Resources for Educators
farm to school lesson plans
Free, adaptable curriculum resources for Oregon educators. These materials encourage hands-on, place-based learning tied to academic standards.
The following curriculum resources were selected with the following criteria in mind:
- The materials are available for free in a widely accessible format.
- The materials are adaptable and/or specific to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest (with consideration to particularities of bio-region).
- The materials are place-based, encourage hands-on learning, and are tied to academic content standards where appropriate.
- All
- Common Core
- Early Childhood (PreK)
- Economics
- Elementary (K-5)
- High School (9-12)
- History
- Language Arts
- Literacy
- Math
- Middle School (6-8)
- Multilingual
- Science
- Social Studies
Berkeley Public Schools Garden and Cooking Program (K-8)
Year-long scope and sequence plan for TK-8 connecting academic subjects to real-world experiences. Co-taught with classroom and garden instructors. Aligned with Common Core and NGSS.
California Department of Education: Nutrition to Grow On (4-6)
Nine interdisciplinary lessons integrating garden activities with nutrition, science, and language arts. Designed for grades 4-6, aligned with California academic standards.
Center for Ecoliteracy
Free lessons on sustainability, systems thinking, and ecological knowledge for K-12. Focuses on ecological literacy and aligned with California State Standards.
Eat Think Grow (K-5)
Seasonal thematic units building K-5 skills over several years, with 3-6 lessons per season aligned to Oregon State and Common Core standards in math, literacy, and science.
Edible Schoolyard (PreK-12)
Extensive database of lessons, activities, and recipes searchable by season, subject, and grade level. Hands-on experiential learning for Pre-K through 12th grade. Aligned with Common Core.
Edible Schoolyard: Cooking with Curiosity (3-12)
40 cooking lessons over a semester for grades 3-12. Builds cooking skills and reflection practices. Suitable for distance and in-person learning. Aligned with Common Core.
FoodCorps Lessons (K-5)
96 hands-on lessons for K-5, tied to national standards, covering themes like healthy food, social emotional learning, and place-based education.
FoodSpan: John Hopkins Center for a Sustainable Future (6-12)
17 comprehensive lessons for grades 6-12 using systems thinking to explore food systems topics, aligned with national standards across social studies, economics, and science.
Growing Minds: Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program
23 hands-on PreK lessons connecting seasonal produce to early literacy, aligned with North Carolina Early Learning and Development Goals across all developmental domains.
Harvest for Healthy Kids
13 PreK activity kits exploring fruits and vegetables through early science, math, and literacy. Multilingual resources available in English, Spanish, and Russian.
Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy: Farm to School Youth Leadership (9-12)
Six free interdisciplinary lessons on youth leadership and agriculture for high school students. Aligned with National Common Core across multiple subjects.
Kids Gardening: Compost Your Way (6-12)
Stand-alone lesson plan exploring composting systems through experimental learning. Suited for middle and high school students.
Life Lab (K-8)
Free downloadable lessons and professional development workshops for grades K-8. Experiential learning approach based on Common Core and NGSS with environmental literacy focus.
National Agriculture in the Classroom (K-12)
Extensive free database of standards-based lesson plans for K-12 educators using agriculture to teach science, social studies, and nutrition. Searchable by grade level, topic, and standards. Aligned with NGSS, Common Core, and National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes
Occidental Arts and Ecology Center: A Handful of Seeds (2-6)
13 seed saving lessons integrating math, science, history, and language arts. Interdisciplinary approach for grades 2-6, aligned with California Educational Standards.
Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom (K-12)
Extensive collection of free downloadable lesson plans on agriculture, sustainability, and food systems for K-12. Includes free lending library and diverse hands-on activities. Aligned with Common Core and NGSS.
Oregon State University: Food for Thought
20 free lessons exploring food production and food-related issues like hunger, GMOs, and nutrition education. Interdisciplinary approach covering social studies, science, and language arts.
Oregon State University: Growing Healthy Kids (2-3)
Seven nutrition-focused lessons developed for the SNAP-Ed program. Designed for 2nd-3rd grade students.
Plants to the Rescue (6-8)
Five lessons exploring plants as problem solvers for grades 6-8. Includes digital learning tools, interactive games, and hands-on activities covering plant hybrids, environmental solutions, and healthy ecosystems. Features science and ELA integration.
Rogue Valley Farm to School Curriculum (K-6)
28 free lessons organized by grade level (K-6) and season. Includes spring and fall curriculum loosely tied to Common Core and NGSS.
School Garden Project of Lane County (K-6)
NGSS-aligned lessons for K-6 with hands-on garden activities, STEM integration, and plant science exploration adaptable for diverse learning needs including special education.
Science in the Learning Gardens (6-8)
NGSS-aligned curriculum for grades 6-8 focused on sustainability, climate science, and environmental justice through garden-based learning. Emphasizes problem-solving and critical thinking.
Slow Food USA (K-12)
School garden curriculum and resources for grades K-12 focusing on the ‘Good, Clean, and Fair’ food movement. Supports garden program development.
Wild School Gardens Guide (Prek-12)
Compilation of resources for wild school gardens suitable for all grades PreK-12. Supports nature-based garden education.