Growing Minds' "I Tried Local..." curriculum is designed for use in ECE through second-grade classrooms. The curriculum is divided into 10 units based on foods grown in North Carolina: blueberries, broccoli, carrots, green beans, mushrooms, peppers, radishes, sugar snap peas, sweet corn, and watermelons. The toolkit is available as a free digital download.
In each unit you will find:
- An overview of the crop, including geographic and cultural origins, nutrition facts, and growing tips.
- A lesson plan that aligns with educational standards.
- A video from our Meet Your Farmer video series showcasing a North Carolina farmer growing the crop.
- Children’s books with discussion prompts.
- A fun coloring page.
- A recipe featuring local produce that can be made in the classroom or shared with families.
“I Tried Local…” can be used on its own or as a companion piece to the Growing Minds Farm to Preschool Toolkit, published in 2016 with a second edition in 2020. The Farm to Preschool Toolkit includes lesson plans, activities, and recipes for tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, potatoes and sweet potatoes, apples, greens, strawberries, squash, and berries.