The FoodCorps Program Guide is a set of resources for FoodCorps service members, designed to support effective FoodCorps programming in schools. Service members use this guide alongside FoodCorps’ in-person trainings. In this guide, you will find the following:
- Resources for planning and evaluating your service
- Tips for getting to know your school community
- Teaching approaches and considerations
- Best practices in classroom management
- Tips for cooking with students
- Tips for building and maintaining school gardens
- Activities to engage students in the cafeteria
- Best practices for safety during hands-on activities
This guide also includes key FoodCorps tools, some of which are required during service:
- FoodCorps Menu & Action Plan
- Healthy School Progress Report
- School & Community Guide
- Observation & Coaching Tool
The FoodCorps community, including service members, alumni, staff, partners, and resource experts, has made this resource possible. We truly appreciate the input, guidance, and feedback from our network, which ensures we provide high quality, relevant resources for connecting kids to healthy food in school. We would like to thank the following contributors: Whitney Cohen from Life Lab; Pam Koch from the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University; Rachel Willis from Elevating Equity; and the FoodCorps Programs team.
We also want to express deep gratitude to all our funding partners for supporting our mission, supporting hands-on education, and helping us create these teaching materials. We want to give special thanks to the Walmart Foundation for supporting the development of the FoodCorps Healthy School Toolkit.
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Introduction to FoodCorps
Introduction to FoodCorps
- What Is FoodCorps?
- Why Schools?
- What Is a Healthy School Food Environment?
- What Is Staying Power?
- FoodCorps’ Three Areas of Service
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Core Competencies
- Core Competencies in Action
- Hands-On Learning Competencies
- Healthy School Meals Competencies
- Schoolwide Culture of Health Competencies
Planning and Evaluating Your Service
- Service Timeline
- FoodCorps Menu & Action Plan
- Sample School Schedule
- The Toolshed
- Key Tools (Found in Appendix)
- Healthy School Progress Report
- School & Community Guide
- Observation & Coaching Tool
- Know Your State & District Policies Worksheet
- 2019–20 Service Timeline
- Menu & Action Plan (MAP)
- Service Member Worksheet
- Sample Service Member Schedule
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Getting to Know Your Community
Getting to Know Your Community
- Asset-Based Community Development Strategies
- Community Demographics and Access
- Community History
- Local Grocery and Agricultural Landscape
- Communication
Facilitating
- Meeting Planning Tips
- Meeting Agenda Tips
- Meeting Facilitation Tips
Key Relationships in FoodCorps Service
- Relationship with the Principal
- Relationships with Cafeteria Staff
- Relationships with Teachers
Tips for Celebrating and Sharing Success
- Involve Students
- Celebrate the Small Things
- Share Your Story
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Teaching Hands-On Lessons
Teaching Hands-On Lessons
- FoodCorps Lessons
- Lesson Structure
- FoodCorps Lesson Structure
- Essential Questions
- School Curriculum and Academic Connections
- Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards
- The 5 Es: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate
- 5 Es Cheat Sheet
Customizing Lessons to Climate, Culture, and Students’ Needs
- Adapting FoodCorps Lessons
- Cultural Relevance
- Seasonal Relevance
Preparing to Teach
- Know Your Lessons
- Gather Your Materials
- Use Shortcuts for Materials
- Have a Plan B Do Your Food Prep .
- Organize Your Cleanup
- Take a Breath
Co-Teaching
- Co-Teaching Effectively
Tips for Improving Your Teaching Practice
Safety with Students
- Tips for Keeping Students Safe
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Learning Models to Inform Hands-on Education
Learning Models to Inform Hands-on Education
Culturally Responsive Teaching
- What Is Culturally Responsive Teaching?
- What Are the Components of Culturally Responsive Teaching?
- Why Is Culturally Responsive Teaching Important for FoodCorps Service Members?
- Culturally Responsive Teaching and FoodCorps Lessons
- How Can I Create a Culturally Responsive Teaching Environment?
Social and Emotional Learning
- What Is Social and Emotional Learning?
- What Skills Do Socially and Emotionally Competent Children and Youth Have?
- Why Is Social and Emotional Learning Important for FoodCorps Service Members?
- What Teaching Strategies Support Social and Emotional Learning?
Place-Based Education
- What Is Place-Based Education?
- 5 Why Is Place-Based Education Important for FoodCorps Service Members?
- What Are the Principles of Place-Based Education?
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Meeting the Needs of All Learners
Meeting the Needs of All Learners
- Teaching with Multiple Modalities
- Informing Your Teaching Practice with Child Development Characteristics
- Working with Students with Disabilities
Reframing Classroom Management
- Respond to the Child, Not the Behavior
- Functions and Explanations of Student Behavior
- Managing Student Behavior: The 4 Ps
- Six Ways to Redirect Classroom Disruption
- Setting the Tone to Make FoodCorps Time Special
- Setting the Tone: Checklist
- Setting the Tone When You First Meet a New Class
- Fun Name Games
- Icebreakers
Developing Group Agreements
Setting the Tone with Every Lesson
- Circling up for Each Lesson Opening
- Getting Students’ Attention
Structuring Student Participation in Discussions
- Methods for Calling on Students Randomly
- Transition Strategies
- Back Pocket Activities: What to Do If You Finish Early
- Lesson Closing and Reflection
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Building and Maintaining School Gardens
Building and Maintaining School Gardens
- School Gardens: Getting Started
- Building a Garden Team
- Setting Your Garden Goals
- Choosing a Site for a New Garden
- Designing a School Garden
- Involving Students and Community
- Garden Components
- Container Gardens
- Outdoor Safety
- General Garden Safety
- Gardening Tool Safety
- Harvesting Safety
- Sourcing Equipment and Supplies
Keeping the Garden Growing
- Growing and Maintaining the Garden with Students
- Planting with Students
- Sustaining Community Engagement in the Garden
- Summer Garden Maintenance
Working and Learning in the Garden with Students
- Providing for Students’ Physical Comfort
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Cooking With Students
Cooking with Students
- Cooking Safety
- Cooking With Students Basics
- Sourcing Food
- Considering Students’ Access to Food
- Selecting Recipes
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Activities to Engage Students in the Cafeteria
Activities to Engage Students in the Cafeteria
- Overview
- Regular Service Member Cafeteria/Mealtime Presence
- Activity Ideas
Taste Test Basics
- Key Questions to Consider
- Strategies for Greatest Impact
- FoodCorps Lessons with Cooking and Tasting Opportunities
- Local Food and Procurement Resources
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Glossary
Glossary
- Teaching Terms
- Cafeteria Terms
- School Terms
- Government Programs and Legislative Terms
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References
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Appendix
Appendix
- Healthy School Toolkit (English and Español)
- Lesson Observation & Coaching Tool
- Know Your State & District Policies Worksheet