2. Grow It, Try It, Like It! Garden-themed nutrition education kit for preschool age children Funded by USDA’s Team Nutrition Links activities at school/child care centers with resources for use at home

3. 3 Main Concepts Children can have fun while learning about nutrition and fiber-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables grow from plants or trees in the ground, are harvested, and are taken from the farm or orchard to grocery stores and farmers’ markets. Fruits and vegetables can be prepared and eaten in many different and fun ways.

4. How to Use It Garden theme, based at the imaginary “Tasty Acres Farm” Children will color each crop as they learn about and taste it

5. Booklet 1: Introduction and Resource Materials Introduction Teaching Guide Garden Arts and Crafts Tool Shed Resources

6. Booklet 1 Teaching Guide Explains importance of importance of nutrition education Discusses how this kit can enhance overall development and learning Explains what to expect of preschoolers Discusses how to plan activities Discusses strategies to encourage children to enjoy tasting new foods.

7. Booklet 1 Garden Art and Crafts Preschool and child care providers can use these activities for reinforcement lessons

8. Booklet 1 Tool Shed Resources Intro Letter to Parents Hand Washing/Polite Tasting Guides Make a Mystery Box/Bag Tips for Using a Mystery Box/Bag Ten Terrific Ways to Serve A Harvest of Books Green Thumb Guides Fruit and Vegetable Drawings and Blackline Masters MyPlate Coloring Page

9. Growing at Home Letter Growing at Home Introduction Letter to Parents Send home to families before starting first unit Explains purpose and expectations of the curriculum Lists the 6 foods that will be explored Attach hand washing and polite food tasting handout that will be used

10. Mystery Box or Bag Use as intro to each new food Each child gets a turn Write down their responses Reveal Class discussion

11. 10 Terrific Ways to Serve Easy tasting ideas Simple recipes No-cook suggestions that could be used at home Preschool teachers could use to provide themed snacks as follow-up to lessons

12. A Harvest of Books A Harvest of Color: Growing a Vegetable Garden Growing Vegetable Soup Oliver’s Vegetables The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Story Round the Garden Squash Pie The Ugly Vegetables

13. Green Thumb Guides Gardening activities for indoors, containers and outdoors Starting Seeds Indoors Seed Tape Garden in a Bag Resources

14. Booklets 2 – 7 2 – Crookneck Squash Row 3 – Spinach Lane 4 – Sweet Potato Hill 5 – Cantaloupe Corner 6 – Peach Tree Orchard 7 – The Strawberry Patch

15. Booklets 2 - 7 A, B, C and D Activities: A: Hands-On Activities B: Planting Activities C: Songs and Stories D: Nutrition and Education Activities Planning Chart for Activities Most activities take 10-15 minutes Designed to use a few activities over a 5 day period Growing at Home Materials

19. Questions?