October 29th, 2014
View all our resources for connecting garden-based learning to the new content standards.
See examples of how we bring content standards to life at the Life Lab Garden Classroom.
We are thrilled by the guiding principles behind the new science standards, which integrate content, practices, and cross-cutting concepts to ensure that science education is meaningful, engaging, … [Read More →]
September 10th, 2014
A brand new edition of our most popular garden and nutrition activity guide is hot off the presses! The 4th Edition of The Growing Classroom includes new and updated hands-on activities to bring learning to life for elementary school students. There is a new chapter on Healthy Eating, an expanded resource section on Cooking with Kids, over 25 student lab sheets for experiments, and more. The 480 pages of science, math, … [Read More →]
June 29th, 2012
Family Book Talk & Demonstration
Sunday, July 15th @ 4pm
The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids
February 2nd, 2012
Feeling Fine With Fresh Foods
Lesson packet from our Feeling Fine with Fresh Foods Field Trip.
Our winter field trip helps students make the important connection between their health and the foods they choose. Classes explore our Garden Classroom and the UCSC Farm, and activities prepare students to make informed decisions about what they eat.
Download the pre/post visit lesson packet (25 pages) for 3rd-5th grades which includes:
… [Read More →]
January 2nd, 2012
A great extension to a seed study lesson. Make a trail mix of edible seeds while students practice math skills. While eating your trail mix discuss all the ways we eat seeds and grains. Download seed cards and lesson.… [Read More →]
November 1st, 2011
Recently, my friend who has become the "garden parent" for her son's school lamented to me, "I know how to garden, but what am I going to do with 10 kindergarteners in the garden?" There is a world of difference between gardening in your yard and gardening with a class of kids. Although not essential, gardening skills help, but having lesson plans and ideas about outdoor classroom management can create … [Read More →]
August 13th, 2011
Many teachers break large groups of students into smaller groups in order to facilitate meaningful learning opportunities in the garden. By designing some activities that a small, supervised group of students can accomplish independently, teachers are able to divide their classes and engage small groups, one at a time, in in-depth scientific investigations while other students experience a more self-directed approach to learning. Toward this end, over the years we … [Read More →]
August 10th, 2011
Our summer day camps are coming to a close. Foggy mornings and sunny afternoons have framed great days of exploration, harvest, cooking, crafts, farm chores, and fresh-fruit-pop-sucking-story-time.
Two chicks were born during camp, one is a unique Frizzle chick! Only about 1/4 of Frizzle offspring actually get the curly frizzled feathers and this chick is fantasically frizzled.
Expanded sessions of Garden Sprouts were … [Read More →]
July 28th, 2011
Over the years we have been asked, "Do you have any garden-based education resources in Spanish?"
Here's a nice collection of resources for teaching and working in school and community gardens with Spanish speakers:
For Garden-Based Educators
For Agricultural Production and Market Gardeners
Garden-Based Education Resources
The Life Lab Science K-5 Curriculum is a garden-based science curriculum which is in written in English with Spanish language handouts, parent … [Read More →]
June 27th, 2010
Purchased designs come as PDF download digital files. We do not sell the physical signs themselves, just a digital design.
With the digital files you will be able to print and laminate your own signs or get them printed in a more professional manner. Purchased sign designs are downloadable as PDF's once you complete your sale. Adobe Illustrator files may also be requested and will be sent on a disk … [Read More →]
June 17th, 2010
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Learn other ways to stay in touch with Life Lab.
New Edition of the Growing Classroom
Summer Camp Highlights
Food What Summer Program Celebration Dinner
Garden Tips and Educator Resources
Recipe: Apple Salsa
Lesson: Seed Ya Later from New TGC
Garden Project: Running an Effective Garden Workday
The Ultimate School Compost Resource
Life Lab Fall Gathering – Saturday, October … [Read More →]
April 25th, 2010
Life Lab's first book, The Growing Classroom was published in 1982. Since that time, we have created many wonderful resources. From comprehensive garden-based science activity guides for PreK-5th grades to colorful, educational garden signs, we provide wonderful products to support garden-based learning.
Curriculum and Garden Activity Guides for Educators and Families
Garden Sign Designs
Literature, Music, and DVD's
School Waste Reduction
To pay by check or purchase order print our … [Read More →]
February 26th, 2010
Created with lessons from the K-5 Life Lab Science Curriculum and The Growing Classroom our Science Exploration Units are garden themed and aligned to the California State Science Standards.
These units have 6 lessons each and are available as a PDF download or purchased as a set of four from our store
Download the following units:
… [Read More →]
February 23rd, 2010
Our two new publications will help get families and wee-ones exploring the garden!
Sowing the Seeds of Wonder – Discovering the Garden in Early Childhood Education
Through hands-on activities preschool-age children will engage all of their senses as they discover the joys of gardening. Sowing the Seeds of Wonder is an educator guidebook that provides insight and lessons for educators to help students develop a lifelong connection to the outdoors. Lessons guide young students to … [Read More →]
March 23rd, 2009
When I was a child and the world seemed grim I had a place that I would go to and find myself again. I think, or hope, that most of us had such a place. Mine was deep in what I remember as a thick forest behind my home (though I later saw it was only a small grove of trees!). In that forest … [Read More →]
June 11th, 2007
This presentation was created as an introduction to CSGN’s Creating and Sustaining Your School Garden Workshop. It can be downloaded, along with other CSYSG workshop materials at: http://www.csgn.org/page.php?id=75… [Read More →]
January 24th, 2007
This new edition of The Growing Classroom is pulished by our friends at the National Gardening Association and help to bring a fresh look and needed revisions to one of the be garden-based learning publications in print.… [Read More →]
December 31st, 1994
Videodiscovery publishes 4th and 5th grade Life Lab Science Curriculum.… [Read More →]
January 2nd, 1992
Videodiscovery publishes Kindergarten – Third grade science curriculum. This curriculum is disseminated throughout the country training 10s of thousands of educators.
< --Life Lab Science Laser Disc Cover… [Read More →]
January 3rd, 1986
Addison-Wesley and Life Lab enter into a publishing agreement. The Growing Classroom is promoted and sold across the country.… [Read More →]
March 6th, 1982
Life Lab self publishes the first version of The Growing Classroom Activity Guide and creates workshops which are conducted for 10 schools in Santa Cruz County. Life Lab garners its first science award, The WSTA Center of Excellence. Staff start attending regional and national conferences with The Growing Classroom Activity Guide.… [Read More →]