Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Kids Cook Farm-Fresh Foods

An activity guide that links academic content standards to the real world through gardens, nutrition, cooking, recycling, and the environment.

Description

Activities engage teachers and students in grades two through seven in exploring fresh, seasonal, locally grown produce through direct experience. Using tested recipes and farm profiles, Kids Cook Farm-Fresh Food links agriculture and the culinary arts to the core subjects reading, mathematics, social sciences, and geography. This guide also links food and nutrition to the concept of sustainable agriculture, which is a commitment to growing and distributing food in an environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially just manner. Alongside instructional school gardening experiences, this guide helps students to develop a deeper understanding of where food comes from, and how farmers bring life from the land, while students apply math, language, and other core skills.

  • Originator of Resource: Sibella Kraus, Sustainable Agriculture Education, in collaboration with the California Department of Education
  • User of Resources: Teachers
  • Audience: Grades 2–7
  • Languages Offered: English Only
  • Date updated: 2002

Resource

Kids Cook Farm-Fresh Food (PDF; 4MB)

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact the Education and Nutrition Policy Unit by email at Farm2School@cde.ca.gov.

Questions:   Education and Nutrition Policy Unit | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Monday, June 17, 2024
Related Content
Recently Posted in Nutrition

  • Summer Food Service Program Annual Updates (added 12-Mar-2026)
    The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division (NSD) is pleased to announce that the SFSP 2026 Program Year is now open.
  • Reimbursement for Off-Site Meal Consumption (added 02-Mar-2026)
    SNP-06-2026 provides guidance on serving NSLP and SBP meals for off-site consumption.
  • Honoring Cultural Preferences in School Nutrition (added 02-Mar-2026)
    This webinar highlights best practices for incorporating student cultural food preferences honoring Black voice and other cultures, in menu offerings, strengthen student trust and engagement, and support equity in school meal participation.
  • State Meal Mandate (added 02-Mar-2026)
    SNP-05-2026 addresses the requirements for LEAs to serve and claim NSLP and SBP meals for both state and federal reimbursement.
  • Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030 (added 27-Feb-2026)
    Announcing an update to the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030 - Eat Real Food