Thematic Lists

Families looking to enrich their green thumbs while beautifying their homes will enjoy this comprehensive guide to indoor and outdoor gardening using nontoxic flowers, vegetables, trees, and houseplants. Sorted by type--plants from seed, bulbs, annuals, perennials, fruiting trees, and sensory plants--each plant is thoroughly explained and easy to identify using color photographs. Details such as the flora's preferred habit and why a particular plant is good for kids are included along with suggestions for use in the garden. Seventeen gardening projects illustrate a variety of creative and fun ways for children and parents to plant together, including butterfly gardens, herb pots, hanging baskets, rock gardens, and cutting gardens.

With 18 projects gleaned from the author's experience as director of the Good Earth Kids' Club, Kids' Container Gardening will teach enthusiastic young gardeners how to create an assortment of container gardens that are simple to make, that are fun to work on, and that make great gifts. Organized by season, the books' chapters will help kids develop their green thumbs with projects ranging from "Great Big Garden Bowls for Mom," "Father's Day Fountains," and other special occasion/holiday containers to sand art terrariums. In addition to providing the basics on plants and gardening, this helpful guide also includes a glossary of terms, a listing of plants used in the book, a list of resources, and numerous photographs to show kids that they're proceeding on the right path as they create their individual containers.

Millie has recently moved to a new city, from a place more than an ocean away. More than anything she misses the garden where her family used to grow food. Then one day she has an idea-the school has a fine flat roof, perfect for a garden. Soon her teacher and classmates are on board, but it takes more than ideas to build a garden. It takes supplies and hard work; it takes a lot of learning; and it takes a whole school-a whole community-coming together to help. And of course, it also takes a lot of waiting. But as Millie's teacher Miss Mirales says, "Be patient. Good things take time." From building the beds and planting the seeds to the first glorious harvest, here's the story of a garden-and a girl-in bloom, and what it takes for a new place to finally feel like home.

Best friends Maxine and Leo combine their maker and artistic skills to create (and save!) the ultimate garden in this empowering, STEM-focused picture book After sketching and plotting and planting, Maxine and Leo know they've made The Greatest Garden Ever! But they're not the only ones who think so. Soon, all sorts of animals make their way in, munching on carrots and knocking over pots. When Leo and Maxine can't agree on a way to deter these unwelcome critters, it looks like there's more on the line than saving their garden--they just might need to save their friendship too.

A unique solution is found when a little girl dreams of getting a pet. Gwendolyn longs for a pet. What kind? Any kind! How many legs? Two, four, ten--she's not picky! But her parents have other ideas, and instead they give her . . . a box of dirt. "It smells of swamp," Gwendolyn says--but her parents say it smells of possibilities. And once Gwendolyn gets savvy about seeds and soil, sun and shade, she finds they are right. The dirt starts performing some amazing tricks, and soon she has a whole pet garden of her very own--it might not have "any legs at all, but it was alive, and Gwendolyn could talk to it, care for it, and watch it grow." Dynamic illustrations full of funny details show the love Gwendolyn puts into caring for her "pet," and her enthusiasm and pride are sure to inspire gardeners and aspiring gardeners alike.

This luminous picture book tells the fascinating true story of artist Nek Chand and how his secret art project--hidden away in a jungle--became one of India's most treasured wonders, second only to the Taj Mahal. In the bustle of the busy streets of Chandigarh, India, Nek Chand saw something no one else did. Where others saw rocks and stones, Nek saw the boyhood village he missed so dearly. Where others saw broken plates and glass, Nek saw laughing men. And where others saw trash, Nek saw beauty. Nek Chand's incredible rock garden, built from stone and scraps and concrete, began as a way for him to express his long-felt grief at having to leave his boyhood village due to the violence caused by the partition of India. What began as a secret and personal (not to mention initially illegal) project became so much more, not only to Nek but to all of India.

