• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Edible Learning Lab
  • Home
  • Start

    Essential Reading

    Program Overview

    The broad strokes of the Edible Learning Lab Program.

    Teachers Primer

    A guide to help teachers visualize their edible education program.

    Farmers Primer

    Learn how to turn your farm into an edible classroom.

    Organizations Primer

    Discover how you can bring edible education into your community.

    Grants & Funding

    There are numerous grants and funding sources to get you started.

    Equipment Recommendations

    Buy the same equipment we use in our flagship Lab.

    The Legal Stuff

    Privacy Policy

    Terms and Conditions

  • Lessons

    Advanced Lesson Search

    Beginner Lessons

    The Beginner Lessons form the foundation with a sound overview of the core concepts of food production.

    Intermediate Lessons

    The Intermediate Lessons allow students to experiment and prove the core concepts.

    Advanced Lessons

    The Advanced Lessons give students an opportunity to apply what they've learned in the previous levels.

    Lessons By Station

    Seed Starting Curriculum

    Soil Management Curriculum

    Vermiculture Curriculum

    Hydroponics Curriculum

    Composting Curriculum

    Water Management Curriculum

    Seed Saving Curriculum

    Teaching Kitchen Curriculum

  • Blog

    Our Top Posts

    What is a Food Desert?

    Gain insight into food deserts, the communities they impact, and how edible education may offer a solution.

    The Difference Between Rainwater and Tap Water

    Not all water is created equal especially when we're talking about the health and development of plants and people.

    Why Rain is Important

    Rain or the lack of an adequate supply can have profound effects on farming and the communities that rely on the harvest.

    Anatomy of a Seed

    It all begins with a seed and this article dives deep into the 5 primary parts of the seed that make it all possible.

Seed Starting Curriculum

Seed Starting Lessons and Resources

The seed starting curriculum begins by creating a growing medium and discussing the essentials of light and moisture in germinating seeds. This is where Students begin exploring soil and early plant biology.

Are you looking for a lesson on a specific topic? Use our Detailed Search to filter lessons by keyword, lesson format, lesson number, or rating.

Need a little direction to get started? You may want to look through our Quick Start Guide. It’s packed with everything you need to find your way.

 

1.1 Seed Needs

Creating an Ideal Environment for Growing Seeds (Beginner)

The base of any garden operation is the ability to successfully start seeds and that requires a proper medium. This lesson walks students through the recipe for a perfect soilless seed starting medium.

Explore Various Seed Starting Media (Intermediate)

It might seem strange, but seeds do not require soil to germinate. In this lesson, students will experiment with soilless seed starting media.

In Search of a Better Medium (Advanced)

Despite a history nearly 10,000 years in the making, we are still finding better ways to grow food. When a student questioned why we were using the same media every time and suggested he might find something better we made it a challenge for the entire glass.

Lesson Resources

Seed Starting Mix

 

1.2 What’s Inside?

The Anatomy of a Seed (Beginner)

It’s imperative that students have a firm understanding of the anatomy of a seed. This lesson explores the various parts of the seed and the role each plays in the development process.

Germinate, Dissect, Repeat (Intermediate)

The best way to explore a seed’s anatomy is to sprout one and take it apart. In this lesson, students will do just that to see just how a seed develops into a viable seedling.

With One Hand Tied Behind My Back (Advanced)

Though a seed is often a small compact unit it still contains a concert of working parts each doing it’s specific job. This lesson challenges students to remove a single part to witness how it affects development.

Lesson Resources

Seed Structures

Anatomy of a Seed

Native Americans Revive Squash From Seeds Found in an 800-Year Old Pot

Extinct Tree From Christ’s Time Rises From the Dead

 

1.3 Will These Grow?

The Basics of Germination Testing (Beginner)

Sometimes seed stock expires for a variety of reason. Being able to test it for germination rates is a vital skill for any farmer. This lesson teaches students how to perform germination tests on seed samples.

Every Seed Matters (Intermediate)

Every seed represents value to the farmer. Low germination rates can spell disaster for that year’s profitability. In this lesson, students will learn to calculate the value of each seed that is started.

Can I Get You a Drink? (Advanced)

Seeds don’t need much to germinate but moisture is imperative. Does it matter what the source of moisture is? In this lesson, students will answer that very question with a little experimentation.

Lesson Resources

Testing Your Old Seed

Germination on Wikipedia

 

1.4 Infinite Choices

Selecting Which Seeds to Grow (Beginner)

The best thing to grow in your garden is the very fruits and vegetables you enjoy eating the most. This lesson explores seasonal and companion planting based on the favorite varieties of the class.

Favorite Meals Deconstructed (Intermediate)

Little kids often think that pizza grows on trees somewhere. It would be nice but it’s not that simple. In this lesson, students will create an ingredient list for their favorite meals to determine how much can br grown in the garden. That’s the next best thing to a pizza tree!

