Lesson Plan: “Be a Farmer Today!”

Age Group: 4–6 years
Time: 45–50 minutes
Setting: Classroom or library program with tables and trays
Goal: Introduce children to the journey of food from farm to table, the role of farmers, and the importance of vegetables for health while giving them a hands-on planting experience.

Optional: Plant a tray of pea microgreens 8-9 days before class time to use in the lesson. They can also be used as samples.

Materials:

• Microgreen kit for each participant
• Water for rehydrating soil
• Paper towels
• Toy vegetables
• Story time books
• Visuals

1. Welcome & Story Time (5–7 min)

Objective: Capture attention and introduce the idea of farming and food.

Activity: “Where Does Our Food Come From?”

• Sit in a circle and ask:
  • “Who likes to eat carrots, tomatoes, or lettuce?”
  • “Do you know where they come from?”
• Read a short, colorful story or tell a simple narrative: “Once upon a time, a farmer planted tiny seeds in the ground. The sun shone, the rain fell, and little green plants began to grow. When they were ready, trucks came to take the vegetables to the grocery store so families could eat them and grow strong!”
• Show a picture book or images of farms, farmers, trucks, and grocery stores.

Key Points to Highlight:

• Farmers grow food on farms.
• Trucks bring food to stores so families can eat it.
• Vegetables help our bodies grow strong and healthy.

2. Discussion & Connection (5 min)

Objective: Make it personal—kids understand their role in food production.

• Ask:
  • “Have you ever helped cook or plant something at home?”
  • “What is your favorite vegetable?”
• Explain: “Today, you are going to be farmers! You will plant your own little vegetables called microgreens. These are tiny plants that grow fast and are super healthy. You can eat them yourself or share with your family!”

3. Hands-On Planting Activity: Microgreens (20–25 min)

Objective: Teach children to plant seeds and understand their role as farmers.

Materials per child/group:

• Small microgreen kit
• Water
• Paper towels

Step-by-Step Activity:

1. Introduction: Show seeds and explain:
   • “These tiny seeds will grow into little plants called microgreens.”
   • “Just like farmers plant big fields, you are planting your own little garden today!”
2. Planting :
   • Help the children separate their trays. Place one black tray on top of the white water tray. Put the second black tray, with the planting stick and rubber band, aside
   • Rehydrate the coir disc in the plastic cup
   • Help the children dump the soil into their planting tray
   • Use the planting stick to gently move the soil around so that the holes in the bottom of the tray are covered.
   • Place the second tray over the soil and gently tap it to flatten the soil without packing it down.
   • Sprinkle seeds evenly on top.
   • Place the second tray over top of the seeds.
3. Finishing the planting segment:
   • Help the children place the rubber band around the two black trays. This prevents the trays from spilling when they are moved.

Key Points to Reinforce During Planting:

• “You are farmers today!”
• “Microgreens are tiny vegetables that you are growing for yourself and your family.”
• “Farmers work hard to grow food, and now you are learning how to do it too!”

4. Farmer & Truck Role-Play (5–10 min)

Objective: Show how food gets from farm to store to table, reinforcing the knowledge that food is grown on farms and brought to grocery stores.

Activity:

• Ask a few children to pretend to be farmers, picking “vegetables” (use toy vegetables).
• Ask a few children to be trucks, carrying vegetables to the “grocery store” (a table).
• The remaining children can be shoppers, picking vegetables to take home.

Discussion:

• “See how farmers grow food and trucks bring it to stores? That’s how our families get healthy vegetables to eat!”

5. Healthy Eating Connection (5 min)

Objective: Reinforce why vegetables are important.

• Show colorful pictures of vegetables.
• Show pictures of microgreens being added to food (available here)
• Ask: “Who wants to grow up strong and healthy?”
• Explain: “Vegetables give our bodies vitamins and minerals. Microgreens are tiny vegetables that are packed with nutrition. Eating them helps us run, jump, think, and grow!”
• Optional: taste a small sample of ready-to-eat microgreens if available.

6. Wrap-Up & Take-Home (5 min)

Objective: Celebrate learning and encourage continued curiosity.

• Ask each child to show their planted tray.
• Encourage: “Keep being farmers! Watch your microgreens grow at home. Remember to water them and take care of them, just like real farmers take care of their crops.”
• Hand out a simple illustrated sheet:
  • How to care for microgreens at home
  • Fun vegetable facts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson, children will:

1. Understand that food comes from farms and farmers grow it.
2. Recognize the role of trucks and stores in delivering food.
3. Know that vegetables are important for healthy bodies.
4. Experience being a farmer by planting and caring for microgreens.
5. Begin to connect their actions at home with food and nutrition.

Resources

Suggested books for young children-

https://www.howwemontessori.com/how-we-montessori/2019/12/favourite-farm-to-table-farmers-market-childrens-books.html

Educational Resources

Graphic directions