A Chemistry- and English-based curriculum on nutrition and organic gardening to ages 4-18

The purpose of this Integrative Service Project was to design and implement a Chemistry- and English-based curriculum that would discusses the benefits of organic gardening on nutrition for children between the ages of four and eighteen. First-hand experience with gardening has proved to be an effective means of reducing rates of obesity and malnutrition amongst school children (Baskale and Bahar 263). With the assistance of Dr. Alf Seegert from the Department ofEnglish and Dr. Thomas Richmond from the Department of Chemistry, three modules were created. These modules discussed 1) Ecology and Evolution, 2) Human Digestion and Sensations, and 3) Specifics of Gardening. Two lessons were tested with school groups from Wasatch Community Gardens, with students and teachers giving them both positive reviews. This curriculum was originally intended for Wasatch Community Garden's (WCG) City Roots program, but has also been giving to Red Butte Garden and Arboretum (RBGA) for use in their public programming.