In addition to the curriculum-linked K-6 lessons below, we also offer workshops and presentations for Grades 7-12. Please reach out to find out more about our workshops covering topics such as biodiversity, composting, sustainable gardening, climate change, careers in the environmental sector, and more! Get in touch using the link below - we look forward to hearing from you!
Please feel free to contact us at workshops@haltonenvironment.ca if you have any questions about our programs or about your school garden project.
Mapping and Planning the Garden
Location: Garden
Grade: 1-6
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
​Math: Measurement: Estimating perimeter, area, length, height, width, and distance
Math: Geometry and Spatial Sense: compare grid systems commonly used on maps
Description:
Students will have a chance to contribute to planning the school garden, based on what grows in our climate, what they enjoy eating, and taking into account the space available in the garden. The lesson can also include measuring and mapping the school garden.
Indoor Seed Starting
(March-April)
Location: Garden
Grade: K-6
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Hands-on garden experience; life cycles; seeds
Description:
Students will prepare for the upcoming garden season by starting seeds in the classroom, which will be planted out in the garden once the weather warms up.
​Planting Seeds in the Garden
(April, May and early September)
Location: Garden
Grade: K-6
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Hands-on garden experience
Description:
Students will have the opportunity to plant seeds directly in the garden, which they will then have the chance to maintain and watch grow over the course of the garden season.
Planting Seedlings
(End of May, beginning of June)
Location: Garden
Grade: K-6
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Hands-on garden experience
Description:
Students will plant seedlings (small plants) out in the garden. They will then have the chance to maintain and watch them grow over the course of the garden season.
Planting Garlic
(Late October/Early November only)
Location: Garden
Grade: K-6
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Hands-on garden experience
Description:
Students will learn why garlic is planted in the fall, about its growth cycle, and will have a chance to plant garlic in the school garden.
Exploring the Garden
(Available in June, September and October)
Location: Garden
Grade: JK/SK
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Language: use language in various contexts to connect new experiences with what they already know; use specialized vocabulary for a variety of purposes.
​
Description:
Students will do a scavenger hunt exploring the garden with their five senses.
Earthworms and Vermicomposting
Location: Inside or Outside
Grade: JK/SK
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Language: use specialized vocabulary for a variety of purposes.
Science and Technology: demonstrate an awareness of the natural and human-made environment through hands-on investigations, observation, questioning, and sharing of their findings.
Description:
Students will learn about worms and vermicompost through listening to a storybook and will get a chance to hold worms.
Measuring the Garden
Location: Garden
Grade: JK/SK
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Math: measuring using non-standard units.
​
Description:
Students will explore the garden and will learn about different garden tools and safety. They will measure using non-standard units, comparing the sizes of different garden objects and tools. ​
Plant Parts We Eat
Location: In class or schoolyard
Grade: JK/SK
Time: 45-60 minutes
Learning objectives:
Learning about plant parts and plants that we eat; movement/physical activity.
​
Description:
Students will brainstorm different plants that we eat, and will then learn about the different parts of a plant. The lesson will conclude with a plant life cycle stretch.
Plants and their Seeds
Location: Inside
Grade: JK/SK
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Where plants come from; matching; spelling/writing; oral communication.
​
Description:
Students will learn about seeds and what plants will grow from them. They will do a colouring worksheet, matching the seeds to the plants they are from.
Colours in the Garden
Location: Outside in garden/schoolyard
Grade: JK/SK
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
To practice observation skills by exploring the natural world; to create art using natural materials; to practice colour vocabulary.
​
Description:
Students will be guided to look for different colours in the garden. The found and harvested objects will be used for an art activity.
How do Seeds Travel?
Location: Outside Schoolyard
Grade: JK/SK
Time: 45-60 minutes
Learning objectives:
To learn about seeds and what they do; to observe the structures of seeds; to incorporate daily physical activity into classroom learning.​
​
Description:
Students will learn about different seeds and how they travel. After reading a story, they will do a movement activity to move like the different seeds in the book.
Nature’s Shapes
Location: Outside
Grade: 1
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Math: Geometry and Spatial Sense: Geometric Properties: identify and describe common three-dimensional figures and sort and classify them by their attributes, using concrete materials and pictorial representations.
​
Description:
Students will do a scavenger hunt in the garden and schoolyard, looking for different shapes in natural objects.​​
Garden Maps with Natural Materials
Location: Garden/Schoolyard
Grade: 1
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Math: Geometry and Spatial Sense: describe the relative locations of objects on concrete maps created in the classroom.​
​
Description:
Students will learn about maps and how we use them. They will create maps of the garden using natural and found materials.
