Here you'll find a variety of resources related to teaching Food Systems, tools for teaching in a garden environment, as well as a handful of experiential project outlines to introduce your students to the High Tunnel Environment. We have also curated a list of websites, books, curricula, and other resources that will help you connect the dots between the High Tunnel and your curriculum.
Lesson/Project Outlines
Teacher FAQs
What every teacher should know about high tunnels.
Growing with Literature!
Read six great books with your students while you grow a crop of turnips, radishes, and greens in the high tunnel.
Appropriate for K-3rd Grade Students.
Experimenting with Spinach
This project outline offers a framework to help you incorporate a year-long spinach growing project into your current curriculum.
Appropriate for Middles School and High School science classes.
Growing a Meal
Appropriate for Middle School project-based Learning.
The Persephone Day Research Project: Exploring the Intersection of Mythology and the High Tunnel
Lessons that intertwine mythology, creative writing, and research.
Appropriate for Middle School and High School students.
What every teacher should know about high tunnels.
Growing with Literature!
Read six great books with your students while you grow a crop of turnips, radishes, and greens in the high tunnel.
Appropriate for K-3rd Grade Students.
Experimenting with Spinach
This project outline offers a framework to help you incorporate a year-long spinach growing project into your current curriculum.
Appropriate for Middles School and High School science classes.
Growing a Meal
Appropriate for Middle School project-based Learning.
The Persephone Day Research Project: Exploring the Intersection of Mythology and the High Tunnel
Lessons that intertwine mythology, creative writing, and research.
Appropriate for Middle School and High School students.
High Tunnel Books
Book: The Winter Harvest Handbook: Year-Round Vegetable Production Using Deep Organic Techniques and Unheated Greenhouses
Author: Eliot Coleman
Why we love it: We can't recommend this book enough! It's everything you need to know about high tunnels, but were afraid to ask!
Author: Eliot Coleman
Why we love it: We can't recommend this book enough! It's everything you need to know about high tunnels, but were afraid to ask!
Local Farms with High Tunnels
Many Farms in the Chequamegon Bay region incorporate the use of High Tunnels. A farm tour is an invaluable resource for students to learn more about our local food system. Check out the following farms in our region that use High Tunnels and have provided tours in the past:
- River Road Farm: Marengo, WI
- Great Oak Farm: Mason, WI
- Hermit Creek Farm: High Bridge, WI
- Elsewhere Farm: Herbster, WI
Click here for contact info. (Please note: It is customary to offer a stipend to the farmer when arranging a farm tour!)
- River Road Farm: Marengo, WI
- Great Oak Farm: Mason, WI
- Hermit Creek Farm: High Bridge, WI
- Elsewhere Farm: Herbster, WI
Click here for contact info. (Please note: It is customary to offer a stipend to the farmer when arranging a farm tour!)
Technical High Tunnel Resources
Website: Cornell High Tunnels Resources
Author: Cornell University Department of Horticulture
Why we like it: This website is loaded with technical information with handouts on everything from crop and site selection to a great list of compiled resources.
Author: Cornell University Department of Horticulture
Why we like it: This website is loaded with technical information with handouts on everything from crop and site selection to a great list of compiled resources.
Website: Healthy Lifestyle Initiative
Author: University of Missouri Extension
Why we like it: This website contains lesson plans, technical handouts, and a high tunnel manual too!
Author: University of Missouri Extension
Why we like it: This website contains lesson plans, technical handouts, and a high tunnel manual too!
High Tunnel Specific Curriculum
Website: Healthy Lifestyle Initiative
Author: University of Missouri Extension
Website Highlights: The High Tunnel Fruit and Vegetable Production Curriculum was designed for use in Missouri agriculture education classrooms. This ten lesson unit is intended for junior and senior level students. Each lesson contains a detailed lesson plan, PowerPoint and any necessary handouts.
Why we love it: This curriculum is an incredibly complete package for an Agricultural classroom setting. Website also includes other great information on High Tunnels.
