Pulse on health : garden-based pulse nutrition and biology grade 4 curriculum

School gardens are a valuable tool for education. A school garden can serve as a biological classroom, where students use all their senses while increasing academic achievement. Students learn by connecting to the earth, growing and eating new foods, and learning in a positive environment. School garden education has been shown to increase knowledge and consumption of fruits and vegetables. Healthful eating habits learned at a young age will likely be carried into adulthood. The framework of this curriculum is based on pedagogy from garden-based learning: experiential education and environmental education. The hands-on activities and project-based learning incorporated into this curriculum supports experiential learning. Environmental learning, such as how pulses impact the environment through nitrogen fixation, connects students with the concepts of soil quality and fertilization. Students will demonstrate grade-appropriate proficiency in: asking questions, developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, constructing explanations and designing solutions, engaging in argument from evidence, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information