Grades 3 to 8.

Various Ontario Curriculum expectations are covered in the 15 lessons of Oasis Classroom for grades 3 all the way up to 8, in Math, Language, Science, Social Studies and Health.

It's simply too much to share it all on this page.

However, at the top of this page you can find downloadable samples of curriculum connections to GRADE 4, for our "Week3: Seed and Seedlings" lesson.

Embedded in all lessons of Oasis Classroom is the core message of the indigenous way of life and their Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), which at its core has our connection to land and water.

In addition, we specifically talk about it in "Week 11: Biodiversity and Indigenous Ways of Life" lesson and we plant the 3 sisters with Beans, Squash and Sunflowers (in place of corn).

Even though gardening is not the first thing that comes to mind when teachers think of STEM strand, they connect much more than usually envisioned.

Not only does Oasis Classroom connect to many expectations in Math and Science in all grades, it encourages Systems Thinking, collaborating with the natural world to reach a common goal and enhances Problem Solving skills.

These skills are all very important in successful adaptation to this increasingly complex, changing world.

We can all agree that we need our engineers to be knowledgeable about the environment and the importance of our vital connection with the natural world.

Our industrial agriculture has and continues to have a huge toll on the Earth systems.

Growing your own local organic food is one the most accessible, effective and, therefore, popular ways of helping the environment.

This is explicitly weaved into our lesson plans and student worksheets.

There are two overall aspects of Food Literacy:

1) Growing Food

2) Preparing Food

Oasis Classroom focuses entirely and comprehensively on the Growing aspect and on the last session, students also prepare and taste the veggies of their labour while celebrating their success.

Oasis Classroom material has the flexibility to easily be connected to cooking programs for your students.

Absolutely!

There is enough differences between lessons that each grade (from 3 to 8) would get something from it.

The curriculum expectation connection documents will help your teachers to organize a variety of cross-divisional plans between grades. 

Your classroom teachers, with full support from our growing and teaching coaches via virtual Q&A sessions.

Inside your classrooms!

Outdoor gardens are highly beneficial but not required for the success of the program.

You do require at least one room, accessible to participating teachers and students, that either has grow lights or gets 5 hours of direct natural sunlight.

This program runs from the third week of February for 15 weeks till the end of May.

Refer to the Lesson Plan List section of this FAQ.

All material including student booklets are available online and can be downloaded and shared with your online students by your teachers.

If you purchase the Material Delivery add-on, organic soil, seeds and other lesson-related material should be picked up by parents of your online students from the school.

... and in case of school shut-downs, sent home with the students...

Your teachers will then be able to continue the lessons online while students use the material to grow the projects.

As you can see in the Lessons List section above, your students will grow an abundance of variety of flowers, fruit and vegetables.

Some of what they grow will be ready for harvest by the end of May and can then be enjoyed by your students.

And some of what they grow will still be a seedling at the end of May and your community can decide what to do with those plants. 

A few exciting suggestions are:

- Donate plants to community gardens in your neighborhood

-  Sell the plants in a student-led market, connected to an entrepreneurial program

- Give plants away to staff and parents

If you decided to only purchase 5 lessons the following are our suggestions:

Grade 3:

1) Week 3: Seeds and Seedlings (growing Arugula)
2) Week 4: Soil (growing Tomato)
3) Week 6: Water (growing Lettuce)
4) Week 7: Edible Parts of Plants (growing Radish)
5) Week 12: Sunlight (growing Corn and Sunflowers) --> Contributes to 3 sisters

Grade 4:

1) Week 6: Water (growing Lettuce)
2) Week 8: Worms and Composting (growing Swiss Chards)
3) Week 11: Biodiversity and Indigenous ways of life (growing Poll Beans and Squash) --> Contributes to 3 sisters
4) Week 12: Sunlight (growing Corn and Sunflowers) --> Contributes to 3 sisters
5) Week 14: Trees (growing Kale and Nasturtium)

Grade 5:

1) Week 4: Soil (growing Tomato)
2) Week 6: Water (growing Lettuce)
3) Week 10: Beneficial Animals and Insects (growing Peppers)
4) Week 11: Biodiversity and Indigenous ways of life (growing Poll Beans and Squash) --> Contributes to 3 sisters
5) Week 14: Trees (growing Kale and Nasturtium)

Absolutely!

Every one of the 15 lessons related completely to Eco School values and encouraged actions and running the program at your school definitely helps your rating significantly.

At least one accessible room in your school building with good sunny windows  or well designed grow lights (less ideal than sunny windows but still feasible) and at least 1 enthusiastic teachers who wants to teach the program.