🌿June Blog: Things to Do with Early Learners at the Farmers Market

Written by Alicia Jordan, Boots on the Farm Consulting, LLC 

June is the perfect month to take early learners on a trip to the farmers market! If you’re looking for hands-on activities to engage young children, here are a few ideas to make your market visit meaningful and fun.

✅ Plan a sensory walk 

Encourage children to touch, smell, and observe fresh produce. Have them describe how the fuzzy green beans feel or how the basil smells. Make a game of spotting as many colors as they can — from bright red tomatoes to deep purple carrots. 

✅ Talk to the farmers 

Prepare a few simple questions for the kids to ask, like “What do you grow?” or “How do you pick the vegetables?” Meeting the people behind the food helps children understand where their meals come from and builds respect for farmers’ work. 

✅ Pick one thing to bring back 

Let each child help choose one local item to take back to the classroom — maybe a basket of berries or a bundle of herbs. You can later use it for a classroom snack or cooking activity. 

✅ Make it a learning adventure 

Bring along a small notebook or camera to document what the kids see and hear. Later, help them make a class collage or story about their market day. 

A farmers market visit connects early learners to their community and sparks their curiosity about food, farming, and nature — all while having fun!