Studies show that garden-based learning improves test scores and EarthBox brings gardening to the classroom. Science achievement of students who participated in garden-based learning was higher than that of students who only engaged in classroom curriculum.

Garden-based learning was associated with increased scores in science achievement tests in a controlled study (Smith and Motsenbocken 2005). Other research proving the benefits of gardening.

To maximize the effectiveness of using EarthBox Education in the classroom, use a grow light to guarantee crop growth and yield.

The standards-based curriculum uses guided inquiry, data collection, and analysis to develop critical thinking skills; the nutrition component addresses obesity and teaches healthy eating; the growing out of crops teaches kids where their food comes from, and sustainable agriculture techniques that reduce carbon footprints.

A standards-based curriculum, customized for use with the EarthBox, provides stated and measurable objectives, a list of addressed standards, materials lists, step-by-step procedures, and scientific explanations which engage students and reduce teacher prep.

The Elementary School Support Curriculum’s 17 lessons address 18 relevant science standards under the following sections: Unifying Concepts and Processes, Science as Inquiry, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Science and Technology and Science in Personal And Social Perspectives; three Reading and Writing standards, four math standards and three national consumer Science standards. The Middle School Support Curriculum address 27 science standards, most frequently in the Life Science area; 4 Reading and Writing Standards, four principles and Math standards, and five Consumer Science Standards. The High School curriculum addresses 32 standards, 18 in science, 4 in Reading and Writing, 3 math and 5 Consumer Science. Overall, the curriculum engages, builds capacity, and provides continuity of learning throughout a student’s academic career, making it more likely that they retain the skills and knowledge.

Scientifically engineered by agronomists at the University of Florida, The EarthBox Ready-To-Grow container gardening system provides the controlled environment required to perform authentic scientific experiments. Designed and proven as an agricultural production container, it makes the study of agriculture in the classroom possible and credible. The correlated, standards-based curriculum elevates the EarthBox to an academically qualitative resource evaluated and approved by TERC, National Ag in the Classroom, The Growing Connection, The California Instructional School Garden Network, and SEDL.

The EarthBox Ready-To-Grow Kit container gardening system helps grow crops locally on rooftops, on blacktop, concrete, school yards and brown lots, or anywhere there is 6-8 hours of sunlight. When food is grown locally, it reduces the ozone depleting, global warming, carbon dioxide emitted by the fossil fuel use associated with the typical 1,500 miles that a given piece of produce travels before it reaches the table. When urban and rural farmers plant EarthBoxes in large quantities, it eliminates the need to plough, a process that uses enormous amounts of ozone depleting carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuel. The organic medium that is used in the EarthBox reduces the use of petro-produced fertilizer made from fossil fuels. The green crops that grow in the EarthBox, particularly in urban settings, purify the air by removing carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. The EarthBox itself is recyclable; the potting mix is reusable and fertilizer use is reduced. In other words, EarthBox users reduce, reuse, and recycle!

It is always best to get local support. You can locate an expert at your local cooperative extension HERE.

With no weeding, hoeing or digging, and the reduced maintenance made possible by the controlled environment of the EarthBox, teachers have more time to teach.

Teachers in zones 5-9 can implement a productive Instructional School Garden by using the standards-based curriculum in the classroom with a grow light; the EarthBox for World Food Day School Kit and the Youth Garden Guide activities outdoors in the spring, summer and fall.

The EarthBox® support curriculum and correlated Youth Garden Guide address 21st century challenges and help to develop skills to meet them. The standards-based curriculum uses guided inquiry, data collection and analysis to develop critical thinking skills; the nutrition component addresses obesity and teaches healthy eating; the horticulture skills teach kids where there food comes from and the importance of buying local and thinking global; the entrepreneurial skills teach team building, marketing, and selling skills that prepares them for the work force; the EarthBox itself teaches students the importance of conservation and allows them to practice sustainable agriculture; the ease-of-use and high yield of the EarthBox lends itself to community service projects centered on supplying senior citizens, and/or food pantries with fresh produce.

Scientifically engineered by agronomists at the University of Florida, The EarthBox Ready to Grow Container Garden System provides the controlled environment required to perform authentic scientific experiments. Designed and proven to produce high crop yields, it makes the study of agriculture in the classroom possible and credible. With no weeding, hoeing or digging, its ease of use, high crop yield, and sustainability make it an ideal growing tool. Environmentally friendly, the EarthBox conserves water, eliminates fertilizer run-off, uses less fertilizer, is recyclable, and reuses the same potting medium season after season making it an ideal instructional tool for ecologically conscious instructors. The correlated, standards-based curriculum elevates the EarthBox to an academically qualitative resource evaluated and approved by TERC, National Ag in the Classroom, The Growing Connection, The California Instructional School Garden Network and SEDL.

The EarthBox Ready-To-Grow Kit container gardening system helps grows crops locally on rooftops, on blacktop, concrete, school yards and brown lots, or anywhere there is 6-8 hours of sunlight. When food is grown locally, it reduces the ozone depleting, global warming, carbon dioxide emitted by the fossil fuel use associated with the typical 1500 miles that a given piece of produce travels before it reaches the table. When urban and rural farmers plant EarthBoxes in large quantities, it eliminates the need to plough, a process that uses enormous amounts of ozone depleting carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuel. The organic medium that is used in the EarthBox reduces the use of petro-produced fertilizer made from fossil fuels. The green crops that grow in the EarthBox, particularly in urban settings, purify the air by removing carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. The EarthBox itself is recyclable; the potting mix is reusable and fertilizer use is reduced. In other words, EarthBox users Recycle, Reuse and Reduce.