Farm to Classroom: Helping Your Child Connect to Franklin Township’s Farming Legacy 

Your preschooler’s favorite question “Why?” just met its match: Franklin Township’s dirt. Those tiny hands digging in soil aren’t just making a mess. They’re learning how food grows, why farmers matter, and how their community has fed families for generations. So bring out the shovels, curiosity, and little green thumbs. Let’s get growing! 

Dirt: The Ultimate Teacher for Your Little Explorer 

Franklin Township’s agricultural roots have stories to tell from the Michigan Road pioneers to today’s strawberry festivals. In these same soils, your child can find more than just a place to play. Whether they’re scooping soil, examining bugs, or “painting” with mud, each moment is a hands-on sensory lesson. They’re building science skills (How do roots work?), math smarts (How many seeds fit in this pumpkin?), and pride in their community’s history. Want to share our area’s farming legacy at home?  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-J2FErZHuA

“Where Does Food Come From?” (And Why It Matters) 

That broccoli on your child’s plate has a story, and you get to help tell it. Kids love to ask questions and explore, and learning where food comes from can turn mealtime into a fun adventure. 

You don’t need a big garden or special tools to get started. Try planting seeds in a cup, sorting dried beans from the pantry, or measuring how tall a sunflower grows. These simple activities help kids see that food grows with time, care, and a little curiosity. 

Here in Franklin Township, there are great ways to make local food part of the conversation. The USDA’s Farm to Preschool ideas and the Indiana Grown Early Care Toolkits offer fun, easy ways for families and educators to explore how food gets from the farm to the plate. Even a quick grocery run can turn into a game. Ask your child what grows on trees, what grows in the ground, and what might be grown nearby. 

Here’s the fun part. Kids who help grow or pick out their food are more likely to eat it. So when your child proudly takes a bite of a veggie they helped grow, that’s a big win. It’s a small start to a lifetime of healthy habits and curious eating. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAZdBQu9OyU

Your Weekend Adventure List: Farms That Feel Like Play 

Swap Saturday cartoons for hands-on fun at family-friendly farms around Franklin Township! Start your day at Traders Point Creamery in Zionsville, where families can enjoy a 60-minute guided tour of the organic dairy farm. While bottle-feeding calves isn’t on the agenda, kids will love seeing the cows up close and ending the visit with a scoop of their rich, house-made ice cream. Then, head to Kelsay Farms in Whiteland, where a towering 7-acre corn maze, jump pad, hayrides, and a petting area with goats and a mini horse promise hours of outdoor adventure. For a sweet seasonal treat, visit Waterman’s Family Farm in Indianapolis during their Strawberry Festival, where you can pick juicy sun-ripened strawberries and enjoy live music and food trucks. Find more farm-fun ideas in this guide to kid-friendly farm fun.  

Want to add an educational twist? Pack the book Right This Very Minute by Lisl H. Detlefsen to help kids make the connection between their favorite snacks and the farmers who grow them.  

Books That Make Farm Learning Tasty 

Snuggle up with some delightful reads that make farm learning delicious. Before We Eat: From Farm to Table by Pat Brisson, with illustrations by Mary Azarian, blends gratitude with beautiful woodcut art. Farmer Will Allen’s Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs Martin shares the inspiring true story of an urban farming hero. And How Did That Get in My Lunchbox? by Chris Butterworth is the perfect snack-time sidekick for curious little eaters. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsxGolbHkn0

How We Get Down To Earth 

Research shows that fun farm activities like gardening, cooking, and outdoor play help young kids grow important social-emotional skills like sharing, caring, and taking responsibility. 

Curious how Creative World School makes soil exciting? Check out our past classroom gardening projects to see kids in action. Then try this at home: plant a bean in a clear jar with your child and watch their eyes light up as roots begin to sprout. No backyard is needed, just a sunny windowsill and a little curiosity. It’s a simple way to spark wonder and show how food starts its journey. 

Ready to Grow? 
At Creative World School Franklin Township, we help kids dig deeper—into soil, stories, and their own potential. Our blend of farm-fresh learning and community pride prepares your child for tomorrow while honoring yesterday. Contact us to learn how our curriculum connects children to both!