Grades K–5 (Kit)
Plant history, culture, and science in one activity! Introduce students to the “Three Sisters”—corn, beans, and squash—traditional companion crops grown by Native Americans. This hands-on kit helps students explore early agricultural practices and understand how these crops worked together to provide a balanced diet and sustain communities.
By planting the seeds together, students will see firsthand how the corn provides a stalk for beans to climb, beans fix nitrogen to fertilize the soil, and squash leaves shade the ground to hold moisture and suppress weeds.
Kit Contents
- Organic, heirloom corn seeds
- Organic, heirloom bean seeds
- Organic, heirloom squash seeds
- Planting and activity instructions
Lesson Plans
Pair this kit with the Three Sisters Garden lesson plan and other companion lessons available on the National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix to connect science, history, and culture in an engaging way.
Extend the Learning
Encourage students to research other companion planting traditions, track plant growth in journals, or compare the Three Sisters method to modern farming techniques.