Author: University of Missouri Extension
Website Highlights: The High Tunnel Fruit and Vegetable Production Curriculum was designed for use in Missouri agriculture education classrooms. This ten lesson unit is intended for junior and senior level students. Each lesson contains a detailed lesson plan, PowerPoint and any necessary handouts.
Why we love it: This curriculum is an incredibly complete package for an Agricultural classroom setting. Website also includes other great information on High Tunnels.
General Garden Curriculum Resources
Book: Growing Classroom: Garden-Based Science
Why we love it: A must have for teachers looking for well-written, easy-to-follow garden-based lesson plans. These work well in a high-tunnel environment too!
Why we love it: A must have for teachers looking for well-written, easy-to-follow garden-based lesson plans. These work well in a high-tunnel environment too!
Book: Growing Food
Why we like it: Another useful resource with science-based lessons that will help you create make meaningful connections in the garden.
Why we like it: Another useful resource with science-based lessons that will help you create make meaningful connections in the garden.
Website: Life Lab
Why we like it: This website has a variety of garden-based resources, lesson plans and activities on-line!
Why we like it: This website has a variety of garden-based resources, lesson plans and activities on-line!
Website: Edible Schoolyard Project
Why we like it: This website features a searchable database of garden based lesson plans written by other educators. Many need no modification to be enjoyed in a High Tunnel environment.
Why we like it: This website features a searchable database of garden based lesson plans written by other educators. Many need no modification to be enjoyed in a High Tunnel environment.
Website: Gardening for Kids
Why we like it: Susan likes this website as a valuable resource to teach kids about gardening. Check it out and see if you agree.
Why we like it: Susan likes this website as a valuable resource to teach kids about gardening. Check it out and see if you agree.
General Food System Curriculum and Resources
Curriculum: In Defense of Food
Why we love it: Following the Michael Pollan book and utilizing online video clips, this In Defense of Food Curriculum investigates the reasons why it’s hard to eat well, celebrates the many benefits and pleasures of healthier eating, and teaches practical steps for how to Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
Specifically designed for middle school students, but may be adapted for any age.
Why we love it: Following the Michael Pollan book and utilizing online video clips, this In Defense of Food Curriculum investigates the reasons why it’s hard to eat well, celebrates the many benefits and pleasures of healthier eating, and teaches practical steps for how to Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
Specifically designed for middle school students, but may be adapted for any age.
Movie: FRESH: the Movie
Why we love it: An excellent educational movie with a great downloadable teachers guide filled with discussion questions that will help your students understand the complexity of the food system and how they fit!
Why we love it: An excellent educational movie with a great downloadable teachers guide filled with discussion questions that will help your students understand the complexity of the food system and how they fit!
Website: Nourish Center for EcoLiteracy
The Nourish Curriculum Guide offers a rich set of resources to open a meaningful conversation about food and sustainability. Beautifully designed and brimming with big ideas, the materials contain a viewing guide, seven learning activities, student handouts, a bibliography, and a glossary.
Why we like it: Check out the link to their comprehensive curriculum filled with interesting classroom activities, relevant videos and discussion questions. This curriculum is best used with Middle School students. The lessons in this guide are more in-depth than the Food Miles: Growing Local Food Connections curriculum listed below. Each lesson comes with small projects for students to apply the concepts learned.
The Nourish Curriculum Guide offers a rich set of resources to open a meaningful conversation about food and sustainability. Beautifully designed and brimming with big ideas, the materials contain a viewing guide, seven learning activities, student handouts, a bibliography, and a glossary.
Why we like it: Check out the link to their comprehensive curriculum filled with interesting classroom activities, relevant videos and discussion questions. This curriculum is best used with Middle School students. The lessons in this guide are more in-depth than the Food Miles: Growing Local Food Connections curriculum listed below. Each lesson comes with small projects for students to apply the concepts learned.