Next Food Network…Farmer? (Advanced)

The Next Food Network Star has made more than one budding chef famous. But what does it take to grow all the ingredients those chefs use? This lesson makes students the stars behind the scenes, crafting a plan to grow everything a restaurant needs to put its menu together.

Lesson Resources

Seed Selection Q&A

Seeds by Season

Companion Planting List

Three Sisters Legend

Companion and Seasons Grids and Charts

Old Farmer’s Almanac Video: Why Vegetables Need Friends

 

1.5 Seed Knowledge

The A,B,Cs of Reading Seed Packets (Beginner)

Seed packets contain a wealth of knowledge that denotes the specific conditions required for optimal growth. In this lesson, students learn to read seed packets to gather the seed starting information they need.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (Intermediate)

Time to embrace their inner artist. This lesson challenges students to create an artistic seed packet that not only highlights the history of the variety but also the essential information required to cultivate it successfully.

Bigger Better Seed Delivery Mechanism (Advanced)

At first thought, it may be challenging to think of a better way to packet and distribute seeds. After all, a little envelope filled with seeds is just about as handy as it gets. This lesson challenges students to design something better.

Lesson Resources

Seed Selection Q&A

How To Read Your Seed Packets

DIY Seed Packet Design

 

1.6 A Matter of Degrees

Measuring and Evaluating Soil Temperature (Beginner)

The temperature of the soil is an important factor for optimal plant growth. In this lesson, students learn how to measure soil temp in order to optimize it for seed germination.

It’s Getting Hot in Here (Intermediate)

Microclimates allow plants to flourish when everything around them is being overwhelmed by the conditions. In this lesson, students will learn to identify areas and techniques that produce higher than normal soil temperatures.

Map It Likes It’s Hot! (Advanced)

A good farmer knows his land intimately. In this lesson, students will get to know their land by testing soil temperature in different zones to devise a strategy for managing it through the growing season.

Lesson Resources

Optimal Seed Germination Temperatures by Variety

 

1.7 Flats, Cells, and Medium

Starting Your First Set of Seeds (Beginner)

Good farm planning includes knowing when to start seeds to replace the upcoming harvest. This lesson allows students to develop their seed starting skills by sowing seeds in flats to develop seedlings for future transplant.

Fast Forward the Germination Process (Intermediate)

There are tricks to encourage germination which can mean additional yield in the Lab. This lesson teaches students how to pre-soak seeds to expedite germination and explore the implications.

Lesson Resources

Presoaking and Germinating Seeds

 

1.8 Growing UP

The Physiology of the Sprouting Process (Beginner)

Understanding the process that seeds go through as they emerge and develop into young seedlings is the perfect way to watch nature unfold. In this lessons, students will demonstrate their understanding of this process.

Snapshot: Germination Timeline (Intermediate)

Knowing the steps in the germination process is helpful but being able to recognize the stage of development by sight is like having a super power. This lesson asks students to create a visual timeline of the germination process to better understand the states the plant moves through.

The SunSeeker 2000 (Advanced)

Man has attempted to mimic nature for generations. Technology has progressed to a point where mimicking has become harnessing. In this lesson, students will explore the possibilities of a hybrid solar powered system that integrates technology and nature to harvest the sun’s energy.

Lesson Resources

Seed Structures

Presoaking and Germinating Seeds

Germination Timeline

Time Lapse – Germination of Seed

 

1.9 Grow Time

It Takes More Than the Seed (Beginner)

The elusive goal for any farmer is to provide optimal conditions in the garden. In this lesson, students will create a rendering that depicts the perfect conditions needed for plant development.

Designing the Dream Garden (Intermediate)

What happens in the garden above the soil is only half the picture. To understand the entire process, this lesson requires students to create a soil profile that includes both the above and below ground elements.

Taking a Peak Underground (Advanced)

It’s amazing to see just how prolific the root structures are in the garden when plants are pulled up each fall. In this lesson, students will recreate that close-up view so they can watch the development happen in real-time.

Lesson Resources

What a Plant Needs To Grow

Biology Lesson Plan: What do plants need to grow?

Ideal Soil Profile (Soil Horizons)

 

1.10 Light is Life

Why Seedlings Need Light (Beginner)

Light is a critical input for plant development. In this lesson, students will explore the role and impact that light has on plants during the seed starting process.

Chasing Daylight (Intermediate)

Plants can see light, well, in a manner of speaking. In this lesson, students will explore how photorecptors function allowing plants to “see”.

Light is Light, Right? (Advanced)

Some plants thrive on direct sunlight while others prefer an indirect source. In this lesson, students will seek to prove the value of reflected light and determine which objects in the garden might actually be feeding light to plants via reflection.

