Classroom Guide
Lesson Plans K-2
Harvest of the Month
Florida
STRAWBERRY
Dear Teacher,
This fabulous fruit is packed full of vitamin C, shines bright red
when it’s ripe and is the only fruit whose seeds grow on the
outside… You guessed it – the feature product for this month
is the Florida strawberry! This nutritious gem adds flavor to any
salad, smoothie or breakfast cereal. Strawberry plants are easy
to grow and a great teaching tool, so pick
up a new classroom “pet” from a local
nursery today. Susie Strawberry, our
sensational scientist, will take your
students on a tasty tour of this unique
berry and guide them through Florida’s
strawberry industry. Let’s get started!
Meet Your Farmer
Did you know Florida is considered the winter
strawberry capitol of the world? Florida
strawberries are grown across the state as
field crops and are more commonly grown in
hydroponic towers. Take your students to visit a
local U-Pick farm to get a first-hand experience
harvesting this tiny treat.
For more resources visit these websites:
Florida Farm to School
FreshFromFlorida.com/FarmtoSchool
Find a Strawberry Farm Near You
FloridaStrawberry.org
Classroom Recipe
Strawberry Pops 12 Servings
INGREDIENTS:
•
12 strawberries
•
1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
•
1 cup lightly crushed
whole-grain cereal
•
12 (4-inch) lollipop sticks
PREP: 1.Rinse strawberries and remove the
leaves.
2.Dip the berries in yogurt, then in
the cereal.
Florida
3.Insert sticks into the narrow end of
the strawberry. Serve immediately.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Classroom Guide
Lesson Plans K-2
Harvest of the Month
MATH
Standards: MAFS.K.CC.1.1, MAFS.K.OA.1.1, MAFS.K.OA.1.2,
Estimated Time: 45 Minutes
Objective: Students will be able to add and subtract within
Materials:
MAFS.1.OA.1.1, MAFS.1.OA.3.6, MAFS.1.OA.1.2, MAFS.2.OA.1.1,
MAFS.2.OA.3.3
20 by using objects to solve word problems.
• Harvest of the Month PowerPoint
• Basket of Strawberries Worksheet
• Coloring pencils
Introduction: Teacher will review addition and subtraction with the class using examples from the Math PowerPoint slides. Discuss strategies
such as drawing pictures and crossing out to help solve mathematical problems.
Guided Activity: Display the Happy Harvesters PowerPoint slide. Choose one student to be a harvester, the rest of the class will be
strawberries. The harvester will then follow the prompts on the slide and collect the correct number of ‘strawberries’ (ie. students) to solve
the word problem. Choose a new harvester and complete the game until all the strawberries have been harvested. Ask the students to
count the number of ‘strawberries’ in the class?
Independent Activity: Students will complete the Basket of Strawberries worksheet.
Extension: Ask students to label the number of strawberries in each problem as even or odd.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Standards: SS.1.A.1.1, SS.1.A.2.5, SS.2.A.1.1
Estimated Time: 30 Minutes
Objective: Students will be able to distinguish between fact
Materials:
and fiction.
• Harvest of the Month PowerPoint
• Florida Strawberry Fun Facts worksheet
Introduction: Review the Harvest of the Month PowerPoint slides with your class to learn more about Florida’s strawberry industry.
Guided Activity: Teacher will discuss that if something is a fact, then it is true and really happened, and if something is fiction, then it
is not true or is ‘make believe’. Show the Fact and Fiction PowerPoint slides to review these definitions with your class. Brainstorm some
statements about Florida strawberries, such as how they are grown, what they look like, strawberry recipes, etc. Take a vote after each
statement whether the class thinks the statement is fact or fiction. Review the Fun Facts PowerPoint
Independent Activity: Students will complete the Florida Strawberry Fun Facts worksheet circling either the fact or fiction strawberry for
each statement. As a class, discuss why the statements were facts or fictional.
Extension: Ask students to think of statements about Florida strawberries. As a class, vote on whether the statements are fact or fictional.
