Teaching Soil Science, Food Systems, and Climate Resilience, Colonesse, Summer 2026

Course Number:	EDX 5710 S55
Instructor:	Taryn Colonnese, M.A.Ed.
Location:	In-person at the Vermont Farm and Forest School
Dates and Times:	July 06 - December 11, 2026. In-person August 03-07, 2026 from 8:00am - 4:00pm and online. Four hours of virtual 1:1 meetings to be scheduled between student and course instructor between August 8th and December 8th and a virtual meeting on 12/9/26, 2:00-4:00pm
Credits:	3 Graduate Credits
Tuition:	Set by and payable to the Vermont Farm and Forest School

Course Description

Course Description:

This science-focused professional development retreat supports educators in teaching core science concepts through real-world investigations of soil, food systems, and climate resilience. Designed for upper elementary and middle school educators (3rd-8th grades), the program emphasizes NGSS-aligned science instruction, interdisciplinary connections, and experiential learning rooted in local landscapes and working farms. Educators will engage in science intensives focused on disciplinary core ideas and science practices, followed by interdisciplinary explorations that connect science learning to social studies, literacy, and community-based inquiry.

Participants will leave with the tools, confidence, and support to bring meaningful, standards-aligned science curriculum into their classrooms. They will also have support in building strong partnerships with local farms and/or food systems organizations for field trips.

Lead instructor Taryn Colonesse, Curriculum Coordinator & Educator at the Vermont Farm and Forest School, will lead the coursework with support from these secondary instructors: 

Misse Axelrod, Director, Educator, & Farmer at Vermont Farm and Forest School, BA in Sustainable Food Systems & Community

Meg Lyons, Science Teacher at Northfield Middle High School, BS in Environmental Science and Policy, MS in Ecological Teaching and Learning

Kathryn Rossman, Science Specialist at Vermont Agency of Education, BS in Environmental Geology, MEd, Curriculum Development with Technology Integration

Audience: 3rd-8th Grade Science and General Education teachers, farm & outdoor-based educators, school administrators, curriculum coordinators/directors with a Bachelor's Degree

Course Goals & Objectives

Course Goals:

• Support NGSS-aligned teaching of soil science, food systems, and climate resilience by providing complete, adaptable, ready-to-teach science units with an accompanying materials kit.
• Support educators to feel confident and prepared to teach about soil science, food systems, and climate resilience through lessons, hands-on science investigations, and field-based experiences
• Provide educators with concrete strategies, resources, and practice to situate science concepts within a larger scope and sequence, including interdisciplinary connections.
• Strengthen connections between educators/classrooms and local farms for field trips and food procurement to extend student learning.

Course Objectives:

• Review and practice using the science curriculum units and materials kits with other educators as well as with VFFS summer camp students.
• Engage in lessons, discussions, and practice activities to gain and/or deepen personal understanding of soil science, food systems, and climate resilience concepts as well as how to facilitate hands-on science investigations and field-based learning experiences.
• With the support of course instructors and other educators, explore and plan for how the content of the provided curriculum fits into your larger instructional goals and scope and sequence, including how to make interdisciplinary connections.
• Review, discuss, and plan for ways to connect with local farms, including how to initiate partnerships, sustain communication, and plan/implement farm-based learning experiences for students.
• Participate in a community of practice, alongside course instructors and other participant educators, for shared learning and idea exchange in person during the 5-day retreat as well as virtually in the months that follow.