Growing Healthy Kids (GHK) is a garden-themed, nutrition education curriculum best aligned to Common Core Standards for students in 2nd and 3rd grades. GHK was developed at Oregon State University for use in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) program of Oregon.
GHK includes seven (7) lessons with options for an outdoor, indoor, or hybrid (combination of activities from both mural and indoor gardens) garden, to give students opportunities to learn basic plant parts and try a variety of fruits and vegetables. Along with core journaling and gardening activities, lessons include food tasting activities, recipe print-outs, physical activity options, coloring sheets, and suggestions for supplemental storybooks to go with lesson themes.
The current version of GHK (5.0) was adapted and refined from the original curriculum, based on results from series of formative, process, and outcome evaluations. In 2016, an outcome evaluation of GHK 4.0 was conducted with third-graders in three schools in central Oregon. The study used a quasi-experimental, pre- and post-test design to compare GHK curriculum delivery with a series of food-tasting only nutrition education lessons. The evaluation found that students who received GHK curriculum exhibited significantly larger gains than the comparison group students on two important outcomes: the number of vegetables and fruits eaten, and their reported preference for a range of garden vegetables. GHK is considered evidence-based and practice-tested.
The GHK curriculum may be used free of charge, as long as Oregon State University Extension Service is credited appropriately: the Oregon State University Extension Service logo and a statement crediting Oregon State University Extension Service must appear on all handouts and other GHK materials.
GHK Virtual Toolkit
Section I: Overview
- 1. GHK 5.0 Binder Front (46.91 KB)
- 2. GHK 5.0 Binder Spine (33.72 KB)
- 3. GHK 5.0 Coversheet (220.58 KB)
- 4. GHK 5.0 Table of Contents (83.32 KB)
- 5. GHK 5.0 Section I Overview (129.53 KB)
- GHK Volunteer Position Description - Spanish (64.07 KB)
Section II: Lesson Plans
- 6. GHK 5.0 Section II Coversheet (47.5 KB)
- 7. GHK 5.0 Lesson 1 (135.22 KB)
- 8. GHK 5.0 Lesson 2 (115.53 KB)
- 9. GHK 5.0 Lesson 3 (112.82 KB)
- 10. GHK 5.0 Lesson 4 (116.48 KB)
- 11. GHK 5.0 Lesson 5 (115.28 KB)
- 12. GHK 5.0 Lesson 6 (108.61 KB)
- 13. GHK 5.0 Lesson 7 (102.82 KB)
At home video per lesson - Family Video Series
Section III: Appendices
- GHK 5.0 Section III Coversheet (95.38 KB)
Appendix A: Food Adventurer
- Definition Food Adventurer - English (1.7 MB)
- Definition Food Adventurer - Spanish (1.7 MB)
- Definition Food Adventurer - English & Spanish (1.72 MB)
Appendix B: Hand Washing
- Hand Washing Instructions (84.66 KB)
- Hand Washing Handout - English (235.46 KB)
- Hand Washing Handout - Spanish (164.53 KB)
- Hand Washing Handout - English & Spanish (2.5 MB)
Appendix C: Educator Kit
- Basic Educator's Kit (174.48 KB)
Appendix D: Plant Part Poster
- Plant Part Poster - English
- Plant Part Poster - Spanish
Appendix E: MyPlate Gardening
- MyPlate Gardening - English (316.23 KB)
- MyPlate Gardening - Spanish (310.47 KB)
- MyPlate Gardening - English & Spanish (619.53 KB)
Appendix F: Journal
Appendix G: Coloring Sheets
- Lesson 1 Plant Parts Coloring Sheet - English (1.21 MB)
- Lesson 1 Plant Parts Coloring Sheet - Spanish (1.2 MB)
- Lesson 2 Roots Coloring Sheet - English (747.25 KB)
- Lesson 2 Roots Coloring Sheet - Spanish (740.47 KB)
- Lesson 3 Water Coloring Sheet - English (1.43 MB)
- Lesson 3 Water Coloring Sheet - Spanish (1.32 MB)
- Lesson 4 Stems Coloring Sheet - English (834.48 KB)
- Lesson 4 Stems Coloring Sheet - Spanish (826.71 KB)
- Lesson 5 Leaves Coloring Sheet - English (1.32 MB)
- Lesson 5 Leaves Coloring Sheet - Spanish (1.33 MB)
- Lesson 6 Variety Coloring Sheet - English (778.52 KB)
- Lesson 6 Variety Coloring Sheet - Spanish (771.07 KB)
- Lesson 7 Harvest Coloring Sheet - English (1.84 MB)
- Lesson 7 Harvest Coloring Sheet - Spanish (1.84 MB)
Appendix H: Food Adventurer Adjectives Worksheet
- Food Adventurer Adjectives Worksheet - English
- Food Adventurer Adjectives Worksheet - Spanish
- Food Adventurer Adjectives Worksheet - English and Spanish
Appendix I: Food Adventurer Stickers
- Food Adventurer Stickers (74.6 KB)
Appendix J: Educator's Guide to Gardening
Appendix K: Growing in Containers
- Growing in Containers (870.86 KB)
Appendix L: Flashcards
- Flashcards - English (54.58 MB)
- Flashcards - Spanish (54.58 MB)
- Combined Flashcards - English & Spanish (55.77 MB)
Appendix M: Mural Pictures
- Mural Pictures (186.22 KB)
Appendix N: Recipes
- GHK 5.0 Recipe Coversheet (176.04 KB)
- Lesson 2 - Carrot, Jicama & Orange Salad - English (728.93 KB)
- Lesson 2 - Carrot, Jicama & Orange Salad - Spanish (1.39 MB)
- Lesson 4 - Celery with Quick & Easy Bean Dips - English (1.09 MB)
- Lesson 4 - Celery with Quick & Easy Bean Dips - Spanish (330.37 KB)
- Lesson 5 - Crunchy Kale Chips - English (831.79 KB)
- Lesson 5 - Crunchy Kale Chips - Spanish (1.41 MB)
- Lesson 6 - Creamy Fruit Salad - English (539.09 KB)
- Lesson 6 - Creamy Fruit Salad - Spanish (1.38 MB)
- Lesson 7 - Plant Part Salad - English (983.61 KB)
- Lesson 7 - Plant Part Salad - Spanish (306.28 KB)
Appendix O: Garden Sign
- Garden Sign - English (1.33 MB)
- Garden Sign - Spanish (1.32 MB)
- Garden Sign - English & Spanish (2.1 MB)
Appendix P: Graduation Certificate
- Graduation Certificate - English (135.44 KB)
- Graduation Certificate - Spanish (136.5 KB)
- Graduation Certificate - English & Spanish (199.51 KB)
Appendix Q: Flavored Water
- Lesson 3 - Flavored Water Recipe - English (726.88 KB)
- Lesson 3 - Flavored Water Recipe - Spanish (218.95 KB)
Appendix R: Activity Chart Lesson-by-Lesson
- Activity Chart (143.37 KB)
Appendix S: What I Ate Worksheet
Appendix T: PVC Lights
- Instructions - Constructing a PVC Light Rack (102.71 KB)
Appendix U: Storybooks
- List of GHK Storybooks (169.34 KB)
Appendix V: Glossary
- Glossary of Terms (87.71 KB)
Appendix W: Mission Log
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