Lesson Resources

Photosynthesis

Light, Tropisms and Hormones (Video)

 

1.11 Lights, Camera, Action!

Exploring the Best Lighting Options for Seeds and Seedlings (Beginner)

Not all light is created equal. This is certainly true for plant production. In this lesson, students will explore various lighting options and determine which is best for use in the Lab.

Let There Be….the Right Light (Intermediate)

There are different grow lights for purposes. In this lesson, students explore the attributes of different types of lights and test them to determine which is best for use in the Lab.

Lights of the Rainbow (Advanced)

Natural light is comprised of different wavelengths. Some of those wavelengths are preferred by plants more than others. In this lesson, students will experiment with different light sources to prove this themselves.

Lesson Resources

Let There Be Plant Light

Indoor Plant Grow Light Guide

Wavelength Influence on Plants

 

1.12 Planning for Planting

Understanding Seasonal and Succession Planting (Beginner)

Planning is one of the most important skills for any farmer. This lesson tasks students with creating a plan for both seasonal and succession planting to maximize the annual yield of the Lab.

Create a 365 Day Plan (Intermediate)

The most expensive piece of dirt is that which is not planted. This lesson explores succession planting and tasks students with creating a succession schedule for the entire year to maximize production.

Will the Real Garden Planner Please Step Up? (Advanced)

Any business requires planning and that includes the ability to effective draft and manage a budget. This lesson tasks students with the creation of an annual budget for the Lab.

Lesson Resources

Seeds by Season

The Math of Rotation Planting (Rotation Planning Worksheet)

Eat the Seasons

 

1.13 The Many Faces of Seeds

Recognizing Different Types of Seeds (Beginner)

It’s helpful in the Lab to be able to identify seeds by sight. In this lesson, students will practice identifying seed varieties just by looking at the seeds.

A Closer Look at Seeds (Intermediate)

Every seed library has some convention for organization like plant family, common name, or the season they prefer. This lesson requires students to create their own classification standard for the seeds in their seed saving library.

Seed Identification by Sight (Advanced)

A seed catalog is a versatile reference in the Lab. Students will create one for the Seed Library with pictures and a description along with the information vital to successfully cultivating the variety from seed.

Lesson Resources

Seed Structures

Seed Identification

 

1.14 Plant Daycare

Step-by-Step Seedling Care (Beginner)

The transition from seed emergence to young seedling is a very critical time in the development of a plant. In this lesson, students will learn to care for young starts and foster their development.

A Guide to Plant TLC (Intermediate)

Knowledge is power. Don’t reinvent the wheel. These two bits of sage advice shape this lesson. Students will create a seedling care guide filled with best practices that future classes will be able to reference.

Going a Step Further (Advanced)

Edible education should be an continuous pursuit of greater knowledge and that means each class should leave what they can behind for the next one. This lesson transforms the seedling care guide into a database that can be utilized by anyone with access.

Lesson Resources

Seedling Care

 

1.15 Garden ER

Diagnosing Health Problems in Your Seedlings (Beginner)

Regular plant inspections are imperative for both indoor and outdoor growing spaces. In this lesson, students will learn how to inspect seedlings for early detection of problems and disease.

Be The Problem (Intermediate)

Sometimes you learn more from failure than success. This lesson gives students a chance to fail on purpose to accelerate their learning curve.

Musical Chairs for NPK (Advanced)

Conditions in the garden are in constant flux. Nutrients move through the soil strata becoming available and unavailable as plants develop. In this lesson, Students will experiment with macronutrient deficiencies to observe first-hand the effect each ha on plant development.

Lesson Resources

Common Seedling Problems

 

Equipment Recommendations from Modern Steader


Disclaimer: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We only link to products that we have used. The fees we earn through this program help to keep the Subscription rates associated with our Edible Learning Lab Curriculum in a range that teachers can afford. After all, our mission is to bring edible education into every classroom and keeping fees low supports that cause.

Primary Sidebar

Search All Lessons

Our Lessons are organized into three levels. With our Detailed Search, you can drill down to the Lessons you need most.

Filter by Lesson Number, format, keyword, or rating.

  • Search Beginner Lessons
  • Search Intermediate Lessons
  • Search Advanced Lessons

Featured Pages

  • Foundation Lessons
  • DIY Projects
  • Recipes

Don’t miss out

We publish new resources for teachers several times a week and we can deliver those right to your inbox. You'll never miss another post again!

Contact Us

  • Be specific and share as much detail as you can.

Featured Recipe

Lime Basil Pesto

Lime Basil Pesto

Footer

Our Content Libraries

  • Resource Library
  • Foundation Series Lessons
  • Recipes
  • DIY Projects

© 2023 Edible Learning Lab | Site by Vestor Logic