Education Library Blog

Teacher Resources

The school garden curriculum: an integrated K-8 guide for discovering science, ecology, and whole-systems thinking
Kaci Rae Christopher.

GE77 .C57 2019

“The School Garden Curriculum provides an integrated K-8 framework and over 200 weekly lessons that weave science, permaculture, and environmental education into place-based, immersive learning.

For teachers aiming to blend science and life skills while inspiring environmental stewardship.”–

Subject(s): Environmental education–Activity programs.
Gardening–Study and teaching (Elementary)
Science–Study and teaching (Elementary)
Ecology–Study and teaching (Elementary)
Place-based education.

Plant, cook, eat!: a children’s cookbook
Joe Archer and Caroline Craig.

TX801 .A73 2018

For beginners and green-thumbed foodies, this unusually all-inclusive garden-to-kitchen cookbook is part lesson in gardening and part collection of healthy, delicious, kid-friendly recipes.

Subject(s): Cooking (Vegetables)–Juvenile literature.
Vegetable gardening–Juvenile literature.
Cookbooks–Juvenile literature.

Growing a Life: teen gardeners harvest food, health, and joy
Illène Pevec.

SB457.4.T44 P48 2016

Growing a Life demonstrates just how influential school and community gardening programs can be for adolescents. Readers follow author Illène Pevec as she travels from rural Colorado to inner New York City, and from agrarian New Mexico to urban Oakland, California, to study remarkable youth gardening programs for at-risk teens. Expressive candid interviews with more than eighty students, substantiated by relevant neuroscience research and a framework of positive psychology, explain the life-altering physical and emotional benefits of gardening. As students share their experiences tending the soil and the plants, feeding their families and their communities, and guiding younger children, readers are given the opportunity to examine the largely unexplored topic of mentored urban gardening. Growing a Life will inspire educators, community leaders, and youth to team up and establish community gardens where they do not already exist and to involve youth in existing gardens.–AMAZON.

Subject(s): Gardening for teenagers–United States.
Gardening–Psychological aspects.
Adolescent psychology.
Community gardens–United States.
Gardening.
Adolescent Health.
Urban Health.

The everything small-space gardening book: all you need to plant, grow, and enjoy a small-space garden
Catherine Abbott.

SB453 .A23 2012

Provides tips and information about creating such small gardens as layered, square-foot, vertical, and container gardens.

Subject(s): Small gardens.
Vegetable gardening.
Container gardening.
Small gardens–Design.

Gardening and growing: how to plan learning opportunities that engage and interest children
Alistair Bryce-Clegg.

SB457 .B726 2012

This title will allow you to: plan for children’s individual stages of development through the use of adaptable and inclusive plans, and plans specifically for the 0-3s, engage and motivate children to learn by planning around their interests and include children with English as an Additional Language and Special Educational Needs through plans that take into consideration a variety of abilities.

Subject(s): Children’s gardens–Great Britain.
Gardening–Study and teaching (Early childhood)–Activity programs–Great Britain.
Early childhood education–Activity programs–Great Britain.

The Garden Classroom: hands-on activities in math, science, literacy, and art
Cathy James.

SB457 .J36 2015

James offers a whole year of outdoor play and learning ideas, using garden-based activities to promote science and math, reading and writing, and arts and crafts.

Subject(s): Gardening for children.
Gardening–Study and teaching (Early childhood)–Activity programs.
Outdoor education.

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Juvenile Literature

Fiction

Plant the tiny seed
Christie Matheson.

PZ8.3.M4227 Pl 2017

Plant a seed to watch it grow. Press on the cloud to make it rain. Jiggle the book to scatter the seeds. The interactive text teaches very young children how flowers sprout and mature. Contains watercolour depictions of a flower in various stages of growth.

Subject(s): Seeds–Juvenile fiction.
Gardening–Juvenile fiction.
Stories in rhyme.
Seeds–Fiction.
Gardening–Fiction.

Tokyo digs a garden
Jon-Erik Lappano; pictures by Kellen Hatanaka.

PZ4.9 .L36526 Tk 2016

Tokyo lives in a small house between giant buildings with his family and his cat, Kevin. For years, highways and skyscrapers have been built up around the family’s house where once there were hills and trees. Will they ever experience the natural world again? One day, an old woman offers Tokyo seeds, telling him they will grow into whatever he wishes. Tokyo and his grandfather are astonished when the seeds grow into a forest so lush that it takes over the entire city overnight. Soon the whole city has gone wild, with animals roaming where cars once drove. But is this a problem to be surmounted, or a new way of living to be embraced? —

Subject(s): Environmentalism–Juvenile fiction.
City and town life–Juvenile fiction.
Imagination–Juvenile fiction.
Magic–Juvenile fiction.
Animals–Juvenile fiction.
Gardening–Fiction.
City and town life–Fiction.

