K–12 Gardening, Sustainability & STEM Program for NYC Students
Students explore gardening, ecosystems, composting, sustainability, and environmental stewardship through immersive outdoor learning experiences.
Tastemakers
Food Explorers
Family Table
Sensory Kitchen
Edible Kitchen
Sun, Soil, Sky
Sun, Soil, Sky
A K–12 gardening, sustainability, and STEM program that helps NYC students explore ecosystems, environmental stewardship, composting, and outdoor learning through hands-on experiences.
Program Overview
Sun, Soil & Sky is Foodstream LEARN’s hands-on gardening, sustainability, and outdoor STEM program that helps students explore ecosystems, environmental stewardship, and seasonal growing through real-world outdoor learning experiences.
Students engage with soil health, composting, pollinators, planting, and food systems while building teamwork, responsibility, resilience, and deeper connections to nature and community.
We love it! The students really enjoy it.
I want to take a moment to extend our deepest gratitude to you and your team for the work you’ve done through your partnership with PS 102. It has been a joy and an honor to witness your mission come to life in our school community.
Ms Williams reminded our students and staff that food is more than fuel, it is culture, it is care, and it can be a source of discovery and joy. Thank you, FoodStream, for the work you do and for sharing your love for food with us. Wishing you a wonderful summer and much continued success on your journey.
Thank you for your thoughtful message and for the incredible work you've done with our students this year. It has truly been a pleasure to partner with you, and we've seen firsthand the joy, engagement, and curiosity that your programming inspires.
Program Details
Soil, Sun & Sky goes beyond science, helping students understand what it takes to plan, prepare, and maintain thriving gardens and green spaces. Students get their hands in the soil while learning ecological cycles, sustainability, seasonal growing, and environmental stewardship through real-world outdoor experiences. But it’s not just about plants, it’s about people. This program builds a sense of ownership and community as students grow food systems that support wellness and bring people together.
Suitable for grades K–12, with a strong focus on after-school clubs and outdoor learning initiatives. Designed to align with seasonal growing cycles from early spring through fall. Ideal for schools with sunny outdoor spaces, existing gardens, or STEM and sustainability-focused programs.
Topics Include
- Soil science & composting
- Garden planning, planting & harvesting
- Pollinators, ecosystems & biodiversity
- Food systems & sustainability
- Outdoor STEM & environmental learning
- Garden beautification & school pride 🌱
Format
- Designed for schools with outdoor green spaces
- Tools, seeds, soil & materials included
- Seasonal programming from spring through fall
- Supports Green Teams & sustainability initiatives
- Raised bed planning & garden support
- Built for long-term gardening success 🌱
Sample lesson plan
“Build-a-Soil Lab”
Objective: Students will understand what makes soil healthy for growing plants by testing, comparing, and discussing different soil types.
Activities
Reflect: Students examine and compare store-bought soil, compost, and soil from the school garden. They record observations about texture, color, and smell to spark curiosity about what makes each unique.
Test: Using simple tools, students measure pH and moisture levels of each soil sample. They learn how these indicators affect plant health and growth.
Discuss: In small groups, students share findings and consider questions such as: “Why does healthy soil matter? How do nutrients and moisture levels impact what we eat?”
Plant: Each student plants a garlic bulb into the soil mix they believe will give it the best chance to thrive. Over time, they’ll monitor the results, linking their hypotheses back to real outcomes.
Wrap-up/Reflection: Students reflect in journals or group discussion on what they discovered about soil health and why it matters for food systems and sustainability.
Bring The Joy of Hands-On Learning
Back to Your School
