Our Hawai‘i School Garden Curriculum Map (HSGCM) was launched in 2016 after four years of development by a working group of 14 Kū ‘Āina Pā master teachers. This exceptional tool was created by teachers and garden educators to serve as a resource for teachers who may not be gardeners themselves, but intuitively understand the benefits of inquiry-based, place-based, project-based learning for their students.

The HSGCM supports elementary- and middle-school teachers in obtaining the knowledge and skills needed to develop integrated lesson plans and assessment tools that connect core curriculum in the classroom with opportunities for extending learning in the real world. 

We began by asking the question: What do students need to know about good food, the environment, sustainability, and nature’s systems by eighth grade? Then we created Garden Themes, Topics, and Learning Outcomes and linked them to suggested Garden Activities and Classroom Extensions. Then we aligned those activities with Common Core, NGSS, Hawaii Health Standards, and STEM. The map is also intrinsically aligned with the Na Hopena ʻAo HĀ framework put forth by the HDOE.

The intention is that this document will support classroom teachers as well as to help gain credibility with administrators and the Department of Education. The HSGCM promotes excellence in using learning gardens and has contributed significantly to the enormous growth of the school garden movement in Hawai’i, affording more children the opportunity and pleasure of learning outside from the living world. We believe that this dynamic tool can play a significant role in growing the learning garden movement. 

We hope that you will enjoy this living document, and that you will provide feedback and suggestions for improving its use for all the K-8 teachers in Hawai‘i who want to expand learning opportunities for their students.*