Earthworms and Vermicomposting
Location: Inside or Outside
Grade: 1
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Science and Technology: Understanding Life Systems (Needs and Characteristics of Living Things): Investigate and compare the basic needs of humans and other living things, including the need for air, water, food, warmth, and space, using a variety of methods and resources; Investigate and compare the physical characteristics of a variety of plants and animals, including humans; Describe how the things plants and animals use to meet their needs are changed by their use and are returned to the environment in different forms.​
​
Description:
Students will learn about earthworms and how their bodies are adapted to their habitats. They will have a chance to see worms up close and hold one if they would like to.
Plant Parts We Eat
Location: Inside
Grade: 1
Time: 60 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Understanding Life Systems (Needs and Characteristics of Living Things): Identify what living things provide for other living things.​
​
Description:
Students will brainstorm different plants that we eat, and will then learn about the different parts of a plant. The lesson will conclude with a movement/drama activity in small groups.
Exploring Seasons in the Garden
Location: Garden
Grade: 1
Time: 4 x 60 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Understanding Earth and Space Systems (Daily and Seasonal Changes): Define a cycle as a circular sequence of events; Describe and compare the four seasons; Describe changes in the appearance or behaviour of living things that are adaptations to seasonal changes; Describe how humans prepare for and/or respond to daily and seasonal changes.​
​
Description:
Students will explore changes in the garden with the changing seasons. We will also discuss garden activities that happen at different times of year. Students will complete a scavenger hunt worksheet during the lesson.
Exploring the Garden
(Available in June, September and October)
Location: Garden/Schoolyard
Grade: 1
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Understanding Life Systems (Needs and Characteristics of Living Things): Investigate characteristics of parts of the human body, including the five sense organs.​
​
Description:
Students will do a scavenger hunt exploring the garden with their five senses.
Where Does Our Food Come From?
Location: Classroom
Grade: 1-2
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Relating Science and Technology to Society and the Environment.
​
Description:
Where does our food come from? Who grows it and how does it get to us? What transportation is required for the food to travel to us? Who are the people involved in this process? Students will be introduced to different steps in the food system, and students in older grades will learn about the concept of food miles. This workshop will involve a mix of work in small groups and as a whole class.
Exploring the Garden
(Available in June, September and October)
Location: Garden
Grade: 2
Time: 2 x 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Language: Writing: Write short texts using several simple form.
​
Description:
Students will do a scavenger hunt exploring the garden with their five senses.​​
Earthworms and Vermicomposting
Location: Inside or Outside
Grade: 2
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Language: identify words or phrases that indicate whether and oral text is fact or opinion; identify several different purposes for reading and choose reading materials appropriate for those purposes.​
​
Description:
Students will learn about earthworms and how their bodies are adapted to their habitats. They will have a chance to see worms up close and hold one if they would like to.
Garden Maps
Location: Garden
Grade: 2
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Math: Geometry and Spatial Sense: describe the relative locations and the movement of objects on a map; draw simple maps of familiar settings, and describe the relative locations of objects on the map.​
​
Description:
The lesson will start with an introduction to maps and how they are used, focusing on why gardeners create maps of their gardens. Students will draw simple maps of the garden.
Where Does Our Food Come From?
Location: Classroom
Grade: 1-2
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Relating Science and Technology to Society and the Environment.
​
Description:
Where does our food come from? Who grows it and how does it get to us? What transportation is required for the food to travel to us? Who are the people involved in this process? Students will be introduced to different steps in the food system, and students in older grades will learn about the concept of food miles. This workshop will involve a mix of work in small groups and as a whole class.
Earthworms and Vermicomposting
Location: Inside and/or Outside
Grade: 3
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Understanding Earth and Space Systems (Soils in the Environment) Investigate the process of composting, and explain some advantages and disadvantages of composting.
​
Description:
Students will learn about earthworms and how their bodies are adapted to their habitats. They will have a chance to see worms up close and hold one if they would like to.​​
Plant Parts We Eat
Location: Classroom
Grade: 3
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Understanding Life Systems (Growth and Changes in Plants): Identify the major parts of plants, and describe how each contributes to the plant’s survival within the plant’s environment.
​
Description:
Students will learn about plant parts, the roles of different parts of the plant and how they work together, and about the different plant parts we eat (e.g. carrots are roots, cabbages are leaves, etc.). This workshop will include a mix of whole class and small group work.​
Where Does Our Food Come From?
