Download Curriculum
Grades K-3 - [ download Lesson plan ]
Grades 4-6-- [ download Lesson plan ]
Tomato Variety Journal -- [ download  ]

Links
About.com
http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/tomatohistory.htm
California Tomato Growers Association, Inc.
http://www.ctga.org/newctga/facts.htm
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato

Recipes
Delicious and Nutritious Bruschetta - [ Download Recipe ]

Fruity Salsa
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple
½ cup of small tart apple, such as Gala or Granny smith, cored and diced
1 cup diced tomatoes
1 cup berries: use blueberries, strawberries or blackberries
1 tsp salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
In a large bowl, combine the pineapple, apple, tomato and berries. Fold to combine. Then add the salt and cinnamon: mix. Enjoy the salsa with plain tortilla chips or cinnamon tortilla chips.


Suggested Reading
From Tomato to Ketchup, written by Roberta Basel, Capstone Press, 2006. Learn through simple text and colorful photographs how tomatoes are processed into a favorite condiment. Primary

Timmy the Truck, written by Tammy Rabb Daggs, Dirtroad Pess, 2006.  Follow Timmy the truck as he hauls tomatoes from the field to the store.  Primary

Red Food Fun, written by Lisa Bullard, Capstone Press, 2006. Text designed for reading along, reading aloud or reading alone and accompanies colorful photos of red foods. Primary

Big Red Tomato, written by Pamela Graham, National Geographic, 2001. Learn the unique life cycle of the tomato in this early science reader. Primary

88 Pounds of Tomatoes, written by Robin Nelson, Lerner Publications Co., 2003. This whimsical mathematics story about a tomato seed encourages students to add, subtract, and multiply as the tomato plant produces more and more tomatoes. Primary

Laughing Tomatoes, written by Francisco X. Alarcon, Children’s Book Press, 2005. Selected poems, in both English and Spanish, relate to different food products, such as tomatoes, corn, and chilies. Intermediate

What’s cooking? The History of American Food, written by Sylvia Whitman, Lerner Publications Co., 2001. This book links food to the big picture of agriculture, and changes in transportation and health. Middle School


Additional Resources
Processing Tomatoes Fact and Activity Sheet - This California-specific fact sheet includes information on processing tomato production, history, nutrition, and economic value. The activity sheet provides lesson ideas and fun facts about processing tomatoes. Prepared for grades K-12, free and available on online at http://www.cfaitc.org/, or contact California Fnd. for Agriculture in the Classroom, 800-700-AITC.