When George Washington Carver was just a young child, he had a secret: a garden of his own. Here, he rolled dirt between his fingers to check if plants needed more rain or sun. He protected roots through harsh winters, so plants could be reborn in the spring. He trimmed flowers, spread soil, studied life cycles. And it was in this very place that George's love of nature sprouted into something so much more--his future. Gene Barretta's moving words and Frank Morrison's beautiful paintings tell the inspiring life and history of George Washington Carver, from a baby born into slavery to celebrated botanist, scientist, and inventor. His passion and determination are the seeds to this lasting story about triumph over hardship--a tale that begins in a secret garden.

Harlem Grown tells the inspiring true story of how one man made a big difference in a neighborhood. After seeing how restless they were and their lack of healthy food options, Tony Hillery invited students from an underfunded school to turn a vacant lot into a beautiful and functional farm. By getting their hands dirty, these kids turned an abandoned space into something beautiful and useful while learning about healthy, sustainable eating and collaboration. Five years later, the kids and their parents, with the support of the Harlem Grown staff, grow thousands of pounds of fruits and vegetables a year. All of it is given to the kids and their families.

When catastrophe strikes their beloved upstairs neighbors, the Vanderbeeker children set out to build the best, most magical healing garden in Harlem--in spite of a locked fence, thistles and trash, and the conflicting plans of a wealthy real estate developer. While Isa is off at sleepaway orchestra camp, Jessie, Oliver, Hyacinth, and Laney are stuck at home in the brownstone with nothing to do but get on one another's nerves. But when catastrophe strikes their beloved upstairs neighbor, their sleepy summer transforms in an instant as the Vanderbeeker children band together to do what they do best: make a plan. They will create the most magical healing garden in all of Harlem.

In a bustling, urban neighborhood, count the ways one little lot becomes a beautiful community vegetable garden. Count all the ways (one to ten) an urban community unites to clean up an abandoned lot. From building planter boxes to pulling weeds to planting seeds, everyone works together to transform the lot into a bountiful vegetable garden. As the garden grows, strangers become friends, eventually sharing in a special feast with the harvest they grew.

My name is Kiko. I'm a gardener. I grow happy. Let me show you how. Kiko shows the reader how she grows happiness: by making good choices, taking care of her body and mind, paying attention to her feelings, problem solving, and spending time with family and friends. Kids will learn that they can play a pivotal role in creating their own happiness, just like Kiko. A Note to Parents and Other Caregivers provides more strategies for helping children learn how to grow happiness.

Kiko grows and cultivates her garden, harvesting and sharing the fruits and veggies with her friends, neighbors, and family. This delightful tale serves as a metaphor of nurturing relationships and community, while sharing kindness with others. Grow Kind is a gentle narrative based on positive psychology and choice theory, essentially about cultivating kindness.

How does your garden grow? Book-loving Lola is inspired by a collection of garden poems that she reads with her mommy. She wants to plant her own garden of beautiful flowers, so she and Mommy go to the library to check out books about gardening. They choose their flowers and buy their seeds. They dig and plant. And then they wait. Lola finds it hard to wait for her flowers to grow, but she spends the time creating her own flower book. Soon she has a garden full of sunflowers and invites all of her friends for cakes and punch and a story amongst the flowers. Lola is a beloved character that continues to shine for young readers. Her curiosity and love of books is infectious. Parents and children love sharing Lola's stories. Rosalind Beardshaw's beautiful illustrations highlight Lola's close-knit family and how they use stories and books to interact with their world. Lola's brightly colored and growing garden is the perfect surrounding for this bright little girl.

A beautiful picture book celebration of friendship, resilience in the face of change, and the magic of the natural world. When Mae's family moves to a new home, she wishes she could bring her garden with her. She'll miss the apple trees, the daffodils, and chasing butterflies in the wavy grass. But there's no room for a garden in the city. Or is there? Mae's story, gorgeously illustrated in watercolor, is a good match for kids interested in the environment, as well as any child going through a move.

After getting caught in Miss Jaster's spring planting, Hedgie the hedgehog discovers he has become a four-legged, walking flower garden.

There's a pest in the garden and he's eating all the vegetables! But Duck has a plan to save the day (well, sort of).