The little gardener
Emily Hughes

PZ4.9.H835144 Lt 2015

A little gardener who is not very good at gardening makes a wish for a little help.

Subject(s): Gardening–Fiction.
Wishes–Fiction.
Gardeners–Juvenile fiction.
Gardening–Juvenile fiction.
Body size–Juvenile fiction.
Persistence–Juvenile fiction.

Up in the garden and down in the dirt
Kate Messner; with art by Christopher Silas Neal.

SB457 .M47 2015

“Up in the garden, the world is full of green–leaves and sprouts, growing vegetables, ripening fruit. But down in the dirt there is a busy world of earthworms digging, snakes hunting, skunks burrowing, and all the other animals that make a garden their home. In this exuberant book, discover the wonder and activity that lie hidden between the stalks, under the shade of leaves … and down in the dirt.”–

Subject(s): Gardening–Juvenile literature.
Gardens–Juvenile literature.
Soils–Composition–Juvenile literature.
Gardening.
Soils–Composition.

Charlie’s dirt day
Andrew Larsen; illustrated by Jacqueline Hudon-Verrelli.

PZ4.9.L377127 Ch 2015

“Join Charlie as he learns about composting, gardening, and making the best spaghetti sauce ever.” — P.4 of cover.

Subject(s): Compost–Juvenile fiction.
Gardening–Juvenile fiction.

Rosario’s fig tree
Charis Wahl; pictures by Luc Melanson.

PZ4.9.W1885 Rs 2015

“Every spring the little girl who lives next door to Rosario helps him plant vegetables. One spring, Rosario plants a fig tree, which soon bears sweet purple fruit. But when fall comes, he bends it over and buries it in the ground.”–Publisher.

Subject(s):Fig–Fiction.
Tree planting–Fiction.
Gardening–Juvenile fiction.
Fig–Juvenile fiction.
Tree planting–Juvenile fiction.
Picture books for children.

Non-Fiction

Maker projects for kids who love greening up spaces
Megan Kopp.

SB457 .K67 2017

“Creative readers with a green thumb and an eye for design will be inspired to create their own gardening and landscaping projects in unique spaces. From vertical gardens to urban parklets, this title will motivate readers to “green up” spaces in their communities in a way that promotes environmental awareness, collaboration, and group planning. Profiles of innovators and their green creations encourage readers to embrace their own ideas and create their Maker visions.”–

Subject(s): Gardening–Juvenile literature.

The nitty-gritty gardening book: fun projects for all seasons
Kari Cornell; photographs by Jennifer S. Larson.

SB457 .C66 2015

Grow your own fruits, vegetables, and flowers! Become a gardener in any season with these fun and easy projects. You don’t even need a garden space–many of these activities can be done by planting in containers to set on a porch or a patio or even in a window.

Subject(s): Gardening–Juvenile literature.
Gardening for children.

Green gardening and composting
Molly Aloian.

S494.5 .S86 A46 2014

Aloian defines “green gardening” as “planting and growing a healthy garden that is good for the environment.” In 11 quick chapters, readers will learn such tips as how to remove pests with natural repellents like garlic and cayenne pepper and “how to get help from birds and insects.” Suggestions are punctuated by “Take Action!” boxes, where readers are encouraged to keep a green diary or look for unusual planters, such as old boots or cookie tins. Aloian quickly moves into composting, explaining the process and making the case for its ease of use at home. The transition from dinner table to compost heap is illustrated with full-color photographs, which also display the natural beauty of rooftop and community gardens.

Subject(s): Sustainable agriculture–Juvenile literature.
Composting–Juvenile literature.

Potatoes on rooftops: farming in the city
Hadley Dyer.

SB453 .D94 2012

Offers practical tips and techniques for urban gardening and includes an overview of the how and why of the movement.

Subject(s): Urban gardening–Juvenile literature.
Urban gardening.

Young gardener
Stefan & Beverly Buczacki; special photography by Anthea Sieveking.

SB457 .B83 2010

Introduces young readers to gardening, describing how the garden is changing throughout the seasons and providing instructions on different tasks that can be done to grow and maintain healthy plants and flowers.

Subject(s):Gardening.
Gardening–Juvenile literature.