Take advantage of the benefits of gardening for children.
Rutabaga Education is an award-winning garden-based learning company on a mission to develop students into environmentally-aware young citizens. From preschool to elementary, building a school garden aligns with Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards for easy accessibility and implementation for teachers and schools all over.
Discover how a school garden can create a better tomorrow.
Our lesson plans are rooted in hands-on learning and meaningful moments that foster an appreciation for food, the earth, and sustainability while teaching students to connect with the soil beneath them.
"An impactful garden program builds community and school pride; Rutabaga Education Curriculum has given our elementary school a Tremendous framework for students and parents to participate in year after year!“
"These books are magical! I ordered them for our school and have loved all the lessons I have had a chance to try with my students. Colleagues are using them too. I miss being in the garden at school and will continue to work with students to keep them gardening this summer at their homes."
“I LOVE everything about the lesson development from the beginning to the end. The pictures and all the tips & suggestions are so helpful. I can tell that thoughtfulness and effort went into each & every part of the lessons. I would highly recommend this program for a preschool & even into k-4 school system. It’s laid out in an easy-to-follow format!"
Absolutely love these books! My kindergarteners have learned so very much. I love how there are lessons paired with favorite childrens books as well. Each lesson is well thought out and easy to follow. All lessons are mapped out for you with a great materials list that is not too time consuming to put together. Out of all of the subjects I teach, gardening is now one of the most rewarding! Thank you Rutabaga Education!
What Kaitlin has created with this curriculum is delivery-ready material. It enables busy educators and parents a truly meaty, well-rounded, age-appropriate, seasonally-specific set of education, activities and support suggestions that can be readily adopted and delivered without hours and hours of additional research and personal education. It's a short course without shortcuts, and has been instrumental in focusing our teaching at our school. It plays as well as single grade-level classroom-extension learning as it does after-school mixed age group learning, adding complexity and depth of vocabulary and content as the child ages through elementary school. Thank you Kaitlin for the heavy lifting to give elementary schools such an enormous jump-start in delivering this kind of material in schools.
I don’t know a whole lot about gardening but after purchasing this treasure and reading through it, I am more than ready to start my own class garden this year. The author practically holds your hand as she walks you through each lesson. All bases are covered! She ties in literature and includes many optional supplemental activities for each lesson. My students are going to love gardening and so will I!