When Anna is gifted a copy of The Secret Garden, it inspires her to follow her dreams--maybe she can plant ivy and purple crocuses and the birds will come. Or maybe what grows from her dream of a garden is even better: friendship. And friendship, like a garden, often has a mind of its own.

Green grass is wide and fresh and clean for a family to play in, and brown dirt is perfect for digging a garden. But when gray buildings start to rise up and a whole city builds, can there be any room for green space? The neighborhood children think so, and they inspire the community to join together and build a garden for everyone to share in the middle of the city.

Anna and Benjamin's family has just moved into their new house and even though it's in the middle of a busy town, it has a beautiful big garden for them all to enjoy. Soon the family has made plans for their perfect garden -- Mum wants a lawn and a terrace, Dad wants to help the birds and insects, Benjamin wants to plant beautiful flowers and Anna wants to fill the garden with tasty vegetables. Join Anna and Benjamin as, with a little help from their neighbor, they spend a year learning about all the wonderful things you can do in a garden: planting, harvesting, playing, enjoying picnics and spotting wildlife. Alongside the charming story, A Year in Our New Garden also gives real gardening tips and provides recipes for tasty home-grown snacks to inspire children to get outdoors, be active and learn how nature changes around them throughout the year.

Mr. Barleycorn picks a green baby growing on his land, unleashing the incredible power of nature. When zucchinis flower in the kitchen and carrots sprout out of their television, Mr. Barleycorn's wife insists that the Greenling has to go. But the bounty and beauty of nature have a strange power -- the power to bring a whole community together.

Inform and inspire young naturalists with this book about a very special butterfly garden. Mrs. Carter's Butterfly Garden is the story of how former First Lady Rosalynn Carter started a front yard project that grew into a butterfly-friendly trail through her hometown of Plains, Georgia. Learn from Mrs. Carter's example why it's good for people when butterflies have welcoming spaces and how kids can create their own butterfly gardens at home or school.

George's friend Chef Pisghetti makes the most delicious vegetable soup! When the chef is running low on fresh vegetables, George wants to lend a hand in the rooftop garden--but he has a lot to learn about greenery. Come along as George discovers all about gardening, plants, what makes them grow, and why they're important.

The story of former basketball star and current urban farmer and activist, Will Allen, whose vision of gardening from abandoned urban sites led to a grassroots feeding craze.

In this new take on "Old MacDonald Had a Farm," the farmers are city dwellers and the farms consist of rooftops, empty lots, hydroponic labs, patios, and other urban nooks and crannies. No matter where you live, you can grow food!

Eloquent text and stunning illustrations combine to explore the many ways seeds are distributed, including animals, weather and wind, human action, and even the plants themselves. A farmer and her son carefully plant seeds in their garden. In the wild garden, many seeds are planted too, but not by farmers' hands. Different kinds of animals transport seeds, often without knowing it. Sometimes rain washes seeds away to a new location. And sometimes something extraordinary occurs, like when the pods of Scotch broom burst open explosively in the summer heat, scattering seeds everywhere like popcorn. Kathryn Galbraith's lyrical prose seamlessly combines with Wendy Halperin's elegant, crisp illustrations to show how many elements work together through the seasons to create and sustain the wild meadow garden.

While out exploring one day, a little boy named Liam discovers a struggling garden and decides to take care of it. As time passes, the garden spreads throughout the dark, gray city, transforming it into a lush, green world. This is an enchanting tale with environmental themes and breathtaking illustrations that become more vibrant as the garden blooms. Red-headed Liam can also be spotted on every page, adding a clever seek-and-find element to this captivating picture book.

Mei explores measurement as she plants a sunflower seed and watches it grow. The plant starts off as tall as her toe, but soon it's up to her knees, then her waist, then her shoulders. How tall will it get? Storytelling Math celebrates children using math in their daily adventures as they play, build, and discover the world around them. Joyful stories and hands-on activities make it easy for kids and their grown-ups to explore everyday math together.

