This web page and the pages linked to are for historical purposes only and do not contain the most up-to-date information.
The Hawai‘i School Garden Curriculum was created by teachers for busy teachers who may not be gardeners themselves, but intuitively understand the benefits of inquiry-based, place-based, project-based learning for their students.
The School Garden Curriculum Map is a pathway to connect core curriculum in the classroom with opportunities for extending learning in the real world, the basis of both Common Core and Next Generation Science. The Big Ideas begin with A Sense of Place, move to the all-important Living Soil and Living Plant, on to Nourishment, and finally Nature’s Design, encompassing the science-based cycles, patterns, and systems of the natural world.
We began by asking the question: What do students need to know about good food, the environment, sustainability, and nature’s systems by eighth grade? Then we created Garden Themes, Topics, and Learning Outcomes and linked them to suggested Garden Activities and Classroom Extensions. Then we aligned those activities with Common Core, NGSS, and Health Standards.
We hope that you will enjoy this living document, and that you will provide feedback and suggestions for improving its use for all the K-8 teachers in Hawai‘i who want to expand learning opportunities for their students.
Sustainable Living is Rooted in a Deep Knowledge of Place and Self
We Are All Interconnected and Related
Feed Your Mind and Body with What It Needs to Stay Healthy and Flourish
Systems, Cycles, Patterns, Relationships, and Adaptations in the Garden System
Guides detailing how to implement the Hawai‘i School Garden Curriculum Map for Grades K–2, 3–5, and 6–8
Curriculum resources cited in K–2 Curriculum Maps (Themes 1, 2, 3 only)