FEED Frequenty Asked Questions

Why should a school start a FEED curriculum?

Within Vermont's rapidly changing landscape - both educational and physical - FEED creates an opportunity to really dig into farm, food and nutrition education in a way that is integrated and meaningful, rather than being yet another add-on to already packed schedules. This kind of experience—multisensory, embedded in students' real community, and built into existing curriculum and action plans - can truly improve student lifelong learning and eating habits.


How does a community start a FEED program?

A community brings together a team of teachers, farmers, food service staff, and local leaders. This team may choose to invite members of the FEED staff to their community to discuss the FEED program and to answer questions. If the community decides to apply to become a FEED school, they should complete an application.


Does the whole school have to participate?

While we are seeking to help entire schools rather than just single classrooms, not every teacher needs to be involved. Instead, we are looking for a leadership team that includes:
•Four or more K-6 grade teachers representing four different grade levels
* A committed food service staff
•Two local farmers
•An administrator
•A community member



How does FEED work?

The local FEED leadership team participates in a summer institute where local standards-based farm, food and nutrition lessons are developed as part of a fall unit. These standards-based lesson plans give students an introduction to Vermont's farm life, agricultural cycles, nutrition education and local history. Hands-on skills such as cooking and farm-based investigations are central to the project. Students explore local and global food systems through problem-solving activities that follow a product from field to table.


What direct benefits will this project have for a school and community?
•A stipend for all participants to build stronger relationships between local farms and schools.
•A stipended professional development course for teachers (4 graduate credits available) including a summer institute and weekly after school sessions. Emphasis will be placed on developing a comprehensive standards-based assessment program.
•Ten-week mentorships providing on-site teacher support so FEED teachers can better assess and improve their lessons.
••Stipends for food service staff to have "release time" for professional development and to pay for substitutes in the cafeteria.
•Stipends for farmers who participate and help with developing farm-to-school connections.
•Opportunities for students to eat more healthy foods, improve learning, and build deeper connections with their community.



What have other FEED schools done?

Teachers from participating schools have developed integrated units with local farms that included gardening, harvesting cooking and baking, all leading to a community-wide culminating celebration where students showcased their work. Schools consulted local elders to learn traditional knowledge and the history of their communities. Throughout the unit, students studied and analyzed their own diets.


When do teachers design their FEED curriculum units?

Teachers begin designing a FEED program for their school during the summer institute and refine it during the fall mentorship. The summer institute's three major pieces are:

1. Working collaboratively to design FEED curriculum units at each grade level (K-6) and to plan a culminating fall harvest celebration;
2. Building stronger relationships with people and resources in the local community, including farmers and elders;
3. Developing skills in standards-based assessment.



How does FEED fit with the Vermont Framework of Standards?

FEED helps students and teachers find meaningful opportunities to assess district required standards. Teachers will discover that many of these standards are naturally embedded in the study of local farms, food and nutrition. In addition, FEED units address and assess the newest additions to the Vermont Framework of Standards: "Understanding Place," and "Sustainability."


What about the foods kids eat in school?

FEED explores the opportunities and challenges that schools and farms face in supplying local foods in the cafeteria. FEED will develop mechanisms to purchase local foods - by bringing together school food service directors, food vendors, farmers, principals, teachers, and community members we will develop strategies for schools to economically buy from their area farms.


What is required of teachers to complete a FEED project?

With the help, support, and participation of the leadership team, teachers will:

1. Participate in a professional development summer institute and follow-up weekly meetings throughout the ten-week mentorship.
2. Write and implement a ten-week fall unit.
3. Produce a "Food Folio" of FEED materials, demonstrating ongoing student progress and share your folio and curriculum unit with the FEED project partners and others. Examples: rubrics, interview transcripts, assessment tasks, lesson plans, recipes or other food preparation materials.
4. Use food as a vehicle for learning in the five FEED learning areas: farm, cafeteria, community, garden, and classroom.
5. Provide a minimum of three hours of instruction weekly for ten continuous weeks.
6. Plan and carry out a school-wide culminating FEED event (e.g. a Harvest Festival) that:
a. Brings together parents, farmers, and community members;
b. Celebrates food, farms, nutrition, and the local community;
c. Provides opportunities for students to showcase attainment of FEED unit standards (e.g. performances, products, portfolios, tastings, exhibits).



What are the criteria for selecting the next FEED schools?

1. Commitment and capacity to implement the essential ingredients of the FEED project.
2. Strength of leadership team.
3. Completion of application questions.
4. Applicants must be a public or private Vermont elementary school.