Thousands of primary schools across the country have a chance to win an amazing allotment makeover by taking part in the biggest ever Grow Your Own Potatoes project. Registrations are now open at www.potatoesforschools.org.uk for 2010’s Grow Your Own Potatoes project and this year there are 15,000 FREE packs available.

Potato Council’s Grow Your Own Potatoes project is linked to the curriculum and is a hands-on way for pupils to find out how things grow, and where their food comes from. Over 400,000 pupils will plant their potatoes in March 2010, carefully nurturing them from seed to plants, before harvesting their crop next June.

www.potatoesforschools.org.uk

The pupils that grow the heaviest crop of potatoes will win an allotment makeover for their schools including design, build and all the plants needed to get started. There is also a whole host of fantastic runner up prizes available, including eco-friendly picnic tables and playground benches.

All schools that take part in the Grow Your Own Potatoes project will receive their FREE growing kit in March 2010, containing Rocket and Vales Emerald seed potatoes, supplied by the British potato industry, grow bags, water spout, stickers and an interactive classroom poster. Advice, support and downloadable resources, covering how to grow and cook potatoes, are available at www.potatoesforschools.org.uk.

Registration closes on the 5th February 2010 but packs are available on a first come first served basis. So register your school now for what is sure to be the most successful Grow Your Own Potatoes project yet, and see how many potatoes your school can grow.

Following on from yesterday’s post about The Little Book of Goodness, here’s another resource linked to food and healthy eating…

National School Meals Week is the biggest national healthy eating awareness week about school meals in Britain. It takes place from 9th to 13th November 2009 with the support of the School Food Trust and ASSIST FM. It encourages everyone to “Get Involved” in promoting healthy school dinners in Primary and Secondary Schools.

The NSMW site offers lots of ideas, resources and activities for schools to use during the week, and throughout the rest of the year too!

The School Food Trust was set up in 2005. Its remit is to transform school food and food skills, promote the education and health of children and young people and improve the quality of food in schools.

They have recently produced a ‘Little Book of Goodness’ to help teachers and schools promote healthy eating to families and highlight to parents the huge changes which have been made to school food. Over 17,000 copies have been sent to schools in England, but you can also read it online below:

The Potato Story site is a great place to learn about life cycles, healthy eating, growing food and much more. The site has videos, games and quizzes for children to use, as well as resources for teachers and parents.

The site allows for cross-curricular links through ICT (Exploring simulations), literacy (with VAK opportunities including drama) and numeracy (measuring, collecting and presenting data).

There is also a ‘Potato Story’ bus which is available to visit schools to help them learn even more. If you would like to invite the bus to visit your school, enter your details on this form.