When Daddy spots a solitary weed in his lawn, he's appalled (along with all of his neighborhood friends). But his daughter Sweetie has fallen in love with the beautiful flower, even going so far as to name it Charlotte. Racing against time and the mockery of his friends, Daddy has to find a way to get rid of the errant dandelion without breaking his little girl's heart.

Pssssst! Did you know plants can talk? It's true! Plants use the colors of their flowers to communicate with animals. But why animals? Because they help plants make seeds by moving pollen from one flower to another. Learn the secrets of flower talk from a narrator with an inside scoop! This new book from Sara Levine features a cantankerous talking cactus as a narrator, revealing to readers the significance of different colors of flowers in terms of which pollinators (bees, bats, birds, etc.) different colors "talk" to. A fun nonfiction presentation of science info that may be new to many kids--and adults!

What living things wear perfume, bask in the sun, use weapons to defend themselves, and even go on ocean cruises? PLANTS! While they might seem as different from humans as possible, we actually have a lot in common with our photosynthesizing friends. From drinking water to disguising themselves to communicating with one another, plants are a lot like us--though with fascinating twists all their own. Factual, funny, and featuring a dynamic mix of photographs and cartoon illustrations, Just Like Us! Plants will charm even the most reluctant nonfiction readers.

As you explore these amazing species, gain a foundation of knowledge about the plant kingdom. How do plants get energy? Can plants talk? Why do plants have flowers? Can plants move? Learn how plants get energy and nutrients, how animals and plants work together, how plants can send out chemical messages, and finally, how to protect plants and their habitats. Bursting with color, there's something new and unexpected to discover on every page of this celebration of fierce and fabulous plants.

The 2017 offering from Big Picture Press's Welcome to the Museum series, Botanicum, is a brilliantly curated guide to plant life. With artwork from Katie Scott of Animalium fame, Botanicum gives readers the experience of a fascinating exhibition from the pages of a beautiful book. From perennials to bulbs to tropical exotica, Botanicum is a wonderful feast of botanical knowledge complete with superb cross sections of how plants work.

In our garden, can you see? A grand adventure? And it's free! A green delicious fantasy? Behold our magical garden. There's a lot more to gardens than meets the eye! In this collection of buoyant poems filled with fun facts, young nature enthusiasts and budding gardeners are called on to help solve a mystery by the compost bin, join a Wild West-style standoff between some good bugs and a few bad ones, interview the sun to find out what happens when it drinks a glass of water, and learn the fancy names of plants to spice up dinner conversation. They'll be spurred to grab their own gardening tools, drop in some seeds, encounter a few insects, gather fresh vegetables, and find a whole lot of magic. Allan Wolf's playful poems and Daniel Duncan's whimsically detailed, welcoming illustrations combine in a charming celebration of the many wonders and lessons to be learned from a school garden. For further inspiration, engaging notes on the poems and an author's note on jotting down observations can be found in the back matter.

Violet, Will, and Basil must be the unluckiest students at the Garden Gnome Academy. They've been stuck with Mr. Butternut, the school's most unpopular (and unusual) teacher. They have to learn about soil and compost while their classmates get to study exotic plants and butterflies. Although things get a little messy (and stinky) in his class, Mr. Butternut knows the secret to growing a great garden. Read along to get all the dirt on your favorite vegetables, from seed to harvest! Follow the easy step-by-step instructions in this book and learn to make: A compost bin, a seed pot, potting mix, a growlight shelf, a cold frame, and a container garden

Mary Lennox is a loner living in Silicon Valley. With her parents always working, video game and tech become her main source of entertainment and "friends." When her parents pass away in a tragic accident, she moves to New York City to live with her uncle who she barely knows, and to her surprise, keeps a gadget free home. Looking for comfort in this strange, new reality, Mary discovers an abandoned rooftop garden and an even bigger secret...her cousin who suffers from anxiety. With the help of her new friends, Colin and Dickon, Mary works to restore the garden to its former glory while also learning to grieve, build real friendships, and grow.

