Oasis Fall and Winter Program

When the days get shorter and the weather turns cold, classrooms can start to feel a little dim and dreary. Students may be less energized, and as a teacher, you’re juggling the challenge of keeping them engaged while also building a strong sense of community.

But here’s the good news: the fall and winter months are actually an incredible opportunity to create connection, curiosity, and joy in your classroom. How? Through gardening.

That might sound impossible at first. After all, how do you grow anything when it’s freezing outside? And don’t you need grow lights or a greenhouse to garden indoors?

Not necessarily. With the right activities, gardening can become a powerful indoor teaching tool that fits into any classroom setting, requires only inexpensive supplies, and connects beautifully with your curriculum.

In fact, the colder months might be the best time to introduce classroom gardening. It gives students a sense of life and growth during a season when nature feels quiet. And just as importantly, it sets the stage for students to feel safe, build trust, and develop the growth mindset they’ll carry for the rest of the year.

Let’s dive into five hands-on gardening projects that work perfectly for fall and winter. But before we do that... you can get a free checklist (with a little bit of a how to) HERE. And a completely done-for-you program called Oasis Fall & Winter, HERE.

So let's get started...

1. Saving Monarch Butterflies with Milkweed

The monarch butterfly is one of nature’s great travelers, migrating thousands of miles from Mexico to Canada and back each year. But their survival depends on one plant: milkweed. Without it, their population struggles—and unfortunately, milkweed is becoming increasingly scarce along their migration path.

This presents an amazing teaching opportunity. By growing milkweed, students can connect with a real-world environmental issue and feel empowered to contribute to a solution.

The catch? Milkweed seeds need a process called stratification before they’ll grow. That means they need to spend several months in a cold environment (like your fridge) before planting in spring.

This makes fall and winter the perfect time to start. Students can prepare milkweed seeds in the classroom now, and then grow them into seedlings later in the spring. Along the way, they’ll learn about ecosystems, biodiversity, and the critical role of pollinators.

For teachers, it’s also a way to turn science into a story, one that your students will remember long after the lesson ends.

2. Seed Balls: Science Meets Creativity

Few activities capture students’ imaginations like making seed balls (also called seed bombs). This project combines science, art, and environmental stewardship in a way that’s fun and engaging.

Here’s how it works: students mix seeds with clay and soil to form small balls. Once dried, these seed balls can be tossed into bare soil where they will slowly break down, releasing seeds that grow into new plants.

This method has even been used in large-scale reforestation efforts, where planes drop seed balls over deforested areas to restore vegetation. Sharing that fact alone is enough to spark wonder in students!

In the classroom, the project teaches about ecosystems, plant life cycles, and the importance of restoring natural spaces. And because it’s a hands-on, slightly messy activity, it’s the kind of project students talk about for weeks afterward.

3. Seed Paper: A Green Gift for the Holidays

If you’re looking for a project that blends sustainability with creativity, seed paper is a perfect choice.

Students create handmade paper by blending recycled scraps into pulp, then pressing seeds into the mixture before it dries. The finished product is textured, colorful paper that can be written on, decorated, or cut into shapes.

The best part? Whoever receives the paper can plant it and watch flowers, herbs, or vegetables grow.

This activity naturally ties into the holiday season, giving students a way to create eco-friendly gifts for friends and family. But it’s also a powerful lesson in sustainability: gifts don’t have to be wasteful to be meaningful.

By turning recycled paper into a living product, students see firsthand how creativity and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.

4. Sprouts: Instant Gratification Gardening

Most gardening projects require patience. Seeds take weeks—or months—to grow into visible plants. But sprouts are the exception.

With nothing more than a jar, some water, and a handful of seeds, students can grow edible sprouts in just a few days. No soil, no sunlight, no special equipment.

This activity is perfect for fall and winter because it delivers instant results. Students can watch nature at work in real time, and they’ll be fascinated to see seeds transform into food so quickly.

Along the way, they learn about germination, nutrition, and the power of plants to sustain life. And since sprouts are edible, it’s also a chance to bring taste into the classroom experience.

5. Microgreens: Small Plants, Big Impact

If sprouts are the quick win, microgreens are the slightly slower—but equally rewarding—cousin. Microgreens are small plants harvested when they’re just a few weeks old, and they’re packed with nutrition.

Growing them in the classroom takes only a shallow container, some soil, and seeds. In one to two weeks, students can enjoy fresh greenery that not only brightens up the classroom but also adds flavor to their meals.

This activity engages multiple senses: sight (watching the plants grow), touch (handling the soil), and taste (sampling the microgreens). It’s a full sensory learning experience that reinforces concepts from biology to health education.

Microgreens also offer a lesson in variety. Almost any seed can be used—sunflowers, peas, radishes, basil—so students can compare flavors, textures, and growth patterns.

Why These Activities Matter

These five projects aren’t just “fun extras.” They:

• Align with curriculum goals in science, art, health, and environmental studies.

• Encourage teamwork and connection, helping students bond in meaningful ways.

• Promote sustainability and stewardship, giving students a sense of purpose.

• Bring life into the classroom, creating an atmosphere of curiosity and hope.

Most importantly, they show students that growth and learning don’t stop when the world outside feels cold and dormant.

Ready to Get Started?

To make it easy, I’ve created a free Fall & Winter Gardening Checklist that walks you through each of these activities with simple, step-by-step instructions.

And if you want to take it further, the Oasis Fall & Winter Program is now open. It includes complete lesson plans, student workbooks, and classroom posters for each activity—done for you, so you can focus on teaching and connecting with your students.

👉 Click here to grab the free checklist and learn more about the program .

With a little creativity (and some seeds), your classroom can become a thriving garden of learning—even in the darkest months of the year.