By Kathy Bego, Garden Educator
This month, our 3rd and 4th graders put on their investigator caps to uncover the secrets of carrots! Like true detectives, they used their key sleuthing skills—curiosity, attention to detail, and perseverance—to explore this vibrant vegetable.
🔍 The Investigation Begins:
- Carrot Charts – Students analyzed nutrition charts to discover the power-packed benefits of carrots, including their abundance of vision-boosting Vitamin A.
- Shredded Carrots – Working as a team, they measured and mixed shredded carrots with raisins and mayonnaise, following a step-by-step recipe to create a simple carrot salad.
- Creamy Carrot & Raisin Mix – With careful tasting, students sampled the dish twice—once before and once after adding a mystery ingredient. After some detective work, they cracked the case and correctly identified the secret spice: cinnamon!
Andrea guided older students through a colorful slide presentation, reintroducing carrots as part of the red/orange vegetable family. She engaged students with fun carrot facts, pulling insights from last month’s research group, and led discussions about the nutritional benefits of this crunchy root.
👩🍳 Culinary Creations in Action:
With measuring cups, fresh ingredients, and a recipe in hand, students jumped into hands-on cooking. Thanks to our three-person teaching team, we could divide the class into small groups for a more interactive experience. Glove-clad students took turns packing cups with matchstick carrots, stirring in raisins, drizzling in milk, and scooping up gooey (and sometimes unfamiliar) mayonnaise. Many bravely stepped out of their comfort zone to taste this unique salad, discovering new flavors and textures.
Before wrapping up, students participated in sunflower seed saving—decorating seed envelopes and filling them with seeds to share with another school, reinforcing the cycle of growing and giving. They also helped fill seed trays with tiny tomato seeds that are now sprouting in our grow room and will soon be ready for summer gardens!
🌱 More Than Just a Lesson:
As students worked through each step, they practiced patience, responsibility, and safe kitchen skills. Trusting kids with real tools and meaningful tasks empowers them—whether it’s preparing their own snack or taking on leadership roles, like a middle schooler rallying classmates to shovel mulch for a garden installation. Even first graders, equipped with trowels, stay focused and rarely misuse their tools when given a purpose.
At H.O.P.E. Gardens, we firmly believe that placing a seed in a child’s hands can change the world. Through our partnership with STEM teachers, we create opportunities for students to explore, learn, and grow—both in the classroom and in the garden. And just as we teach them, we’re always learning from them, their families, and our community.