"Dad says we are going to grow vegetable soup." So begins Lois Ehlert's bright, bold picture book about vegetable gardening for the very young. The necessary tools are pictured and labeled, as are the seeds (green bean, pea, corn, zucchini squash, and carrot). Then the real gardening happens . . . planting, weeding, harvesting, washing, chopping, and cooking! In the end? "It was the best soup ever." Ehlert's simple, colorful cut-paper-style illustrations are child-friendly, as is the big black type. A recipe for vegetable soup tops it all off!

Step by step details on how to grow a sunflower and a hyacinth

Jasper hopes to grow a beanstalk, but becomes discouraged when the bean he plants doesn't grow after a week

One of America's most influential chefs, Alice Waters created a revolution in 1971 when she introduced local, organic fare at her Berkeley, California, restaurant, Chez Panisse. Twenty-five years later, she and a small group of teachers and volunteers turned over long-abandoned soil at an urban middle school in Berkeley and planted the Edible Schoolyard. The schoolyard has since grown into a universal idea of Edible Education that integrates academics with growing, cooking, and sharing wholesome, delicious food. With inspiring images of the garden and kitchen and their young caretakers Edible Schoolyard is at once a visionary model for sustainable farming and childhood nutrition, and a call to action for schools across the country.

With 101 easy and inexpensive activities to do on school grounds, Schoolyard Science can help students develop their observation and inquiry skills as well as an appreciation of their outdoor environment. Covering topics such as lower plants, gardens, insects and other invertebrates, energy, and Earth science, Thomas Lord and Holly Travis provide activities that will help teachers become more comfortable with incorporating the outdoors into their curriculum. The activities have been tested successfully in K - 12 classrooms, youth camp programs, and science education classes in teacher preparation programs, so teachers can feel confident when using this book in their classroom. The book's teamwork focus will allow students to improve their critical-thinking skills and ability to work with other students. Each activity includes a list of the relevant standards and the suggested grade levels; however, the activities can be adapted to other grades as well, allowing teachers to think outside the box. The activities mostly make use of easily accessible materials, but Lord and Travis note any non-schoolyard materials that will be needed in a particular activity. Engaging and thoughtful activities make Schoolyard Science a great starting point for teachers as they inspire students to appreciate learning in their own schoolyard.

What if you could challenge your first graders to relate changes in seasonal weather patterns to changes in the plant world using a container garden? With this volume in the STEM Road Map Curriculum Series, you can! Patterns and the Plant World outlines a journey that will steer your students toward authentic problem solving while grounding them in integrated STEM disciplines. As are the other volumes in the series, this book is designed to meet the growing need to infuse real-world learning into K- 12 classrooms. The book is an interdisciplinary module that uses project- and problem-based learning to help young children make discoveries about a range of natural phenomena. Students will draw on Earth and environmental science, mathematics, engineering, English language arts, and social studies to do the following: Explore how Earth' s movement around the Sun affects the planet' s regional weather patterns; observe the changes in plant life that come with the changing seasons; use the steps of the engineering design process (EDP) to design and create a class garden for the Container Garden Design Challenge design an observation notebook to record data about their garden, with an emphasis on data collection, measurement, and presenting numerical data in graphic form.

What if you could challenge your second graders to design an outdoor STEM classroom with a butterfly garden, birdbath, and sundial? With this volume in the STEM Road Map Curriculum Series, you can! Investigating Environmental Changes outlines a journey that will steer your students toward authentic problem solving while grounding them in integrated STEM disciplines. As are the other volumes in the series, this book is designed to meet the growing need to infuse real-world learning into K- 12 classrooms. This interdisciplinary module uses project- and problem-based learning to help young children make discoveries about a range of natural and human-created phenomena. Building the outdoor classroom will help students learn about changes in the natural environment that are associated with the Earth' s movement around the Sun, including plant and animal life cycles. They will draw on life, Earth and environmental science, the engineering design process, mathematics, and English language arts to do the following: Develop a proposal for their outdoor classroom using persuasive language; devise a data collection plan to analyze environmental changes over time; explore local weather patterns and make connections among the patterns, seasons, and plant life cycles; learn about recycling, including sorting and tracking recycled materials; create works of fiction incorporating their outdoor STEM classroom.

