Your Class Can Grow a Pizza
theme garden ideas

1. Pizza Plant (adapted from Hamburger Plant, JMG Teacher/Leader Guide, p.3-4,free PDF download)
Begin by asking students if they know that we get pizza from plants. Encourage creativity by having them to imagine pizzas actually growing from plants then have them illustrate it! It may be a tree covered with pizzas or pizza-blooming vine...

2.  Next have the class list all of the main ingredients of their favorite pizza, as they share their list, write them in a column on a chalk/dry erase board. After the list is created, ask the group where each item comes from. The will quicky learn that each ingredient of any pizza either comes directly from plants or comes from an animal that consumes plants to live. Draw an arrow beside each ingredient tracing it back to it's origin - like this:

pizza crust
               flour -> wheat 
               oil -> vegetable or olive oil

pizza toppings
               tomato sauce -> tomato
                                   -> oregano
                                   -> basil
                                   -> garlic
               cheese -> milk -> cows -> eat grass,hay
               hamurger -> beef -> cows -> eat grass,hay
               bell pepper
               olives
               onion

3. Although they know pizzas don't actually grow from plants, they'll realize the ingredients do. Introduce the idea of the class creating a garden that will growing all of those ingredients.

Whether a circle that's 20 feet across with crust-colored stone border, a set of simple containers or something in between, having your kids grow tomatoes, garlic and basil and other ingredients can not only be fun, it's also a valuable learning experience.  And, they are likley to taste and try produce growing from their school garden that they might never be willing to touch otherwise!

Since the variety of pizza plants and the dates they should be planted will depend on your location, find your local info by clicking on your state below and then county to learn about reccommendations from your local Extension office.

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