Book: Omnivores Dilemma: Young Readers Edition
Why we like it: In classic Michael Pollan style, this is a food-system "must read" adapted for young readers.
Why we like it: In classic Michael Pollan style, this is a food-system "must read" adapted for young readers.
K-8 Specific Resources
Website: Food Miles: Growing Local Food Connections
Author: The Falls Brook Centre
Check out:
Author: The Falls Brook Centre
Check out:
- Part 1: Food Systems
- Part 2: Hands-on garden lessons
9-12 Specific Resources
Website: Discovering the Food System: An Experiential Learning Program for Young and Inquiring Minds
Author: Cornell University
Why we love it: This curriculum guide could be used in Middle School or High School. It is broken into two major units: Introduction to Food Systems, and a Research Project unit. Each lesson has a worksheet or learning activity included.
Author: Cornell University
Why we love it: This curriculum guide could be used in Middle School or High School. It is broken into two major units: Introduction to Food Systems, and a Research Project unit. Each lesson has a worksheet or learning activity included.
Website: Teaching the Food System: A Project of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
Why we love it: This resource offers a well-researched curriculum including lesson plans, powerpoint presentations, background reading, vocabulary, and student hand-outs that could be used for high school students or college students. The 11 lessons are broken into three units: An Introduction to the Food System, From Field to Plate, and Eating Nutrition and Food Environments.
Why we love it: This resource offers a well-researched curriculum including lesson plans, powerpoint presentations, background reading, vocabulary, and student hand-outs that could be used for high school students or college students. The 11 lessons are broken into three units: An Introduction to the Food System, From Field to Plate, and Eating Nutrition and Food Environments.
Website: Farm to School Youth Leadership Curriculum
Author: Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Check out: Lesson 2: Getting to Know Your Food System
Why we love it: This curriculum takes an in depth look at the Farm to School program in one’s own community. It provides short lessons and handouts that allow students to take a lot of direct action in their own school or community. For grades 11 and 12.
Author: Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Check out: Lesson 2: Getting to Know Your Food System
Why we love it: This curriculum takes an in depth look at the Farm to School program in one’s own community. It provides short lessons and handouts that allow students to take a lot of direct action in their own school or community. For grades 11 and 12.
Website: Project Localize Curriculum
Author: Lexicon for Sustainability
Why we love it: This curriculum combines food system research with art and civic participation. This is design as a quarter or semester course and requires students to engage with local food system projects in the community such as taking farm field trips.
Author: Lexicon for Sustainability
Why we love it: This curriculum combines food system research with art and civic participation. This is design as a quarter or semester course and requires students to engage with local food system projects in the community such as taking farm field trips.
Standards Alignment in Garden Education
Website: Life Lab
Why we love it: Check out their easily searchable lesson plans and projects database for Common Core & Next Generation Science Standards-aligned projects
Why we love it: Check out their easily searchable lesson plans and projects database for Common Core & Next Generation Science Standards-aligned projects
K-12 Framework, Scope, and Sequence
Website: The Wisconsin Food Systems Education Conceptual Framework: A Conceptual Guide to Food Systems Education in Wisconsin
Authors: University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, UW Extension
Why we love it: This resource provides an explanation of the scope and sequence of food systems content. It gives the reader bullet-point background information about what ought to be taught into categorized concepts. It also provides a teacher with a list of essential vocabulary terms.
Authors: University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, UW Extension
Why we love it: This resource provides an explanation of the scope and sequence of food systems content. It gives the reader bullet-point background information about what ought to be taught into categorized concepts. It also provides a teacher with a list of essential vocabulary terms.
Family and Consumer Science Standards
Click here for a PDF document listing the applicable standards for teaching about food systems.
Back-Pocket Garden Activities
Ideas for when you only have 5 minutes in the garden. Click here for the PDF.
These resources have been compiled or created as a part of the USDA Farm to School Grant "Meeting the Challenge of Winter: Using High Tunnels to Expand Farm to School In Northern Wisconsin."