What if you could challenge your fifth graders to design rainwater recycling systems to provide water for a fictional community garden? With this volume in the STEM Road Map Curriculum Series, you can! Rainwater Analysis outlines a journey that will steer your students toward authentic problem solving while grounding them in integrated STEM disciplines. As are the other volumes in this series, this book is designed to meet the growing need to infuse real-world learning into K- 12 classrooms. The book is an interdisciplinary module that uses project- and problem-based learning. Using their own school building and grounds as a design lab, student teams will be challenged to develop rainwater collection and delivery systems. They will draw on Earth and environmental science, mathematics, the engineering design process, and English language arts to do the following: Create a rain gauge, measure rainfall, and analyze rainwater data to determine the best location for a water collection system; explore volume calculations in real-world scenarios and use a spreadsheet to conduct repetitive volume calculations; identify how water is distributed throughout the Earth' s four spheres and research irrigation and water collection systems used in agriculture; study poetry, biographical texts, and persuasive writing related to module topics; present a proposal for a rainwater collection and storage system, including a message about watershed conservation for their local community and a public service advertising campaign.

With more than 80 activities in each book, these valuable resources will enrich your curriculum. For each activity, literature links promote reading, while Internet links encourage the best use of technology. Individual and team projects for K-5 classrooms, connected to NCTE standards.
Includes activities on wildflowers and gardening

Look around you - there are probably plants in sight. Plants provide beauty in our world; they are also essential to the survival of human and animal life. In The Budding Botanist, students will investigate how the structure and function of flowers, leaves, roots, and stems help plants live, grow, and reproduce. They will examine cone-bearing plants and flower bearing plants, observe photosynthesis and transpiration, sort and dissect seeds, explore germination, and model the structure of plant cells.
These activities provide an opportunity to develop content knowledge along with process skills such as observing, comparing, measuring, organizing and recording data, graphic data, communicating results, and making models. Delving into the inner mysteries of plants will help students become more observant and appreciative of the plant world around them.

Primarily Plants is a series of investigations designed to help primary students learn about plants. They will explore four major areas : plant growth; seeds, spores, and more; plant needs; and plant parts;

Field Detectives is designed to encourage students to look closely at the diverse habitats in and around their school playground. As detectives, they search for evidence of life and clues to understanding the relationships among the plants and animals living there. In the process, students strengthen their observation and higher-level thinking skills, as well as learning principles which apply to habitats everywhere.
In this series of investigations, students begin with careful observation of the plants and animals living on the playground and the physical conditions affecting various habitats within it. They learn about the basic needs of these and all living things - food, water, air, shelter, and space - and discover how these organism fit into food chains, webs, and pyramids extending beyond the playground to include the students themselves. The Field Detectives are then encouraged to apply this experience and information as they explore other habitats in the world around them

Includes a number of articles, including one entitled "Beads and seeds : a collaboration between an art museum and a botanical garden"

At first glance, you can see the value of Science Learning in the Early Years because it provides you with both 40-plus classroom activities and an understanding of how to use them with young students. The book shows you how to go beyond demonstrations to experiences that actually get children engaged. The activities focus on science concepts that are important, clearly presented, and developmentally appropriate; connect to the Next Generation Science Standards; and highlight safety concerns. The book also helps you group individual activities into an ongoing science unit so students can develop science inquiry skills over time. When you start to immerse yourself in Science Learning in the Early Years, you'll see that the value of this collection goes far beyond activities. The author is teacher, columnist, and blogger Peggy Ashbrook, who has been called a force in promoting high-quality science content for grades PreK- 2. Reading this book makes you feel like you' re talking with a fellow practitioner-- one who' s been where you are and wants to share all the insights she' s gained. Meeting her through her writing is the next best thing to having her as your own personal guide to the challenges and fun of working with the youngest scientists.
Includes an activity related to invertebrate gardens

