The Steps to Health 4th Grade program is a garden and nutrition-based curriculum that integrates health education, science, social studies, math, and language arts for North Carolina 4th Graders. Steps to Health 4th Grade seeks to inspire students to plant, grow, and try a variety of vegetables in a school garden setting while learning about nutrition and physical activity.

Steps to Health 4th Grade brings together multiple facets of the school and community. The curriculum includes classroom-based lessons, taste tests, physical activity, hands-on garden experiences, and interclass challenges. Program success relies on the collaboration and leadership of a Nutrition Educator who provides 9 in-classroom sessions, a Garden Educator who provides 3 in-gardens sessions, and the Classroom Teacher who provides weekly supplemental activities.

Pre/post surveys are administered to the students and a parent feedback form is collected. Recipes and information on nutrition and physical activity are sent home to parents.

The curriculum was developed by Lindsay Goolsby, MS, RD; Gretchen Hofing, MPH, RD; Lindsey Haynes-Maslow, MHA, Ph.D.; Liz Driscoll, MS; and Tessa Thraves, MA, Ph.D.

Training Videos

• Classroom Teacher
• Garden Educator

Resources

• 4th Grade Participation Letter
• Initial Planning Meeting Worksheet
• Nutrition Education Schedule Template
• Nutrition Education Attendance Roster
• Garden Education Meeting Worksheet
• Garden Education Schedule Template
• Garden Education Attendance Roster
• Garden Sustainability Meeting Worksheet
• Planting Guide Piedmont/Coastal
• Planting Guide Mountains/Foothills
• Food Safety for School and Community Gardens
• Roots, Stems, Leaves Song
• Roots, Stems, Leaves Video
• Plant Life Cycle Video
• Do/Be Song
• Nutrition Educator Feedback
• Garden Educator Feedback
• Teacher Feedback
• Schoolwide Healthy Environments Supports
• Schoolwide Environments Scan
• Certificate Template
• Certificate Template with Extra Signature Line
•  Certificate Template with Fruits and Vegetables

Site Eligibility

In order to qualify for Steps to Health programming, schools must participate in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Program. The school building must have at least 50% of students receiving a free or reduced meal.

Before beginning programming, use this spreadsheet to confirm that a school qualifies: Steps to Health Eligible Schools.

For questions on determining school eligibility, contact Lindsay Goolsby at lnhecht@ncsu.edu.