Location: Classroom
Grade: 3
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Understanding Life Systems (Growth and Changes in Plants): Describe the different ways in which plants are grown for food, and explain the advantages and disadvantages of locally grown and organically produced food, including environmental benefits.
​
Description:
Where does our food come from? Who grows it and how does it get to us? What transportation is required for the food to travel to us? Who are the people involved in this process? Students will be introduced to different steps in the food system, and students in older grades will learn about the concept of food miles. This workshop will involve a mix of work in small groups and as a whole class.​
Pollinator and Flower Adaptations
Location: Classroom
Grade: 3
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Understanding Life Systems (Growth and Changes in Plants): Identify the major parts of plants, including root, stem, flower, stamen, pistil, leaf, seed, and fruit, and describe how each contributes to the plant’s survival within the plant’s environment; Describe ways in which plants and animals depend on each other
​
Description:
Students will learn about pollination and its importance to plant reproduction. They will learn about different types of pollinators, and how flowers and pollinators have adapted to each other. Students will then invent their own fictional flower and pollinator. ​
Seed Search
(Fall only)
Location: Inside and in the Garden
Grade: 3
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Science and Technology: Understanding Life Systems (Growth and Changes in Plants): Plant needs, plant life cycles, plant parts.​
​
Description:
Many plants produce seeds before the winter, so fall is a great time to look for seeds in the garden and schoolyard. Students will learn about seed dispersal and will observe and describe the structures of different seeds.
Saving Seeds
(Fall only)
Location: Inside and in the Garden
Grade: 3
Time: 80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Science and Technology: Understanding Life Systems (Growth and Changes in Plants): Assess ways in which plants are important to humans and other living things.
The Arts: Visual Arts: uses a variety of materials, tools, and techniques to respond to design challenges.
​
Description:
Based on observations of existing seed packages, students will design their own seed packages, taking into account the information and design. If possible, students will harvest seeds from the school garden. (If not, seeds can be brought in for this workshop).
Maple Seed Survival Game - plant needs and life cycles
Location: Inside or Outside
Grade: 3
Time: 45-60 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Understanding Life Systems (Growth and Changes in Plants): Assess ways in which plants are important to humans and other living things, taking different points of view into consideration, and suggest ways in which humans can protect plants: Describe the basic needs of plants, including air, water, light, warmth and space; Identify examples of environmental conditions that may threaten plant survival.​
​
Description:
Students will review the basic needs of plants, as well as discuss some potential threats to a plant’s survival. Working in groups, students will create short skits to show different scenarios that could affect a young maple tree.
Soil Studies
Location: Outside
Grade: 3
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Understanding Earth and Space Systems (Soils in the Environment): Investigate the components of soil, the condition of soil, and additives found in soil, using a variety of soil samples from different local environments, and explain how the different amounts of these components in a soil sample determine how the soil can be used; Use appropriate science and technology vocabulary, including clay, sand, loam, pebbles, earth materials, and soil, in oral and written communication; Identify and describe the different types of soils.​
​
Description:
Students will explore soil in different parts of the schoolyard and school garden, taking samples from different areas to compare them. They will perform a simple experiment to check for soil composition.
Garden Food Chains
Location: Classroom
Grade: 4
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Science and Technology: Understanding Life Systems (Habitats and Communities); Build food chains consisting of different plants and animals; Demonstrate an understanding of food chains as systems in which energy from the sun is transferred to producers (plants) and then to consumers (animals); Classify organisms according to their role in the food chain (e.g., producer, consumer, decomposer).
​
Description:
Students will learn about how things in the garden are interconnected, such as animals, plants, soil, and sun. Students will then create a food chain based on animals that live in the school garden or schoolyard.​​
Habitat Postcards
Location: Classroom and Garden
Grade: 4
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Writing and Reading: Identify the topic, purpose, and audience for a variety of writing forms; establish a personal voice in their writing, with a focus on using words and stylistic elements that convey a specific mood such as amusement; S&T: Understanding Life Systems (Habitats and Communities): Demonstrate an understanding of habitats as areas that provide plants and animals with the necessities of life.​
​
Description:
Students will hear a story that is written in the format of postcards. They will then explore the schoolyard or school garden as a habitat for different living things. They will choose one of these living things, and write a postcard from their perspective.
Invasive Species
(May-June or September-October)
Location: Garden
Grade: 4
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Understanding Life Systems (Habitats and Communities): Identify reasons for the depletion or extinction of a plant or animal species (e.g., hunting, disease, invasive species, changes in or destruction of its habitat), evaluate the impacts on the rest of the natural community, and propose possible actions for preventing such depletions or extinctions from happening.​
​
Description:
Students will learn about invasive species and their potential harms. We can then head to the schoolyard and look for invasive species, and learn how to remove them and prevent them from spreading.
