“I think every teacher should take this class, and classes about this type of content should be more readily available. It was fabulous!”
— Edible Schoolyard NYC Professional Development Participant
See below for a list of our upcoming
Professional Development opportunities.
Professional Development Workshops and
Registration Links 10/25-11/25
New York City Public Schools Food and Climate Education
Promoting Confidence and Independence through Cooking Activities in the Classroom
4th – 8th Grade Educators
60-Minute Virtual Session for up to 98 Participants
Simple cooking activities in the classroom can reinforce academic concepts ranging from the literacy of reading a recipe to the math of measurement. Equally important, though, is the sense of autonomy and agency upper elementary and middle school students can develop when given authentic culinary responsibilities. Our ESYNYC team will share middle school cooking lessons and activities and demonstrate how we set up our class to maximize student independence, engagement and safety.
October 27, 2:30-3:30.
Register here.
Fostering Critical Thinking Through an Exploration of the Food System
4th – 8th Grade Educators
60-Minute Virtual Session for up to 98 Participants
Studying the food system gives upper elementary and middle school students a tangible and concrete way to explore social issues from climate change to food insecurity to the rights of workers. ESYNYC staff will showcase lessons that use the food system to engage students and foster their critical thinking about their city, their nation and their world.
November 4, 11:00-12:00
Register here.
Exploring the Science of Food and Nature through Arts and Crafts
PreK – 8th Grade Educators
60-Minute Virtual Session for up to 98 Participants
At ESYNYC, we have seen students take artistic inspiration from the nature in our gardens and the beautiful produce in our kitchen classrooms. Our instructors will share hands-on arts and crafts lessons that focus students on fruits, vegetables and the natural world and connect art to science. Examples include natural dyes, seed mosaics and observational drawing and painting. We’ll talk about adapting activities for different ages and provide lessons that take place in a classroom, a school garden or during a walk through the neighborhood.
November 10, 2:45-3:45
Register here.
Fostering Critical Thinking Through an Exploration of the Food System
4th – 8th Grade Educators
60-Minute Virtual Session for up to 98 Participants
Studying the food system gives upper elementary and middle school students a tangible and concrete way to explore social issues from climate change to food insecurity to the rights of workers. ESYNYC staff will showcase lessons that use the food system to engage students and foster their critical thinking about their city, their nation and their world.
November 17, 2:45-3:45
Register here.
Professional Development Workshops
As a participant in our Professional Development workshops, you’ll learn the tools and curriculum to incorporate gardening and cooking lessons and activities into your own classrooms.
- Learn how to set up a teaching garden and kitchen with the resources available to you
- Dig into our curriculum and learn techniques for managing cooking and gardening with your students
- Learn strategies for increasing parent and community engagement in your gardens and kitchen classrooms
- Network with other educators in NYC to exchange ideas and strategies for kitchen- and garden-based education
- Get P Credit (for NYCDOE teachers and certain courses only)
Who is eligible
Most workshops are open to all types of educators, including public and private school teachers, nonprofit workers, volunteers, community educators — anyone who wants to learn how to bring elements of edible education back to their own sites. We also offer occasional workshops for NYC Department of Education teachers through the After School Professional Development Program (ASPDP).
Ways to learn
Demonstration Site Visits
Observe our classes in action! The Demonstration Schools serve as centers of excellence where we model best practices and methods for a seed-to-table education. To set up a site visit, please contact our Director of Education Liza Engelberg.
Workshops
Workshops can be full-day or just a couple of hours after school. The focus is on specific topics, such as teaching science in the garden or using a seasonal recipe to augment a unit on culture, language, or history. Workshops are a great way to hone your skills or concentrate on making garden and kitchen connections in a particular academic area.