Junior Master Gardener® Program Program Purpose: Develop leadership skills Identify community needs/volunteer opportunities Peer and cross generation mentoring Foster personal pride and responsibility Increase knowledge in environmental & horticulture education

Levels of Instruction Level 1 - Grades 3-5 Level 2 - Grades 6-8 Level 3 - Grades 9-12 Junior Master Gardener® Program

Who Can Participate in JMG®? Public/Private/Home schools 4-H Clubs, scouts, YMCA After-school programs Public/Botanical gardens

Junior Master Gardener ® Level One Core Curriculum Teacher/Leaders Guide JMG Youth Handbook

Curriculum Design Hands-On and Project Based Integrated across all subject areas Flexibility of use Choices available in group and individual activities Community service and leadership incorporated in all units

Go and Do It ! ! !

The JMG® Teacher/Leaders Guide Introduction and management guide Chapter group activities Community Service/Leadership projects Helpful appendices

Leadership and Service Projects

I enjoyed JMG very much. It is the best science class I have ever had. I did things I enjoy instead of school work. Instead we taught little kids, gardened, composted, and did activities. Lauren 5th grade JMG youth

I enjoy teaching the smaller kids what we have learned. Its almost like being a big brother to them. Down to Earth JMGers

How Can I Use the JMG® Program? Pick and choose some JMG activities for your youth to try JMG Recognition Opportunities 6 activities JMG Certifications

JMG ® Certification for Youth Become a certified Junior Master Gardener ® Golden Ray Series sm certification of youth

Complete 1 group activity per teaching concept in each chapter Complete 1 individual activity per teaching concept in each chapter Complete 1 community service/ leadership project per chapter

Golden Ray Series Certification In depth study of a chapter 1. any combination of 12 activities 2. completing 1 Life Skills/Career Exploration activity 3. participating in 1 service project

Teacher/Leader sends in completion form (follows registration packet in Teacher/Leader Guide) Each youth receive certificate suitable for framing Certified Junior Master Gardeners ®

Program Recognition Medals are made to be compiled can be ordered at

Certified Junior Master Gardeners Youth are eligible to receive JMG Certified medal

Junior Master Gardener ® Golden Ray Series Curriculum Health & Nutrition From the Garden Basic Gardening Growing Techniques Thrifty Gardens Food Safety ABCs of Healthful Eating Healthful Snacks

Parents are excited that their kids are in the program. Their children have stopped going to the candy aisle (of the grocery store) first and are going to the fruits and vegetables. Sandy Farber, JMG Coordinator, District of Columbia Health & Nutrition From the Garden

Wildlife Gardener sm A collaborative effort of the National Junior Master Gardener ® Program and the National Wildlife Federation ®.

Ignite a passion for learning, success and service sm in your kids! With Wildlife Gardener sm, your kids will: Dig into to gardening for wildlife ! Identify local birds, mammals, insects, reptiles and amphibians. Investigate life cycles and interrelatedness of wildlife and plant life Discover how to attract desirable wildlife to your garden. Establish a NWF ® Certified Schoolyard Habitat ® !

Wildlife Gardener sm teaching concepts: Habitat Gardening Basics Essential Elements Birds Mammals Insects Reptiles and Amphibians Wildlife Habitat Sites Life Skills & Career Exploration

How do my kids become Certified Wildlife Gardeners sm ? Youths can earn certification as a Wildlife Gardener sm by completing: A. at least12 activities B. 1 Life Skills/Career Exploration activity C. establish a Certified Schoolyard Habitat ® or other service-learning project

Youth Recognition

Literature in the Garden sm

Hands on garden experiences inspired by great childrens literature

Literature in the Garden sm Teaching Concepts: 1 Garden Basics 2-7 Selected Literature 8 Life Skills & Career Exploration Service Learning/ Leadership Skills

Literature in the Garden sm Integrates gardening across all subject areas Brings literature to life recognizes youths with certification

JMG Level Two Operation Thistle: Seeds of Despair. Plant Growth and Development Importance and Uses of Plants Plant Classification Plant Parts Plant Needs Plant Processes Plant Growth Seed Propagation Vegetative Propagation teaching concepts:

for youth grades 6-8 for youth grades 3-5 Youth Handbook pages contained in Leader Guide Leader Guide and Youth Handbook released in modules (for example, Plant Growth and Development, Soils and Water) All 8 chapters contained in Core curriculum Expanded Teaching Concepts For example: Plant Growth and Development 8 Teaching Concepts Propagation Seed Propagation Vegetative Propagation Plant Growth & Development 7 teaching concepts Propagation

JMG Level 2 Operation: W.A.T.E.R. water and the earths resources …Thistle Goes Underground

Operation: W.A.T.E.R. water and the earths resources …Thistle Goes Underground Soil Color, Texture, & Structure Nutrients Soil Improvement Soil Conservation Water Cycle and You Water Movement Watersheds, Wetlands and Aquifers Water Conservation teaching concepts:

JMG Level Two Operation W.A.T.E.R. water and the earths resources To earn certification in Soils & Water students must complete at least: 1 group activity per learning concept 1 individual activity per learning concept 1 community service project 1 life skill and career exploration activity

go to to subscribe for free to JMG Kids Garden News

us Resources for Teachers Activities for Kids Kid-Friendly Resources Online ordering of JMG curricula and recognition items

Why Should Programs Register? G et a cool registration certificate G et updates on upcoming JMG news and events I ts free, doesnt obligate youth to complete program A llows youth in your group to become certified Junior Master Gardeners B e the Group of the Month!

JMG is a hands-on program aligned to academic standards… It is so refreshing for our students to be able to cover the TEKS in other than a test format. The children enjoy the activities. Kathleen Coburn, Ph.D. Director of Math, Science, Gifted Education Temple ISD

National On-line Survey for Leaders Conducted by Texas A&M University Department of Agricultural Education and National JMG Program Office Over 85% of respondents stated that JMG has increased youth interest in science Over 83% of respondents stated JMG has contributed to higher academic standards Over 85% of respondents said JMG youths were more enthusiastic about learning Program Evaluation

Current issue of Hort Technology Studies specifically examining the benefits of students participating in JMG Curricula : …results show once weekly use of gardening activities and hands-on classroom activities help improve science achievement test scores. Impact of Hands-on Science through School Gardening in Louisiana Public Elementary Schools Students in the experimental group scored significantly higher on the science achievement test compared to the students in the control group. Growing Minds: The Effect of a School Gardening Program on the Science Achievement of Elementary Students

Current issue of Hort Technology Studies specifically examining the benefits of students participating in JMG Curricula : … students in the experimental group did significantly increase their overall life skills scores. Growing Minds: The Effects of a One-year School Garden Program on Six Constructs of Life Skills of Elementary School Children Qualitative data also indicated that the students enjoyed the program, shared what they learned with others, and wanted to participate in more JMG and gardening type activities. An Evaluation of the Junior Master Gardener Program in Third Grade Classrooms

I cant begin to express the added joy and learning that has gone on in my classroom because of this program. You will see not only a garden grow, but your students grow as well. Jennifer Stein, 5th grade teacher Eagles JMG Group