden graze table with kid-made snacks

    • Skill Focus: Social confidence, leadership, and closure

    Tools & Equipment Needed

    Garden Tools & Materials:

    • Small spades, trowels, and watering cans (child-sized)

    • Seed trays and planters

    • Rubber worms, magnifying glasses, and bug viewers

    • Garden journals with sticker prompts

    • Paint chips, texture trays, flags, and props

    • Scavenger hunt sheets, markers, clipboards

    Cooking & Snack Supplies:

    • Child-safe food prep tools (butter knives, bowls, cutting boards)

    • Napkins, compostable serving containers

    • Ingredients for simple, allergy-friendly snacks

    • Hand-washing station and gloves

    Other Supplies:

    • Storybooks related to gardens, insects, and food

    • Craft materials (paper, glue, crayons, stickers)

    • Picnic blanket and music speaker (optional)

    Student Outcomes

    🌱 Garden Curiosity & Observation

    • Demonstrate care for living things and excitement in outdoor learning

    • Begin to identify basic plant parts, bugs, and garden tools

    • Show early understanding of what plants need to grow

    👃 Sensory Engagement

    • Use senses to describe garden elements

    • Explore new smells, textures, sounds, and tastes with confidence

    • Build sensory vocabulary and descriptive language

    🤝 Social-Emotional & Community Growth

    • Work cooperatively with peers during gardening and snack time

    • Take turns, follow routines, and express feelings through storytelling and art

    • Build a sense of belonging and accomplishment through shared rituals

    🍓 Food & Health Awareness

    • Try new garden-grown ingredients

    • Participate in safe snack prep and cleanup routines

    • Understand where food comes from and how it fuels our bodies

  • Gardening & Cooking Afterschool | 1st & 2nd Grade Urban Farmers Curriculum 

    Grades: 1st & 2nd

    Theme: The Science of Gardening & Cooking

    Location: Arts & Letters United Garden

    Schedule: Fall 2025 – 10 Weekly Sessions (160 minutes each)

    Program Objectives

    • Build a sense of community and responsibility through collaborative gardening

    • Learn age-appropriate culinary skills using harvested ingredients

    • Strengthen understanding of where food comes from and how we nourish ourselves

    • Deepen scientific inquiry and observational skills in a real-world setting

    • Introduce data collection, seasonal tracking, and basic problem-solving

    Weekly Session Overview

    Session 1: Welcome to the Garden! (Community & Observation)

    • Focus: Introduction to the garden space, group norms, safety, and garden etiquette

    • Activities:

      • Garden scavenger hunt (textures, smells, colors)

      • Create personalized garden journals

      • Plant quick-growing herbs or microgreens

    • Cooking: Make herbed popcorn or garden tea

    • Science Skill: Observational drawing and note-taking

    Session 2: What Plants Need to Grow (Soil, Sun, Water)

    • Focus: Introduction to plant needs and garden systems

    • Activities:

      • Set up watering and compost duties

      • Build a soil layers model (hands-on science)

      • Design watering charts and garden care teams

    • Cooking: Make hummus with veggie dippers

    • Science Skill: Charting needs of a living organism

    Session 3: Seeds & Sprouts (Life Cycles)

    • Focus: Seed anatomy and plant life cycles

    • Activities:

      • Seed dissection under magnifying lenses

      • Start seed trays (radish, greens)

      • Play seed matching games

    • Cooking: DIY seed crackers

    • Science Skill: Labeling plant parts and tracking sprout growth

    Session 4: Soil Science & Composting

    • Focus: Explore the hidden world of soil and decomposition

    • Activities:

      • Create mini worm bins

      • Decomposition race: which item breaks down faster?

      • Soil sorting and texture testing

    • Cooking: Make no-cook energy bites using garden-grown ingredients

    • Science Skill: Classifying materials as biodegradable or not

    Session 5: Pollinators & Garden Friends

    • Focus: Understanding bees, butterflies, and beneficial bugs

    • Activities:

      • Build bee hotels or bug observation jars

      • Identify garden insects and their roles

      • Create pollinator-friendly signs for the garden

    • Cooking: Flower-shaped fruit salad or local honey toast

    • Science Skill: Create a food web of the garden ecosystem

    Session 6: Leaves, Stems & Senses (Plant Parts We Eat)

    • Focus: Learn which parts of plants are edible

    • Activities:

      • Taste test: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits

      • Harvest and sort by plant part

      • Collaborative mural of "Parts of a Plant Sandwich"

    • Cooking: Build-your-own garden salad

    • Science Skill: Categorizing plant parts and functions

    Session 7: Weather & Garden Data Tracking

    • Focus: How weather affects garden growth

    • Activities:

