Island Grown Schools presents 10 free after school clinics for teachers

All island educators are invited to join Island Grown Schools at free after-school clinics on farm, food and garden-based topics every Tuesday and Thursday from January 19th until February 18th.

Each clinic will be topic specific and provide tools to help you discover what works for your classroom and your already busy day. Filled with curriculum resources and how-to advice you’ll quickly be on your way down the path of food & agriculture education.

Melinda DeFeo, educator with Island Grown Schools, will lead each session, which will run from 3:15-4:15pm; location TBD depending on the make-up of course participants. Please sign up now, as spaces are limited, by emailing melinda@islandgrown.org or calling 508-776-8220. Below is the description of each session. Hope to see you there!

Session 1: Tuesday, January 19th
Connecting the Classroom to Food & Agriculture Education
Not just about science ~ you name it and together we’ll connect it with math, social studies, history, language arts and blend in ELL, health, consumer science, art, music, industrial arts and physical education. Reach every learner with lesson plans that address curriculum standards and MCAS exams.

Session 2: Thursday, January 21st
All About CORN and It’s Many Faces
Corn is everywhere, literally, it permeates every aspect of our life making it hard to avoid so why not use it as the unifying theme for a program rich in history and exploring production to expand concepts to include eco-footprints and resource management.

Session 3: Tuesday, January 26th
Everyone Eats ~ Breakfast, Lunch, What’s for Dinner?
Explore food system issues and learn why working in the school gardens and visiting farms are important to include in your busy classroom schedule. Explore activities that will inspire children to make healthy choices and understand the principal concept of a sustainable planet.

Session 4: Thursday, January 28th
TORTILLA FACTORY ~ La Tortilleria.
Piloted by Edgartown Health, Consumer Science and Spanish teachers, this multi-disciplinary unit begins with a book and planting seeds in the spring and in the fall reaps a tasty treat for all as student bring their special crop in to the classroom. Shucking, Shelling & Grinding their corn, students reap the rewards on the tip of their tongue.

Session 5: Tuesday, February 2nd
Our Island Our Farms ~ Looking Beyond the Classroom Walls.
Using field trips to local bakeries, grocery stores, farms & marketplaces to teach where food comes from & why we need to know. Clinic’s focus will include integrating “farm” theme throughout the year to highlight seasonal changes & life cycles as well as fiber arts & service learning.
Session 6: Thursday, February 4th
DON’T TREAT SOIL LIKE DIRT!
Wow, where do you start? Let’s start at the beginning with perhaps the single most important element on earth to each soil science and sustainability with fun hands-on activities that get right to the point and leave a lasting impression.

Session 7: Tuesday, February 9th
LOCALLY GROWN ~ The Nuts & Bolts of Growing Food at School.
Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall ~ Food can be grown for our tables year-round and you don’t have to be limited by the school year. Want to embrace food production with your students, come and get organized with your growing plan & your calendar to assure maximium student involvement in the school garden.

Session 8: Thursday, February 11th
POTATOES ~ From New World to Old and Still Changing the World…
Social economics, hunger, history, politics, war, bio fuel, plastics ~ the lowly potato can handle them all…If you have no time for gardening in May ~ plant potatoes in April. Whether lively discussion for the classroom or digging in the ground it is easy to connect this crop and harvest big rewards and fit it into a busy MCAS schedule.

Session 9: Tuesday, February 16th
ABC’s to Success with Seeds.
Select, Sort, Germinate and Sprout ~ Seeds provide rich opportunities to engage young learners in the magic of growing food and so much more. These powerful little packages can pack lessons with plenty of punch if given a little attention at the right time.

Session 10: Thursday, February 18th
UMASS Ethnic Crop Program ~ Connecting Heritage, Community and Gardens.
Use the school garden to promote a community of learners who treasure this island as their home. Bring together diverse cultures while studying the origin of food. A great opportunity to network with Social Skills & ELL teachers.