This time-saving program planner for librarians and classroom teachers alike includes everything you need to get started--reading lists, flannelboard patterns, poems, songs, easy crafts, even take-home activities to extend the learning process. The many creative ideas packed inside include Activities keyed to popular classroom themes, with one chapter for each week of the school year Lessons that reinforce skills in key learning areas such as reading, writing, and math American Sign Language and Spanish language activities that make diversity awareness a part of children's learning Teachable concepts that can be mixed and rearranged for maximum flexibility, complementing classroom schedules Both veterans and novices will find plenty to help make kindergarten days richer, more rewarding, and more fun.
Includes a section related to gardens

Storytime audiences grow ever more diverse, and it's important that the materials used in programs reflect that richness of experience. Multiculturalism need not be an occasional initiative attached to particular holidays. In this book best-selling authors MacMillan and Kirker offer a new paradigm for multicultural programs, one in which diversity is woven into any and every storytime, no matter what the topic. Arranged thematically around dozens of popular storytime themes, the authors Present original and traditional resources from all over the world that will enrich storytimes for ages 2 through 5 Offer concrete book recommendations, fingerplays, and other activities that can be integrated into existing storytimes Include download links for flannelboard and stick puppet patterns, and illustrations of American Sign Language signs With numerous activities and programming suggestions, this book will seamlessly integrate and enhance cultural awareness for children all year round.
Includes a section related to gardens

This best seller is used by early childhood educators across the world. A theme based curriculum, this book is presented in Alpha order and contains 70 different themes ranging from Ants to Zoo Animals. Each theme contains a variation of the following content depending upon that theme: Curriculum, Web, Theme Goals, Concepts for the Children to Learn, Vocabulary, Bulletin Board, Parent Letter, Music, Fingerplay, Science, Math, Dramatic Play, Arts and Crafts, Sensory, Large Muscle (Gross), Small Muscle (Fine), Field Trips, Social Studies, Group Time, Cooking, Transitions, Books, Multimedia, Recordings and Song Titles. The book sections at the end of each theme have been updated with hundreds of new activities. In addition, an accompanying back-of-book CD-ROM contains important assessment tools, lesson plan forms, evaluation forms for documentation boards, and more.
Has a section on gardens

Written and created by teachers, The Giant Encyclopedia of Lesson Plans has more than 250 complete lesson plans, covering topics from colors and numbers to seasons and nursery rhymes. Each lesson plan is complete with learning objectives, a circle or group time activity, book suggestions, snack ideas, five learning center activities, assessment strategies, and related songs, poems, and fingerplays. With easy-to-use lesson plans for more than an entire school year, this book belongs on every teacher's bookshelf!
Includes a section on gardening

A treasury of activities, ideas, and resources, The Complete Guide to Service Learning can help teachers and youth workers engage young hearts and minds in reaching out and giving back. Author, and internationally known service learning expert, Cathryn Berger Kaye presents service learning--its importance, steps, essential elements, and challenges--within a curricular context.
Includes a section on gardening

What do seeds need to grow? What can the wind do? What is dirt? Like learning to count or read, understanding the fascinating world of science is an essential skill. This innovative book encourages three-to-six-year olds to predict outcomes, ask questions, and investigate answers. Watch preschoolers develop essential observational and analytical skills as they eagerly jump into the hands-on, interactive process that is science. Science Is Simple contains 250 activities spanning 39 kid-pleasing science concepts. From magnets to bubbles, insects to volcanoes, there are experiments to interest each and every child.
Includes lessons related to gardening

Science Units with Reproducible Little Books will help the teacher create a unique learning opportunity for children. Teaching children about plants will help them understand the importance of living things and why plants are important to life on earth. Plants provide food, clothing, shelter, and oxygen. This collection of science units focuses on the importance of plants as a source of food. Children will benefit from observing and predicting the growth of a plant, as well as learning the responsibility of caring for a living thing. The collection contains mini-book readers that are an excellent source for building confidence in a child's reading ability... Fun page activities are designed to allow the teacher to pick and choose activities that meet the needs of the classroom.

