​​​​Educator Newsletter

Target User: Educators
Target Audience: Students, Pre-K - 12
Page Length: Four​
Language: English​

This monthly newsletter links to curricular areas such as mathematics, science, health, history, English/language arts and physical education. The educator newsletter provides key information about the featured produce as well as resources to further explore each fruit and vegetable. It incorporates hands-on activities, tools and ideas for open-ended exploration by students and sample physical activities that support developmental skills such as listening, reflexes and hand-eye coordination. Although mainly designed for use by educators in the classroom, the newsletter is also a great tool to make available to child nutrition staff, librarians, nurses and others who might aid in the successful implementation of Harvest of the Month. Below is a description of the key sections in the newsletter:​

• Taste Testing: Offers students the opportunity to experience the featured produce using their senses to help engage them in the learning process, and creates interest, awareness and support for increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables.
• Cooking in Class: Introduces students to enjoyable ways of incorporating the featured produce into their diet with a food preparation activity. The recipes are an easy and student-friendly way to encourage more fruit and vegetable consumption at home.
• Nutrition Information: Provides scientifically accurate nutrition information regarding the health benefits of the featured produce. This section provides examples of how fruits and vegetables come in a rainbow of colors and the importance of eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables every day–red, yellow/orange, white, green and blue/purple. It also provides a brief description of the various health benefits associated with each color group and examples of fruits and vegetables within each group.
• Student Sleuths: Provides extended learning opportunities for students to further explore facts about the featured produce and utilize research, data collecting and reporting skills.
• Botanical and Growing Information: Presents scientific and botanical information on the featured fruit or vegetable.
• Interesting Facts: Highlights fun and novel facts about the featured produce to help keep students engaged.
• History: Offers a general overview and historical timeline of the featured produce. It includes the history, origin and migration into California’s agricultural industry.
• Home Grown Facts: Provides information on the growing region and commercial production of the featured produce in California.
• School Garden: Features hands-on activities for students to connect to agriculture and science that can be carried out in the classroom or school garden.
• Cafeteria Connections: Offers strategies to utilize the cafeteria as a learning laboratory and to work with child nutrition staff.
• Physical Activity Corner: Provides teachers with activities for students to support physical activity while developing sensory and motor skills. Key physical education issues, events and dates are highlighted.
• Adventurous Activities: Offers fun, hands-on activities for students to experience and explore featured produce through science, history, math, writing, field trips and monthly events.
• Literature Links: Suggests literature specific to the featured produce, agriculture and nutrition across all grade levels to complement the Harvest of the Month activities.
• Student Advocates: Offers strategies for students to develop their leadership skills by educating others about the featured produce or proactively involving the community in Harvest of the Month activities. It links to the community through retail stores, farmers’ markets and more.
• Up Next: Announces next month’s Harvest of the Month Featured Produce.
• Links to California Content Standards (inserts): Demonstrates ways educators can make connections to core curricular areas through the implementation of various Harvest of the Month activities.

• Community Newsletter​​
• Educator Newsletter
• Family Newsletter
• Menu Slick
• Press Release Template
• Poster
• Links to California Content Standards