Vermicomposting: Worm Habitats and Food
Location: Classroom
Grade: 4
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Writing different types of texts; Understanding Life Systems (Habitats and Communities): Demonstrate an understanding of habitats as areas that provide plants and animals with the necessities of life; Visual Arts: Use elements of design in works to communicate ideas, messages, and understandings. ​
​
Description:
Students will learn about worms and vermicomposting, focusing on worm habitats and food. They will learn about what worms eat, and how to feed them in the vermicomposter, and will then create restaurant menus for worms.
Where Does Our Food Come From?
Location: Classroom
Grade: 4
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Understanding Life Systems (Growth and Changes in Plants): Describe the different ways in which plants are grown for food, and explain the advantages and disadvantages of locally grown and organically produced food, including environmental benefits.​
​
Description:
Where does our food come from? Who grows it and how does it get to us? What transportation is required for the food to travel to us? Who are the people involved in this process? Students will be introduced to different steps in the food system, and students in older grades will learn about the concept of food miles. This workshop will involve a mix of work in small groups and as a whole class.​​
Where Does Our Food Come From?
Location: Classroom
Grade: 5
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Understanding Earth and Space Systems (Conservation of Energy and Resources): Analyse the long-term impacts on society and the environment of human uses of energy and natural resources, and suggest ways to reduce these impacts.
​
Description:
Where does our food come from? Who grows it and how does it get to us? What transportation is required for the food to travel to us? Who are the people involved in this process? Students will be introduced to different steps in the food system, and students in older grades will learn about the concept of food miles. This workshop will involve a mix of work in small groups and as a whole class.​​
Saving Seeds
(Fall Only)
Location: Inside and in the Garden
Grade: 5
Time: 80 minutes
Learning objectives:
​S&T: Understanding Earth and Space Systems (Conservation of Energy and Resources): Identify renewable and non-renewable resources
Description:
Based on observations of existing seed packages, students will design their own seed packages, taking into account the information and design. If possible, students will harvest seeds from the school garden. (If not, seeds can be brought in for this workshop.)
Mapping and Planning the Garden
Location: Garden
Grade: 5
Time: 2 x 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Math: Measurement: estimate and measure the perimeter and area of regular and irregular polygons, using a variety of tools; select and justify the most appropriate standard unit to measure length, height, width, and distance, and to measure the perimeter of various polygons; Math: Geometry and Spatial Sense: locate and object using the cardinal directions and a coordinate system; compare grid systems commonly used on maps
Description:
This workshop will give students the opportunity to use their math skills in a real-life setting. They will create maps of the garden, measuring the perimeter of garden beds. They will then get a chance to brainstorm and plan what they would like to plant in the school garden, based on the space needs of different plants.
Invasive Species in the Garden
(May-June or September-October)
Location: Classroom and garden
Grade: 6
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Understanding Life Systems (Biodiversity): Identify how invasive species reduce biodiversity in local environments
Description:
Students will learn about invasive species and their potential harms. We can then head to the schoolyard and look for invasive species, and learn how to remove them and prevent them from spreading. This will include a discussion connecting invasive species to biodiversity loss.
Mapping a Meal – Canada’s Links with the World
Location: Classroom
Grade: 6
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
Social Studies: Canada and World Connections: Canada’s Links to the World: identify some countries with which Canada has links; describe some of the connections Canada shares with the rest of the world
Description:
Where does our food come from? Who grows it and how does it get to us? What transportation is required for the food to travel to us? Who are the people involved in this process? Students will be introduced to different steps in the food system, and students in older grades will learn about the concept of food miles. This workshop will involve a mix of work in small groups and as a whole class.
This workshop will return in the winter of 2025 for Oakville public school teachers.
Biodiversity in the Food System​
Location: Inside
Grade: 6
Time: 60-80 minutes
Learning objectives:
S&T: Understanding Life Systems (Biodiversity): Analyze a local issue related to biodiversity, taking different points of view into consideration, propose action that can be taken to preserve biodiversity, and act on the proposal; Assess the benefits that human societies derive from biodiversity and the problems that occur when biodiversity is diminished; Describe ways in which biodiversity within a species is important for maintaining the resilience of those species
Description:
Students will learn about different varieties of food crops (e.g. different types of beans, tomatoes, etc) and about how they are adapted to different growing conditions. They will learn about the importance of biodiversity in our food system. They will take part in a role-playing game, where they work in groups pretending to be seed experts for a seed company.