Looking for activity ideas to incorporate into home, school or community garden projects? Here’s a “growing” list to help you get started.
Note: Linked titles go to Amazon for further information and reviews. Just so you know, I am an affiliate with Amazon. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of the links, I will receive a small commission at no extra charge to you, the proceeds of which will help pay for maintaining this website.
Planting a Garden in Room 6: From Seeds to Salad by Caroline Arnold.
Caroline Arnold has visited Mrs. Best’s kindergarten classroom before. This time:
The children in Room 6 are planting a vegetable garden.
Mrs. Best brings in some seeds and transplants. The children plant them in a raised bed garden outside their classroom. Arnold takes photographs of the process, step by step. Before long the plants have grown enough to be harvested and the children eat the results.
This book is absolutely delightful. The series is called “Life Cycles in Room 6,” but the life cycle aspect is subtle. Arnold includes just the right amount of information to hold a young reader’s attention. Plus, seeing children in the photographs draws them right in.
Planting a Garden in Room 6 would be fantastic to accompany a gardening project, either at home or at school. It would be a great addition to a unit on plants, as well. Grow some young minds and pick up a copy today!
Reading age : 3 – 7 years
Publisher : Charlesbridge (March 15, 2022)
ISBN-10 : 1623542405
ISBN-13 : 978-1623542405
Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood by Tony Hillery and illustrated by Jessie Hartland – nonfiction picture book
When Mr. Tony (Tony Hillery) spotted an abandoned lot across from a school in Harlem, he had an idea. Getting help from the community, he cleaned it up and invited children to help him plant a garden. Through trial and error a farm emerged.
The benefits of gardening with children are many. From getting outside for healthy exercise, to learning patience, to appreciating the taste of fresh vegetables, gardening is a win-win-win activity. Harlem Grown is about making it happen. Share a copy today and you will be glad you did.
Reading age : 4 – 8 years
Publisher : Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books; Illustrated edition (August 18, 2020)
ISBN-10 : 1534402314
ISBN-13 : 978-1534402317
by Jenny Hendy
With 60 projects to chose from, how can you go wrong?
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Southwater; Original edition (February 16, 2012)
ISBN-10: 1780190190
ISBN-13: 978-1780190198
It’s Our Garden: From Seeds to Harvest in a School Garden
Age Range: 5 – 8 years
Publisher: Candlewick (January 8, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0763653926
ISBN-13: 978-0763653927
The Nitty-Gritty Gardening Book: Fun Projects for All Seasons (Nonfiction – Grades 4-8)
The beauty of this book is that it is geared for year-around fun. Most of the projects can be done in a relatively small amount of space.
Library Binding: 48 pages
Publisher: Millbrook Press (January 1, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1467726478
ISBN-13: 978-1467726474
Gardening Lab for Kids: 52 Fun Experiments to Learn, Grow, Harvest, Make, Play, and Enjoy Your Garden (Hands-On Family)
Although the term “experiments” in the subtitle might suggest scientific trials or investigations, for this book “experiment” is actually used more in the sense of “to try something new.” Gardening Lab for Kids is a lovely collection of hands-on activities for children to do for every week of the year, from designing a garden and making seed tape, to planting a garden in a shoe, growing a pizza garden, and constructing a wind chime. In addition, children will certainly learn some science as they explore parts of plants, investigate soils, try out composting, and learn about watering.
Age Range: 5 – 12 years
Publisher: Quarry Books (April 1, 2014)
ISBN-10: 1592539041
ISBN-13: 978-1592539048
Math in the Garden: Hands-On Activities That Bring Math to Life, Ages 5-13
Grades K-8
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: National Gardening Association (2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 091587346X
ISBN-13: 978-0915873463
Botany on Your Plate: Investigating the Plants We Eat
Science curriculum for grades K-4
Hardcover: 88 pages
Publisher: National Gardening Association (2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0915873494
ISBN-13: 978-0915873494
Success with School Gardens: How to Create a Learning Oasis in the Desert
Although written with the Southwest gardener in mind, it contains many tips for managing a school garden that could apply anywhere.
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Arizona Master Gardener Press (September 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0965198707
ISBN-13: 978-0965198707
A Child’s Garden: 60 Ideas to Make Any Garden Come Alive for Children (Archetype Press Books)
by Molly Dannenmaier
The hardcover copy I have has a slightly different title/cover. It says “Enchanting Outdoor Spaces for Children and Parents.” Enchanting is the right word. Mixed with informative text about how children play and how important it is for them to play outdoors, are photos of fairytale settings for children to play in. On pages 158-159 is a photo and list of the plants in the George Washington River farm alphabet garden.
Series: Archetype Press Books
Paperback: 180 pages
Publisher: Timber Press; Updated Pbk. Ed edition (January 15, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0881928437
ISBN-13: 978-0881928433
Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children
This is a classic that deserves to be on every gardener’s shelf.
Series: Gardening together with children
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company; First Edition, First Printing edition (May 1, 1999)
ISBN-10: 0761110569
ISBN-13: 978-0761110569
Growlab: Activities for Growing Minds
This book is hard to find, but it is worth the search.
Paperback: 307 pages
Publisher: Natl Gardening Assn (May 1990)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 091587332X
ISBN-13: 978-0915873326
Gardening with Children (BBG Guides for a Greener Planet)
This books gets raves. It is indeed the high quality you would expect from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Series: BBG Guides for a Greener Planet
Paperback: 120 pages
Publisher: Brooklyn Botanic Garden; Reprint edition (April 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1889538787
ISBN-13: 978-1889538785
Do you have any favorite gardening books for working with kids? We’d love to hear your suggestions.
Related Resources:
Find books to share with children in these two lists:
List of Children’s books about seeds.
Plant Science Books for Children
Gardening activities inspired by children’s books:
Children’s Garden Week Activities at Growing With Science Blog
You might also be interested in our Gardening/Science Pinterest Board:
by Rebecca Rissman
by Melanie Waldron is the perfect introduction to flowers in the garden. This informational book covers what a flower is, the parts of a flower, how flowers make seeds, and become fruit, etc. It also discusses how flowers attract insect pollinators. Two hands-on activities are included with clear and well-organized instructions to help reinforce learning.
is also by Melanie Waldron and is part of the same series as Flowers. It covers variation in seeds and fruits, what seeds and fruit are for, the parts of a flowering plant, how seeds are made, what’s inside a seed, what seeds need to germinate, different types of fruit, methods plants use to disperse seeds, and how humans interact with seeds and fruits. This book contains an activity of finding seeds in fruit and an experiment to investigate germination of bean seeds under different conditions.
by Cindy Jenson-Elliott and illustrated by Carolyn Fisher introduces young readers to the wonders of the natural world by exploring these often ignored, deplored plants. Jenson-Elliott’s text conjures up lighthearted word pictures. For example, can’t you imagine seeds coming out of pods “…like confetti from a popped balloon?” The back matter, however, includes a serious discussion of weeds, why they are interesting and important, and a list and descriptions of some common weeds.Pick up a copy and you will find out, as the author says, “Weeds are amazing!” (Review with activity suggestions at 
by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long
by George Levenson, Shmuel Thaler (Photographer)
by Lois Ehlert
