Garden Curricula

The list below features CalFresh Healthy Living, UC-approved garden-enhanced preschool curricula arranged alphabetically.

• CATCH Early Childhood PA & Nutrition Curriculum

• CATCH Early Childhood PA & Nutrition Curriculum, "It's Fun to Be Healthy," features interactive lessons and games - in English and Spanish - focused on nutrition, gardening, and physical activity lessons designed to nurture a healthy lifestyle.

  For ordering digital CATCH curriculum, visit CATCH.org. For hard copy CATCH curriculum materials and equipment, order from School Specialty. The CFHL, UC approval process for ordering CATCH materials can be found here.

  Language(s): English, Spanish
  Delivery Method: Single session or series
  Number of Lessons: 19 (9 Good Food Kids lessons; 10 Garden Kids lessons)
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: Time varies (20+ minutes)

  For CATCH implementation resources, please visit the CFHL, UC Physical Activity initiative webpage.

• Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat & Go!

• Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat & Go! is an easy-to-implement, garden-based curriculum for teachers of early childhood students from Head Start through kindergarten. This curriculum combines the best of plant and garden learning, food exposure, brain- and body-boosting physical activities, and novel, effective parental engagement. It also contains a literature connection, garden kitchen recipe options and garden kitchen options.

  Language(s): English, Spanish
  Delivery Method: Series
  Number of Lessons: 20
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: 10-15 minute daily lessons to be taught over 4 weeks

• Go Glow Grow

• Go Glow Grow (GGG) uses a fun and effective format for introducing preschoolers to food and how it keeps them healthy. The nutrition objectives include recognizing MyPlate, identifying Go, Glow, and Grow foods, knowing that children need physical activity every day, and how to appropriately wash their hands. Curriculum can be used in schools and ECE settings.

  Language(s): English, Spanish
  Delivery Method: Series
  Number of Lessons: 6 
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: 60+ minutes (lesson can be delivered in shorter segments over a 1-week period)
  Virtual Delivery Materials located in Google Drive.

• Grow It, Try It, Like It!

• Note: This is not a garden-based curriculum; however, many counties use this in the garden.

  Grow It, Try It, Like It! is a garden-themed nutrition education curriculum which introduces children to new fruits and vegetables and encourages them to smell, touch and taste new fruits and vegetables. Curriculum can be used in schools and early child care settings.

  Language(s): English
  Delivery Method: Series
  Number of Lessons: 7
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: 10-30 minutes

• Harvest of the Month: Farm to Preschool

• Harvest of the Month: Farm to Preschool is a preschool program for September to May. Each month provides 3-4 brief lessons around specific fruit or vegetable. It includes recipes, recommended literature and optional activities and can correlate with Harvest of the Month items.

  Language(s): English, Spanish
  Delivery Method: Series
  Number of Lessons: 32 (3-4 lessons over 9 months)
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: Approximately 30 minutes

The list below features CalFresh Healthy Living, UC-approved garden-enhanced middle school curricula arranged alphabetically.

• Dig In! (Grades 5-6)

• Dig In! is a USDA-developed curriculum that makes connections between the garden, nutrition and health. Learning activities can be done with or without a large garden in place. Curriculum can be used during school.

  Language(s): English, Spanish
  Delivery Method: Single session or series
  Number of Lessons: 10
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: 30-60 minutes

• Junior Master Gardeners - Level 2 (Grades 6-8)

• Junior Master Gardeners - Level 2 is designed for grades 6-8. Youth can explore eight chapters of novel, “hands-on” activities. The program includes a study of life-skills and career exploration then culminates the JMG experience with service learning projects and recognizes their efforts with certification as a Junior Master Gardener.

  Language(s): English
  Delivery Method: Single session or series
  Number of Lessons: 6-8 chapters with multiple activities
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: Time varies based on activity (approximately 20 minutes)

• TWIGS: Teams with Intergenerational Support (Grades K-8)

• TWIGS includes lessons that connect gardening with nutrition for children in K-8th grade. The focus is to positively influence participants’ food choices through the development and harvesting of a vegetable garden. Curriculum can be used during school, after school and with 4-H programs.

  Language(s): English, Spanish
  Delivery Method: Single session or series
  Number of Lessons: 30
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: 60-90 minutes
  Virtual Delivery Materials located in Google Drive.

• Youth Participatory Action Research - Stepping Stones Curriculum (Middle School)

• Note: Contact Kelley Brian, Youth Engagement Project Manager at the CalFresh Healthy Living, UC State Office, if interested in using this curriculum.

  The Stepping Stones Curriculum provides youth with the opportunity to engage their leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving, service learning, and strategic-thinking skills to address issues that that affect their communities, ultimately resulting in community change.

  Language(s): English
  Delivery Method: Single session or series
  Number of Lessons: 8 stepping stones (modules) with several activities per module
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: 20-60 minutes for activities

• 4-H Garden Helper's Guide (Middle School)

• The 4-H Garden Helper's Guide is an interactive garden-based curriculum designed for use with school and after-school programs such as 4-H. The curriculum contains 4 levels, with 12 activities per level. Levels A (10-11 year olds) and B (12-13 year olds) are for use with middle school students.