      • Build rain catchers

      • Track sunlight/shade over time

      • Begin simple charting of temperature & growth

    • Cooking: Make sun tea and garden snack skewers

    • Science Skill: Intro to scientific measurement & prediction

    Session 8: Garden Pests & Protectors

    • Focus: Natural solutions and understanding garden balance

    • Activities:

      • Identify “good” vs. “bad” bugs

      • Build scarecrows or natural pest deterrents

      • Create posters about garden protectors

    • Cooking: Zucchini or carrot muffins

    • Science Skill: Problem-solving for natural systems

    Session 9: Harvest & Celebrate

    • Focus: Gratitude, harvest ethics, and preparing a shared meal

    • Activities:

      • Harvest herbs, greens, or root veggies

      • Set up stations for meal prep (peeling, mixing, washing)

      • Decorate the garden with “thank you” flags

    • Cooking: Garden-to-table stir-fry or harvest soup

    • Science Skill: From garden to plate—life cycle reflection

    Session 10: Community Market & Garden Party

    • Focus: Sharing our knowledge and food

    • Activities:

      • Create mini farmers' market stands with garden bundles

      • Invite families for tasting + short “garden tour”

      • Certificate ceremony and garden scavenger hunt finale

    • Cooking: Fruit smoothies + mini muffins (kid choice menu)

    • Science Skill: Synthesize learnings + student-led presentations

    Tools & Equipment Needed

    Gardening Tools:

    • Child-safe trowels, spades, and hand rakes (15–20)

    • Watering cans or hose with spray nozzle

    • Seed trays and pots

    • Gloves (child-size, washable)

    • Magnifying lenses or bug viewers

    • Garden journals (1 per student)

    • Clipboards and pencils

    Cooking Supplies:

    • Portable table or surface for food prep: buy nothing ask!

    • Cutting boards and child-safe knives

    • Bowls, measuring cups, spoons, and mixing tools

    • Small blender or food processor (optional, for smoothies or dips)

    • Ingredients: fruits, vegetables, herbs, seeds, pantry staples

    • Napkins, compostable plates/cups/utensils

    • Access to water source and hand-washing station

    • Cooler and storage containers for perishables

    Classroom Materials:

    • Chart paper and markers

    • Laminated plant parts and garden vocabulary cards

    • Books related to gardening and food (optional reading corner)

    • Poster boards for group activities

    • Scavenger hunt and observation worksheets

    Student Outcomes

    By the end of this 10-week program, students will:

    🌱 Scientific Thinking & Inquiry

    • Demonstrate improved observation and recording skills through garden journaling

    • Identify basic plant parts, needs, and the life cycle of a plant

    • Understand simple ecological relationships (pollinators, compost, pests)

    🥕 Food & Culinary Skills

    • Learn to safely use kitchen tools such as kid-safe knives and measuring cups

    • Prepare simple, nutritious recipes using ingredients from the garden

    • Recognize the connection between the food they grow and what they eat

    🌻 Social-Emotional & Community Development

    • Collaborate in small groups to solve problems and complete garden tasks

    • Show increased care and responsibility for shared spaces

    • Build confidence through sharing food, ideas, and reflections with peers and family

    📊 Academic Integration

    • Practice early math and data literacy through weather tracking, measurement, and sorting

    • Expand vocabulary around food, gardening, and science

    • Participate in reflective activities that synthesize learning in verbal and visual forms

  • Gardening & Cooking Club Afterschool Curriculum
    Grades:     3rd, 4th, 5th Grade
    Theme: Urban Locavore Chefs
    Location: Arts & Letters United Garden
    Schedule: Fall 2025 – 10 Weekly Sessions (160 minutes each)

    Program Objectives:

    • Develop deeper scientific inquiry through hands-on exploration of botany and ecology.

    • Strengthen garden-based culinary skills including safe food handling and recipe development.

    • Foster leadership, responsibility, and collaboration through garden roles and cooking teams.

    • Build environmental awareness and stewardship.

    • Encourage connections between food systems, health, and culture.

