Garden Based Learning Experiences
Taste Tests with Nutrition Education
Farm to School Educational Programs
Our standards-aligned education programs
are designed to complement cafeteria Farm to School menu items
by educating youth about
food systems, food production and healthy food choices
through the lens of
history, literature, science, civic engagement and
hands-on learning in the garden, kitchen and community.
Currently, we are conducting communications with local schools in the interest of offering no-cost, standards-aligned educational programming related to nutrition, gardening, and sustainable food systems.
Meet Our Educator, Tara Morgan
Tara is a NYS certified social studies teacher (7-12) and social justice educator with 15 years of teaching experience in a variety of settings including public and private schools, farm-based education programs and non-profit organizations. She is eager, and excited, to support local schools and teachers in bringing Farm to School programming to their students.
Tara is available to offer support in developing age-appropriate and culturally responsive Farm to School programming for any grade level. If you have questions regarding Farm to School programming and offerings, please feel free to contact her directly at tcm95@cornell.edu.
Current Projects
Dryden
- March Maple Nation Classroom Lessons (elem) and Cafeteria Posters alongside local Maple glazed chicken and maple roasted butternut squash
- June After School Cooking Classes for making smoothies and fresh toast, and a second class with fish tacos (18 HS students)
- June NYS Smoothies at elementary school field day events featuring strawberries, spinach, mint, milk and apple juice (all elementary kids at Cassavant and Freeville Elementary)
Newfield
- April Field Day Parts of the Plant Salad Taste Test (all elementary students)
- April Field Day Garden Scavenger Hunt (all elementary students)
- Year long research project in cooperation with Cornell Master of Public Health faculty and students resulting in ethnographic assessments of the physical cafeteria environment, cafeteria staff needs, and family perceptions of school food.
Ithaca
- Food Justice and Food Systems curriculum development at South Hill Elementary
- Turning the new Tompkins Food System Plan from Tompkins Food Future into elementary age lessons
- May Ithaca High School Climate Fair, Teen Climate Changemakers Table
- June Garden Field Day at BJM Elementary School Parts of the Plant taste test
- Summer food system lessons through ICSD's Project Innovation
TST BOCES
- Factors of Production curriculum
Interested in Online Farm to School Learning?
Check out our compiled 2019 resources in our Google Drive HERE.
Last updated October 1, 2022
Taste Tests Served at all Tompkins Schools
Taste tests expose kids to new flavors, increasing their desire for new menu items at school cafeterias. Changing school purchasing also means changing student eating habits. The two go hand in hand for a successful school nutrition program featuring fresh, local products.
Garden Education Connects Kids to Growing and Eating Fresh Food
Growing food in school gardens is a proven way to increase kids' curiosity about fresh foods. Our staff is available to host garden based learning activities in all schools in Tompkins.
Here, 2 Farm to School volunteers from the Cornell Master of Public Health program are leading kids at Newfield Elementary through a garden scavenger hunt and seed planting activity in April, 2022.
Cooking Classes
We welcome opportunities to offer cooking classes during school or after school programs.
Celebrating Teen Changemakers
Classroom curriculum available for grades 9-12. Email Tara Morgan for details.
