Garden Science: Wood-Fired Beets
Summary
In this 7th grade science lesson, students harvest, prepare and eat beets cooked in the wood-fired oven while reflecting on their second rotation in the garden.
Objectives
After this lesson, students will be able to:
- Identify the edible parts of the beet plant
- Harvest beets
- Handle post-harvest crops with guidance
Assessments
During this lesson, students will:
- Recognize that all parts of the beet plant are edible
- Harvest beets correctly
- Slice, season, cook and eat harvested beets
Materials
- Visual aid
Ingredients for the Wood-Fired Beets
- Beets with their greens
- Olive oil
- Salt
For the Wood-Fired Beets Station
- Two tables
- Cups
- Napkins
- Water pitchers
- Tablecloths
- Knives
- Cutting boards
- Tongs
- Metal mixing bowls
- Spatula
- Serving spoons
- Sheet pan
- Hot mitts
- Firewood
- Bucket of soapy water (for hand washing)
- Towels
- Wood-fired oven
Before You Begin
- Create the visual aid
- Collect all the materials
- Light a fire in the oven
- Create the wood-fired beets station by setting up the cooking tools on a table close to the oven and setting another table nearby for eating
Procedures
At the Opening Circle
- Welcome students and introduce wood-fired beets as a delicious way to prepare, cook and eat beets that were harvested from the garden in a previous class.
- Ask students to raise their hands if they have tasted beets. Ask students to keep their hands up if they like beets.
- Divide the class into groups for garden jobs. Rotate each group through the wood-fired beets station during garden work time.
At the Wood-Fired Beets Station
- Have students wash their hands and observe the heat radiating from the fire before standing at the table in front of a cutting board.
- At the table, hold up a beet with its greens and explain that the entire plant is edible.
- Demonstrate cutting the beets so that each slice is the same width, this helps them cook evenly.
- Pass out knives and beets to each student and have students cut the beets into ¼ inch slices.
- Have students season the beets with olive oil and salt in a large mixing bowl and then spread the beets onto a baking sheet.
- Put the beets into the wood-fired oven.
- While the beets are cooking, prepare the beet leaves by tearing the leaves into bite-size pieces. Add the leaves to the beets when the beets are almost done cooking.
- While the beets and leaves finish cooking, read and discuss the visual aid.
- When the beets are ready, distribute napkins, water, beets and greens to students at the table.
- When they have finished eating, guide the group to the beet bed to harvest and wash beets for the next group.
At the Closing Circle
- Repeat the opening circle survey and ask students to raise their hands if they have tasted beets. Ask students to keep their hands up if they like beets.
- Acknowledge any changes in opinion about beets.
- Play Roses and Thorns. Each student names a “rose” (a highlight) and a “thorn” (a challenge) from their 2nd rotation in the Garden.