    Weekly Session Overview:

    Session 1: Welcome to the Garden Lab
    Focus: Orientation, garden safety, and leadership roles

    • Garden mapping activity and garden agreements

    • Design personal "Garden Scientist" field journals

    • Identify group roles (Gardeners, Chefs, Journalists, Toolkeepers)

    • Cooking: Fresh herb popcorn and garden water

    Session 2: The Science of Soil
    Focus: Soil composition, pH testing, and decomposition

    • Build a soil profile diagram with samples

    • Compare types of soil and compost using touch and sight

    • Conduct a pH test and moisture measurement

    • Cooking: Root veggie chips (fried) with seasonal dip

    Session 3: Plant Anatomy & Functions
    Focus: Understanding how plants grow and thrive

    • Dissect and label real plants

    • Conduct a plant parts relay race and edible plant sorting

    • Journal drawing: Photosynthesis diagram

    • Cooking: Leafy green wraps with hummus or bean spread

    Session 4: Seed Dispersal & Germination Experiments
    Focus: Reproduction and experimentation

    • Build mini sprouting jars with observational tracking

    • Explore seed dispersal methods (wind, water, animal)

    • Design a seed superhero and its travel story

    • Cooking: Sunflower seed energy bars

    Session 5: Pollinators, Pests & Garden Ecosystems
    Focus: Ecological balance and companion planting

    • Create insect fact cards and ID guides

    • Practice observation and data collection on pollinator visits

    • Build a bug hotel

    • Cooking: Flower petal salad

    Session 6: Weather & Climate Impact on Gardens
    Focus: Microclimates, tracking, and environmental impact

    • Weather journal: Record daily conditions and patterns

    • Build a simple rain gauge and shadow chart

    • Debate: How does climate affect what we can grow?

    • Cooking: Solar oven nachos with seasonal salsa tasting

    Session 7: Harvesting & Nutrition Science
    Focus: Garden-to-plate practices and reading nutrition labels

    • Harvest fruits or veggies using garden etiquette

    • Learn basic food groups and meal planning

    • Conduct a "What’s in this food?" label scavenger hunt

    • Cooking: Veggie latkes with mix-ins from the garden

    Session 8: Preserving the Harvest
    Focus: Food preservation techniques and seasonal eating

    • Make refrigerator pickles or herb-infused oils

    • Explore cultural food preservation traditions

    • Discuss food waste and leftovers

    • Cooking: Pickled veggies & rice bowls

    Session 9: Garden Culture & Cooking Around the World
    Focus: Global food systems and culinary traditions

    • Explore international garden staples and their stories

    • Map ingredients used across cultures

    • Cooking: Mini dumpling making

    Session 10: Celebration & Garden Share-Out
    Focus: Reflection, presentation, and community celebration

    • Set up garden stations and "tour" for families

    • Each group presents a garden or food project

    • Cooking: Student choice recipe with family participation

    • Closing circle, certificates, and reflection activity

    Tools & Equipment Needed

    Gardening Tools:

    • Child-safe trowels, spades, and hand rakes (15–20)

    • Watering cans or hose with spray nozzle

    • Soil testing kits (pH and moisture)

    • Magnifying lenses, bug viewers, clipboards

    • Seed trays, sprouting jars, and compost bins

    • Gloves (child-size, washable)

    • Garden journals and science worksheets

    Cooking Supplies:

    • Portable prep tables or surfaces

    • Child-safe knives, peelers, cutting boards

    • Mixing bowls, measuring cups, and cooking utensils

    • Blender or food processor (for sauces or smoothies)

    • Ingredients: fruits, vegetables, herbs, grains, oils, seeds

    • Storage containers, napkins, compostable serving ware

    • Hand-washing station and food-safe gloves

    Classroom Materials:

    • Chart paper, science posters, and plant models

    • Books on gardening, nutrition, and global food cultures

    • Markers, glue, and materials for posters and presentations

    Student Outcomes

    🌿 Scientific Thinking & Inquiry

    • Apply observational skills to real-world gardening science

    • Understand plant life cycles, weather patterns, and soil composition

    • Conduct and record data from hands-on experiments

    🍴 Food & Culinary Skills

    • Practice safe and independent food preparation

    • Prepare nutritious dishes using harvested ingredients

    • Understand the cultural and scientific significance of food choices

    🌍 Social-Emotional & Environmental Awareness

    • Demonstrate teamwork and leadership in garden and kitchen roles

    • Build responsibility and stewardship for living systems

    • Explore food traditions from different cultures with empathy and curiosity

    📈 Academic Integration

    • Strengthen data literacy through measurement, journaling, and presentations

    • Develop cross-curricular connections between science, math, health, and culture

    • Confidently communicate learnings through visual, written, and oral formats

    By the end of the 10 weeks, Garden Chefs will:

    🥕 Prepare a variety of healthy snacks and simple meals using ingredients they helped grow.

    🍽️ Confidently prepare simple, nourishing meals they can recreate for their families at home.

    🌿 Understand the science behind plant growth, soil nutrients, and ecological balance.

    📚 Keep a detailed garden journal with drawings, measurements, and recipe notes.

    🌍 Demonstrate awareness of global food traditions and sustainability practices.

    🍲 Use child-safe kitchen tools to chop, measure, and mix with confidence.

    🧠 Connect science, math, and storytelling through cooking, harvesting, and garden exploration.