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ADDITIONAL PACING 

RECOMMENDATIONS

Lesson 1

It is recommended that you begin 

with the first lesson. Many recurring 

components (such as Garden Journals 

and Garden Teams) are explained here. 

It also introduces necessary background 

knowledge for your students about how 

fruits and vegetables are grown.

Lesson 10

The Harvest Celebration 

is a culminating event that will 

showcase what your students 

have learned throughout the unit and 

will allow them to share the garden 

and harvest with the rest of the school, 

families, and your local community. 

You will see a icon throughout 

Lessons 1-9 noting activities or 

assessments that can be shared 

during the Harvest Celebration. See 

Lesson 10 on p. 62 for celebration 

ideas – from simple to more involved 

multiday events – as well as 

suggestions to help you 

plan ahead.

OVERVIEW

Planting the Seeds for a 

Successful Educational Journey

There are many features that help make the Dig In! curriculum 

engaging, motivating, and easy to use. We invite you to review the 10 lessons 

to see how they can best fit into your class schedule and meet the needs of 

your students.

While each lesson offers connections to the garden, learning activities can be 

done with or without a large garden in place. You can also teach lessons in 

sequence or split them up over the course of the school year (for example, 

teaching some lessons in the fall and the others in the spring). 

In addition to elements found in a basic lesson plan – such as learning objectives,

essential questions, time required, and supplies and preparation – each lesson 

features the following elements to make it easier to incorporate into your existing 

curriculum. 

STANDARDS: 

Each lesson meets education standards in one or more of the following subjects:

• Science (National Academy of Sciences)

• English Language Arts (Common Core State Standards Initiative)

• Math (Common Core State Standards Initiative)

• Health (American Cancer Society)

See Dig In! At a Glance on pp. 6-11 for a look at specific learning objectives 

and standards met in each lesson.

KEY MESSAGE(S):

The key nutrition messages children should hear and remember are 

identified at the beginning of each lesson. These takeaways are written 

in a way that appeals and makes sense to 5th and 6th graders. Repeat 

these messages often throughout the instruction.

TIMING/PACING GUIDE:

Each lesson plan notes the estimated time required to complete it from start 

to finish. Note that every lesson features several learning activities, some of 

which may take longer than one class “period.” We’ve included suggestions 

for how to break longer activities into shorter “sessions,” if needed.

While each lesson and its learning activities may be taught independently, 

Dig In! works best as a unit, as each lesson builds upon prior knowledge. 

Certain topics are covered in several lessons; in such cases, you’ll see 

references to earlier lessons.

OVERVIEW

Dig In! • Grades 5-6 • http://teamnutrition.usda.gov 1
TASTING AND FOOD PREPARATION ACTIVITIES

Children and teachers alike report that the tasting and food preparation 

experiences were among their favorite activities in these lessons. These 

hands-on activities are fun, positive, and also important in changing attitudes 

about fruits and vegetables.

In order to successfully implement these activities, we encourage you to seek 

help from your school district’s Food Service Director (or School Nutrition 

Director), local chefs, dietitians, an area Cooperative Extension agent 

specializing in Family and Consumer Sciences, or parent volunteers. 

Depending on your school and resources, you may choose to do these 

activities in the classroom or the school cafeteria.

Featured Fruits or Vegetables: The fruits and vegetables featured in each 

lesson are those recommended to grow in your school garden (see pp. 96-99 

of the Gardening Guide). They are also easily accessible if you need 

to purchase them from a store or market. Talk with your school’s parent 

organization and Food Service Director for help with food supplies or about 

nutrition education grants that may be available. 

Tasting Etiquette: Lesson 1 (p. 13) recommends that students come up with 

food “tasting rules” that will be used throughout the unit. Remind students of 

these guidelines each time they try new foods.

FOOD SAFETY

In every lesson that features a tasting or food preparation activity, it is important 

to follow the proper hand-washing and food preparation guidelines. You can 

find these on pp. 4-5 as a reproducible. Print them out and display them in a 

visible location in your classroom for you, your students, and adult volunteers 

to follow. Additional information about preparing foods safely is available at 

http://www.foodsafety.gov. 

ALLERGIES

Before you begin any tasting or 

food preparation activity, be sure 

to gather information on any 

allergies your students may 

have. We recommend 

that you obtain this 

information from 

parents in writing at 

the start of the unit. 

Food tasting and 

preparation activities 

will include handling 

of fruits and vegetables, 

in addition to other 

food ingredients. 

DIG IN!

FEATURED FRUITS 

AND VEGETABLES:

Note: Some of the featured 

fruits and vegetables appear 

in more than one lesson. If they 

are not available from your school 

garden, you may purchase these 

fruits and vegetables from 

a grocery store or market.

Lesson 1

Chickpea (garbanzo bean), 

broccoli, zucchini, celery, 

leaf lettuce, carrot

Lesson 2

Spinach, leaf lettuce, kale

Lesson 3

Black bean

Lesson 4

Broccoli

Lesson 5

Red and orange bell pepper

Lesson 6

Chickpea (garbanzo bean)

Lesson 7

Carrot, tomato, sweet potato

Lesson 8

Strawberry

Lesson 9

Cantaloupe

Lesson 10

Any and all 

fruits and vegetables

OVERVIEW

Dig In! • Grades 5-6 • http://teamnutrition.usda.gov 2
ADDITIONAL USEFUL TOOLS AND RESOURCES

GARDENING GUIDE: 

Dig In! is designed to be accessible for the novice gardener and will work in a variety of climates and in small or 

urban spaces. The Gardening Guide (found on pp. 91-107) provides important information and resources, a 

planting schedule, gardening tips and techniques, and advice on growing, maintaining, and harvesting a school 

garden. Throughout the curriculum, you will be referred to this Gardening Guide for more information. Look for the 

green leaf icon. 

Dig In! at Home:*

This colorful booklet shares information with parents and caregivers about what their children are learning in class and 

should be sent home at the start of the unit. It is designed to reinforce the lessons at home by providing conversation 

starters (“Ask About...”), recipes, ideas for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and time and cost-saving tips. 

In addition, it provides important nutrition information, an explanation of MyPlate, and a weekly menu planner for 

parents to work on with their children. 

Dig In! Posters:*

These six “mini-billboards” visually express the theme of the Dig In! unit – namely, the world of possibilities found 

in growing and eating fruits and vegetables. Display them in your classroom, the school cafeteria, and other places 

throughout the school to motivate students to choose more fruits and vegetables at meals and snacks. (Note: A list 

of all vegetables pictured in the poster can be found at: http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/dig_in.html.)

Eat Smart To Play Hard With MyPlate Poster:*

This is a colorful two-sided poster showing the MyPlate icon and foods in the five food groups (used in Lesson 1). 

The blank MyPlate icon on the reverse can be used as a tool to assess students’ understanding. 

* Schools participating in Child Nutrition programs (such as the National School Lunch Program) can order 

parent booklets and posters for free at http://teamnutrition.usda.gov.

OVERVIEW

Dig In! • Grades 5-6 • http://teamnutrition.usda.gov 3