This early childhood curriculum centers on indigenous food from the Midwest. Through tasting, tinkering, hands-on gardening, and cooking, students learn about companion planting and the importance of native plants to Chicago in a holistic way. We use age-appropriate lessons and games to teach students what native foods are, why soil is important and what makes plants healthy. Students will learn how to grow vegetables, cook with a chef, and maintain a garden bed.

We encourage youth to think beyond what they know is possible, opening their minds to consider the change they want to see. First, students identify the issues and assets within their community and reflect on what makes it healthy and whole. Then, they are encouraged to consider how to build upon these assets–whether that be more community gathering spaces, gardens and nature walks, or repurposing vacant lots. Finally, students will meet with government officials and professionals in the appropriate fields to learn how change is created on a practical and bureaucratic level.

Students engage in project-based learning that centers on public art design. This curriculum is taught through the lens of environmental justice, equitable transit oriented design, civic engagement, storytelling and S.T.E.A.M. Youth are guided by visiting artists and experts to aid in their designs and are exposed to different ways of artist expression. Students will learn to present their work to public officials and learn what plans and documents are needed to implement public art in their community.

This program is designed for collaboration. Teachers, institutions, and artists may have an existing idea or project they’d like to develop. We meet with teacher teams to co-create learning experiences using inquiry-based curriculum. Often, grades have school-wide goals and state-wide needs to be met, this program is perfect for entities who want a tailored project to fit within an existing class plan.

"Groundwork" is for institutions who want educational outreach consultation and/or curriculum development. We meet with teams to identify program needs and concrete goals and together we create programming strategy. We develop curriculum for existing programs looking to be expanded and offer original program design, as well. Collective Learning Lab will execute created programming, if desired.