  Language(s): English
  Delivery Method: Single session or series
  Number of Lessons: 12 activities per level
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: 30+ minutes

  Additional Links:
  Level A (10-11 year olds) Curriculum
  Level B (12-13 year olds) Curriculum

The list below features CalFresh Healthy Living, UC-approved garden-enhanced before/afterschool curricula arranged alphabetically.

• CATCH Kids Club Manual and Activity Boxes (Grades K-5 and 6-8)

• CATCH is based on the CDC Whole School, Whole Community and Whole Child model where health education, school environment and family/communities work together to support a healthy lifestyle in youth. CATCH Kids Club Healthy Habits & Nutrition Lessons can be used in school and after school programs.

  For ordering digital CATCH curriculum, visit CATCH.org. For hard copy CATCH curriculum materials and equipment, order from School Specialty. The CFHL, UC approval process for ordering CATCH materials can be found here.

  Language(s): English
  Delivery Method: Single session or series
  Number of Lessons: 30-35 lessons organized into 7 themes
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: 20 minutes

  Additional Links:
  CATCH Kids Club Activity Box

  For CATCH implementation resources, please visit the CFHL, UC Physical Activity initiative webpage.

• Eagle Adventure (Grades 1-3)

• Eagle Adventure is a type 2 diabetes education and prevention program for students in 1st-3rd grades. The program is made up of seven visits to the school throughout the semester. Six are in-class and one assembly where Eagle Play is presented. Lessons incorporate Native American culture and language for the Chickasaw Nation.

  Language(s): English
  Delivery Method: Series
  Number of Lessons: 4
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: 35 minutes

• Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat & Go!

• Early Childhood Learn, Grow, Eat & Go! is an easy-to-implement, garden-based curriculum for teachers of early childhood students from Head Start through kindergarten. This curriculum combines the best of plant and garden learning, food exposure, brain- and body-boosting physical activities, and novel, effective parental engagement. It also contains a literature connection, garden kitchen recipe options and garden kitchen options.

  Language(s): English, Spanish
  Delivery Method: Series
  Number of Lessons: 20
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: 10-15 minute daily lessons to be taught over 4 weeks

• Junior Master Gardeners - Level 1 (Grades 3-5)

• Junior Master Gardeners - Level 1 is designed for grades 3-5. Youth can explore eight chapters of novel, “hands-on” activities. The program includes a study of life-skills and career exploration then culminates the JMG experience with service learning projects and recognizes their efforts with certification as a Junior Master Gardener.

  Language(s): English
  Delivery Method: Single session or series
  Number of Lessons: 6-8 chapters with multiple activities
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: Time varies based on activity (approximately 20 minutes)

• Learn, Grow, Eat & Go! (Grades 2-5)

• Learn, Grow, Eat & Go! is an interdisciplinary program combining academic achievement, gardening, nutrition experiences, physical activity, and school and family engagement. Curriculum can be used during and after school.

  Language(s): English, Spanish
  Delivery Method: Series
  Number of Lessons: 10
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: 40+ minutes
  Virtual Delivery Materials located in Google Drive.

• Nutrition to Grow On (Grades 4-6)

• Nutrition to Grow On is an innovative curriculum that links the garden and nutrition education by teaching children and their families about nutrition through garden activities. In the lessons, science, mathematics, language arts, history, environmental studies, nutrition and health are reinforced. Curriculum can be used during school, after school and with 4-H programs.

  Language(s): English, Spanish
  Delivery Method: Single session or series
  Number of Lessons: 9
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: 60 minutes
  Virtual Delivery Materials located in Google Drive.

• TWIGS: Teams with Intergenerational Support (Grades K-8)

• TWIGS includes lessons that connect gardening with nutrition for children in K-8th grade. The focus is to positively influence participants’ food choices through the development and harvesting of a vegetable garden. Curriculum can be used during school, after school and with 4-H programs.

  Language(s): English, Spanish
  Delivery Method: Single session or series
  Number of Lessons: 30
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: 60-90 minutes
  Virtual Delivery Materials located in Google Drive.

• 4-H Garden Helper's Guide (Middle and High School)

• The 4-H Garden Helper's Guide is an interactive garden-based curriculum designed for use with school and after-school programs such as 4-H. The curriculum contains 4 levels, with 12 activities per level. Levels A (10-11 year olds) and B (12-13 year olds) are for use with middle school students. Levels C (14-16 year olds) and D (17-18 year olds) are for use with high school students.

  Language(s): English
  Delivery Method: Single session or series
  Number of Lessons: 12 activities per level
  Suggested Timeframe for Each Lesson: 30+ minutes

  Additional Links:
  Level A (10-11 year olds) Curriculum
  Level B (12-13 year olds) Curriculum
  Level C (14-16 year olds) Curriculum
  Level D (17-18 year olds) Curriculum