farm to school institute: early childhood workshop
DESCRIPTION
Early Childhood workshop with Emily Jackson of ASAP and April Bosse of Asheville City Preschools. Growing Minds' Farm to School Institute, November 10th 2012, UNC Asheville's Sherrill CenterTRANSCRIPT
Early Childhood/Farm to Preschool
April Bosse Asheville City Schools
Preschool/Early Head StartEmily Jackson
ASAPFarm to School Institute
2012
Stand up if you…
Local food in schools
Farm field trips
School gardens
Local food cooking
www.growing-minds.org
Farm to School =Exploring food and
farms through
hands-on experience
s.
Farmer Classroom Visits and Field Trips
Assistance connecting with farmers
Curriculum connections
Training and resources for farmers and teachers
The HayrideMini-grants
School Gardens
Seeds and Gift CardsWeekly Garden
Newsletter for Educators
Workshops and Trainings
Resources and LessonsChildren’s Literature
Tastings and Cooking in the Classroom
Stipends for food Assistance sourcing
local Workshops and
Trainings Recipes, lessons, and
stickers Cooking equipment Growing Minds’ Best
Practices Guide
Local Food for Meals, Snacks, Events
Training and workshops for farmers on selling to school systems
Resources for Child Nutrition Directors and Cafeteria Managers
Get Local Materials Promotional Materials
Parent Comments
“My son was so excited about cooking and eating new things in class. Since then he tries more types of food.”
“My non-vegetable eating child came home saying he loved kale!”
“He tried new things that without having tasted them at school he probably wouldn't have had the opportunity.”
“My daughter enjoyed these projects and bragged about eating fresh veggies at the farm. She tried more raw veggies at home after the farm trip.”
“I think it’s great for children to learn where food comes from, especially since this county once produced a large number of crops and families grew their own food.”
What is Farm to Preschool?
Farm to School: Connects local food producers and
processors with the school cafeteria or kitchen
Food- and garden-based education in the classroom, lunchroom, and community
Ages 0-5Childcare centers, preschool,
Head Start, daycare centers
Why Farm to Preschool?
– Early patterns are a determinant of later eating/physical activity habits
– Dramatic increases in obesity among preschoolers
– Low consumption of fruits and vegetables
– Consume as much as 80% of daily nutrients in childcare
– Rely on parents/caregivers to create food/activity environments
Farm to Preschool Research
By age 3, many children develop dislike for vegetables and are reluctant to eat or taste them (Niklas, et al. 2001)
Preference for vegetables in preschool children is a strong predictor of vegetable consumption (Birch, 1979; Harvey-Berino, et al. 1997; Morris & Zidenberg-Cherr, 2002).
Local food has a face, a connection, and a story
Gardening in the Preschool Setting
Philosophies and ApproachesGarden DesignTips and Technical InformationLessons and ActivitiesSustainability
Reasons Why Teachers Should Consider a School Garden Project
• Addresses obesity prevention and increases physical activity
• Addresses different learning styles • Builds sense of community within a
classroom/school• Can improve behaviors• Establishes environmental ethic• Promotes hands-on, interdisciplinary learning• Motivates children to learn• Can be integrated across the curriculum easily• Teaches a good life skill/leisure time activity• Great way to integrate parent participation• Can easily be adapted to teacher’s comfort level
Gardens are outdoor learning environments: Creating safe, diverse and developmentally appropriate outdoor leaning environments can offer benefits across curriculum and developmental areas.
Philosophies
Teaching by Doing
Modeling is Key: Creating positive experiences in outdoor learning environments lies not only in the physical environment but with the modeling and behavior of caregivers.
Dig In!
Let’s Get Messy! For preschoolers, gardening is all about involving kids in hands-on explorations. This means students allowing students to get dirty, dig deep into activities, turn over rocks, touch plants, and learn unfettered in a safe, dynamic outdoor environment.
Make it Edible
Let’s Eat! The most successful preschool gardens include plants that produce leaves, fruit, and roots that kids can eat (rather than just flowers). Because children will eat what they grow, the school garden is the perfect vehicle for encouraging children to try new foods.
Garden DesignKeep it simpleUse recycled materialsBuild sensory areasMake it something YOU loveIntegrate shade and sitting areasCreate an interactive space
Keep It Simple
Prepare a site
Raised Beds
Beds Directly in the Ground
Garden in Containers
Using Recycled Materials
Great Garden Children’s Books
Garden Stations
• Seed Station: sorting seeds, matching game with seed packets, guessing game with packets and seeds, pouring and touch
• Herb Station: blind smell, herb crowns• Soil/digging station: sorting and observing soil,
soil painting, exploring different types of soil (loam, clay, sand)
• Water station: water wall, water mixing, pouring and funneling,
• Insect Station: hay, rocks, leaves
Explorations
• Make a garden collection bracelet• Go on a color hunt• Search for insects• Candid camera• Letter hunt• Surprise Bag
Seasonal Activities• Waking the garden for the season (when school
starts or in the spring)• Putting the garden to bed (when school ends or in
the winter)• Covering and uncovering the garden during cool
months.• Solstice celebrations and how they relate to the
garden (winter solstice—shortest day of the year, summer—longest day of the year)
• Frost Observation
Harvest Time
• Eat it!• Make snack with the
harvest• Send it home with the
kids• Share it with
administration• Donate to people in need
Garden Resources Available
www.growing-minds.org
Sustainability
Involve parents and community
Get plants, seeds, and amendments for free
Get your administration involved
Make a routineEnjoy it!
Recruit Help From the Community
Think Outside of the Garden
Farm to School Tastings
A Farm to Preschool taste test is an event that offers students small samples of local foods, usually fresh fruits and vegetables. Anyone can organize a Farm to Preschool taste test: teachers, school administration, a chef, a parent, food service staff, a school nurse, students, etc.
Why a Farm to Preschool taste test?
• Provides students the opportunity to try a variety of foods, introducing them to foods that are locally grown and in season (and taste great!).
• Facilitates a change in food choices, thus allowing new and local foods that are accepted by students to be integrated into school snacks and meals.
• Creates positive food environments. • Encourages children to be more willing to try new
foods and home and school• Is a fun and memorable experience.
Taste and Graph• Show several
varieties of one fruit or vegetable
• Make comparisons in how they look or feel
• Taste them• Vote• Make a pictograph
of the votes
Vegetable Explorations
• Read a book about the veggie• Look at the veggie closely
(with magnifying glasses)• Touch it, smell it, draw it• Tell a story about the
vegetable• Learn more-fun facts, how it
grows, how to cook it• Try it!
Mystery TastingWhat’s this vegetable?
Tasting familiar vegetable in unfamiliar ways
Tasting new and unfamiliar vegetables
Tastings as Snack• Collaborate with your
food provider to offer suggestions for snack based on your tasting projects and curriculum. Can the food provider send carrot sticks, different types of apples, cucumbers, or other fresh fruits and vegetables for snack?
How much do tastings cost?
For a class of 20 students:Cherry tomato tasting/exploration: $4Cucumber Exploration: $3Cabbage tasting: $3-4Sweet potato tasting:$2Apple tasting (Two months): $4-6Lettuce Tasting: $3Strawberry tasting: $3-4Total: $20-25
Community Involvement
Who can help with a tasting?Parents, chefs, college students, seniors, farmers
Who can provide food for a tasting?Local grocery stores, hospitals, businesses
