For Teachers and Schools
Lesson plans and resources tailored for schools. Teacher packets include tips for long-term and short-term student engagement. All lessons are aligned with national standards.
Featured Garden
Common Good City Farm
Sixteen teenagers. Four iPads. Two days. One summer on an urban farm in Washington, D.C. Lots of questions. Every summer Common Good City Farm…
The Smithsonian Gardens Green Ambassador Challenges introduce students to project-based learning in the real world, one garden at a time. Choose from one of two paths, or do both!
We encourage schools and teachers to undertake the full challenge and all steps involved in the design and/or research process of the projects. However, teachers can freely focus on individual lesson units within each packet for short-term engagement and inquiry.
For a less formal approach to either project please refer to the steps laid out on the challenge pages. Feel free to explore our Educators page for additional Smithsonian Gardens education resources.
We want to hear from you! Email us at communityofgardens@si.edu if you would like more information on any of these programs, or help getting started.
Design a Green Space: Smithsonian Gardens Green Ambassador Challenge
Become a Smithsonian Gardens Green Ambassador! Teens and students, empower yourselves to become local leaders by making your school or community...
Interview a Gardener: Smithsonian Gardens Green Ambassador Challenge
Become a Smithsonian Gardens Green Ambassador! This is a project about sharing wisdom, life experiences, and community history from a gardener’s...
A Democracy of Beauty for All: Highlights from the J. Horace McFarland Company Collection
J. Horace McFarland was a leading proponent of the City Beautiful Movement and president of the American Civic Association. Learn...
Grown from the Past: A Short History of Community Gardening in the United States
Dig in and explore the history of community gardening in the United States with this digital exhibit from Smithsonian Gardens.
The Spartan Garden at White Station High School
In the fall of 2012, a group of environmentally-conscious high school students in Memphis, Tennessee, gathered around an idea. We wanted a vegetable…
Next Gen Gardeners
Want to encourage green careers amongst your students? From a "day in the life" to the winding path from high school student to horticulturist, Smithsonian Gardens staff share advice and wisdom on education, internships, career choices, and much more in the stories below.
Check out this packet with information on the many professional opportunities in the world of horticulture. Landscape architect, gardener, irrigation specialist, and arborist are only a sampling of the wide range of green careers.
Holly Walker is a Plant Health Specialist at Smithsonian Gardens. I sat down to talk with her on November 27, 2017 about entomology, her background…A Passion for Insects
Horticulture is Hard Work, But Rewards Bounty and Beauty
Sarah Hedean is the Living Collections Manager at Smithsonian Gardens. I sat down to talk with her on August 9, 2017 about her career, the field of…
Welcoming Bluebirds to Smithsonian Gardens Greenhouses
Sarah Hedean is the Living Collections Manager at Smithsonian Gardens. I sat down to talk with her on August 9, 2017 about bluebird nesting boxes at…