Nurture curiosity and even joy in the youngest scientists. The 24 inquiry-based lessons in this lively collection show you how. The activities are organized into sections on animals, plants, and nature walks. Rather than merely presenting science facts to 3- to 7-year-olds, you'll prompt them to make discoveries of their own. They'll explore critter camouflage, probe pumpkin insides, make bird feeders, and more. A Head Start on Life Science is as easy to use as it is inspiring. Each lesson includes lists of learning objectives and required materials, relevant background to help you prepare, plus at-home activities written in English and Spanish. Connections to multiple subjects-- including reading, writing, math, dramatic play, and art-- let you offer related learning opportunities. Extensions help you relate the science to children' s everyday lives and encourage them to explore with their families. You can use A Head Start on Life Science in preschools, elementary schools, informal science settings, home schools-- anywhere you want to engage children in meaningful, longer-lasting science learning.

Are you interested in using argument-driven inquiry for middle school lab instruction but aren't sure how to do it? You aren't alone. Argument-Driven Inquiry in Life Science is a one-stop source of expertise, advice, and investigations, with the information and materials you need to start using this method right away. The book includes 20 field-tested labs that cover molecules and organisms, ecosystems, biological evolution, and heredity. They give your students an opportunity to design their own methods, develop models, collect and analyze data, generate arguments, and critique claims and evidence. Student Lab Manual for Argument-Driven Inquiry in Life Science provides the student materials you need to guide your students through these investigations. With lab details, student handouts, and safety information, your students will be ready to start investigating.
Includes activities related to plants

The 27 field-tested labs cover molecules and organisms, ecosystems, heredity, and biological evolution. As you guide your students through these investigations, you may find it helpful to give them the handouts and checkout questions they need to complete the labs. Student Lab Manual for Argument-Driven Inquiry in Biology has everything your students need to fully engage in the lab activities, and you may find it convenient to give a copy to each student to save time at the photocopier. However you use it, this time-saving book will make it easier for you to get your students started with their investigations.
Includes activities related to plants

Develop your high school students' understanding of argumentation and evidence-based reasoning with this comprehensive book. Like three guides in one, Scientific Argumentation in Biology combines theory, practice, and biology content. It starts by giving you solid background in why students need to be able to go beyond expressing mere opinions when making research-related biology claims. Then it provides 30 thoroughly field-tested activities your students can use when learning to: propose, support, and evaluate claims; validate or refute them on the basis of scientific reasoning; and craft complex written arguments. Detailed teacher notes suggest specific ways in which you can use the activities to enrich and supplement (not replace) what you' re doing in biology class already. Scientific Argumentation is an invaluable resource for learning more about argumentation and designing related lessons. You'll find it ideal for helping your students learn standards-based content; improve their biological practices; explain, interpret, and evaluate evidence; and acquire the habits of mind to become more proficient in science.
Includes activities related to plants

The 14 acre community garden in South Central Los Angeles was the largest of it's kind in the United States. It was started as a form of healing after the devastating L.A. riots in 1992. Since that time, the South Central Farmers have created a miracle in one of the country's most blighted neighborhoods. Growing their own food. Feeding their families. Creating a community. But now bulldozers threaten their oasis. The Garden is an unflinching look at the struggle between these urban farmers and the City of Los Angeles and a powerful developer who want to evict them and build warehouses

Offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past decade. THE FUTURE OF FOOD examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multinational corporations seek to control the world's food system. The film also explores alternatives to large-scale industrial agriculture, placing organic and sustainable agriculture as real solutions to the farm crisis today

More and more people every day want to learn about the healing power of plants. This masterfully produced series presents a world of discover, mixing beautiful 2D and 3D animations, along with traditional knowledge and botany, to illustrate how ancient myths and nature are interconnected. Here we are imaginatively introduced to Greek and Latin legends, sagas and tales, which reveal the origin of 52 medicinal plants; also we are show recipes and some practical uses of each.
Each DVD set contains a least 1 section about different types of plants that could be grown in a garden