February 2017
FreshFromFlorida.com/FarmtoSchool
SCIENCE
Standards: SC.K.N.1.1, SC.K.N.1.2, SC.K.L.14.3, SC.1.N.1.2,
Estimated Time: 45 Minutes
Objective: Students will be able to identify the major parts of a
Materials:
SC.1.L.14.1, SC.1.L.14.2, SC.1.L.16.1, SC.2.N.1.2, SC.2.L.16.1
strawberry plant. Students will use their five senses to observe a
strawberry and describe how they are different from other fruits.
• Harvest of the Month PowerPoint
• Strawberry plant
• One strawberry per student
• Hand lens (one per pair of students)
• Blank paper, ruler, pencil
• Strawberry Plants worksheet
Introduction: Strawberry plants are quite unique and have distinct features. Review the Harvest of the Month PowerPoint slides to learn
the different parts of the strawberry plant and how they grow. Using a strawberry plant as a model, ask students to make visual observations
about the plant (ie. shape and color of the leaves, presence of any flowers, other features). Teacher will explain to the class that we use our
senses to observe things and describe them by their properties (color, shape, texture, weight and size).
Guided Activity: Working in pairs, students will observe their strawberry with a shared hand lens and answer the questions from the
Strawberry Investigation PowerPoint slide on a blank piece of paper.
Independent Activity: Students will complete the Strawberry Plants worksheet and label the different parts of the strawberry plant.
Extension: Play the strawberry clones game from the PowerPoint to act out how straberry plants reproduce.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Standards: LAFS.K.RL.1.1, LAFS.K.SL.1.1, LAFS.1.RL.1.1,
Estimated Time: 45 Minutes
Objective: Students will use illustrations and details in a story to
Materials:
LAFS.1.SL.1.1, LAFS.2. RL.1.1, LAFS.2.SL.1.1
describe its characters, setting or events.
• Harvest of the Month PowerPoint
• “The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry
Bear” by Don and Audrey Wood
• Chart paper, markers
• Blank paper, coloring pencils
• Strawberry Story worksheet
Introduction: Explain the quote “a picture is worth a thousand words” and discuss that we can look at a picture and make predictions, or
guess, what the story is about. Looking at the cover of the book, ask the class to make some predictions about what they think the story is
about or what will happen in the story. Record these ideas on chart paper or the board.
Guided Activity: Read aloud “The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear“ by Don and Audrey Wood. Every
few pages, stop and look over the list to see if any of the class’ predictions are right. Periodically, ask the students to describe what they see
on the page before reading the text. After reading the book, ask questions related to the key details in the story (main character, setting,
problem, solution).
Independent Activity: Students will complete the Strawberry Story worksheet and draw a picture of a scene in the story. Encourage
them to write a couple of words or sentences to describe their picture. Students will then share their story scenes within a small group.
Florida
STRAWBERRY
Florida
For more information or to provide
feedback, please visit us online
FreshFromFlorida.com/FarmtoSchool
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Taste Testing
in the Class
• When shopping for strawberries, select firm,
plump and fragrant berries with a bright glossy
red appearance. Their fringed caps should be
bright green and look fresh.
• Strawberries do not ripen after they are harvested
– pick berries that are fully red. Avoid bruised or
shriveled berries or those having a dull appearance.
• Cool berries as soon as possible and store in the
refrigerator. Wash immediately before you plan to
serve them.
Nutrition Education
• A nutrient-dense food, strawberries are virtually
fat free, contain no cholesterol and are low
in calories.
• Strawberries are rich in vitamin C and a good
source of dietary fiber. They also contain folate,
a vitamin that helps the body metabolize protein.
• Strawberries are a good source of potassium,
which is associated with heart health and
proper nerve and muscle function. TA ST E
LEA RN
School Garden
Tips and Tricks
Book
Suggestions
• Strawberries can be grown in pots and are a great
choice for herb beds. They also do great in hydroponic
systems.
• Purchase strawberry seedlings from a local nursery.
Strawberry plants propagate and produce identical
clones that you can trim and replant.
• When planting, be sure the crown or center of the
plant is above the soil line. Mulching your strawberries
is important to retain moisture in the soil and keep
the plants healthy.
G ROW
“A Basket of Strawberries”
by Nina Yoder (Pre-K to Grade 2)
“The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe
Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear”
by Don & Audrey Wood (Pre-K to Grade 3)
“Strawberry Girl”
by Lois Lenski (Grades 3-6)
REA D