Taste Tour

Hamilton/SOTA 1 students participated in their first garden lesson of the school year.  Each lesson began with reminding the students that everything growing in the garden is there because of the seeds they planted last spring. Students recalled planting tomatoes, kale, basil, and green peppers among many of the plants currently growing in the garden. Students then got into pairs and were sent off on a scavenger hunt around the garden. The kindergarten, second, and third grade students were given pictures of various plants to locate and identify in the garden. The fourth and fifth grade students observed, identified, and also measured various leaves and stems throughout the garden.

After the scavenger hunt, the lesson focused on using the five senses to experience basil and kale. Students were given the opportunity to take one piece of kale, green basil, and purple basil. The students   compared and contrasted the look, feel, smell, and taste of all three. Most students were pretty familiar with kale already, but not so familiar with the basil. A majority of students did taste test both the green and purple basil, and even said they liked the taste. The lesson ended with the students showing off what they had learned that day by helping us to label the plants in the garden.