Exploring Vegetable Gardening in the Classroom

Growing vegetables with young children can be a powerful way to introduce them to foods that they otherwise might not try. Many children struggle to enjoy vegetables, and growing their own gives them a vested interest in how they’re used, which means eating them. While many programs are able to create beautiful vegetable gardens with their students, that isn’t always possible. There are many other ways to explore vegetables and gardening without actually creating and maintaining a garden as a class. Here are some ideas.

• Visit a community garden or have someone who helps with a community garden come speak to the class
• Sample different kinds of vegetables that are commonly grown in local gardens
• Learn about the process of getting vegetables from farm fields to grocery stores
• Collect and analyze data about everyone’s favorite vegetables
• Cook with vegetables – try everything from simple salads and salsas to more complex soups or casseroles
• Set up a garden or produce stand in your dramatic play area
• Visit a farmer’s market
• Invite families to share their favorite vegetable-based dishes
• Plan and host a cooking class for families
• Compare and contrast different types of vegetables
• Try vegetables with different dips and sauces
• Learn about a plant’s life cycle and how different types of vegetables grow (underground, on a climbing vine, from a flower, etc.)
• Propagate green onions or celery in jars of water in the classroom