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“How to Grow Dahlias: A Full-Season Garden Guide”

Once your learners know “Things to Know Before You Grow,” it’s time to dig into the garden and get their hands dirty with one of the most beloved and magical plants of all—dahlias! In this joyful, in-depth module, youth follow the full life cycle of a dahlia, from inspecting tubers in spring to harvesting show-stopping blooms, and finally saving those tubers for next season’s magic. Along the way, they’ll learn how to identify healthy tubers, prep and plant with confidence, care for their plants organically, and participate in the fall tradition of cutting back, dividing, and overwintering their garden’s gold.

The “How to Grow Dahlias” collection includes five hands-on lessons and a library of interactive worksheets, journal pages, and planting-day checklists—plus several engaging “how-to” videos from Farmer Steph herself. Whether you’re growing dahlias in a schoolyard bed or in containers on a sunny windowsill, this module turns your classroom into a bloom-filled lab where kids learn to nurture life, track seasonal change, and celebrate every stage of the growing cycle.

By the end of this series, students won’t just grow flowers—they’ll grow confidence, observation skills, and a lifelong appreciation for the natural beauty they helped bring to life.

MLS STEM Goals is an interactive, sports-based learning experience that connects math, strategy, and social-emotional learning through the game of soccer. Developed in partnership with Major League Soccer, this program combines a board game and curriculum to help students build essential skills through a hands-on experience.


Across eight lessons, students analyze shooting percentages from team cards, track and calculate their own gameplay statistics, and apply concepts like mean, median, and mode to evaluate their performance. As the season progresses, students build strategic thinking skills by weighing risk and reward during gameplay and using data to drive their decisions. The program culminates in a championship tournament where students use powers of two to construct playoff brackets and compete as a class.


Beyond STEM, the program reinforces sportsmanship, teamwork, and integrity through integrated bonus lessons and a Sportsmanship Contract, helping students navigate challenges and collaborate with their peers effectively. With an emphasis on social-emotional skills and critical thinking, students develop practical abilities that extend beyond the classroom.

MLS STEM Goals is designed for schools and out-of-school time programs, offering a free and accessible way to engage students in STEM learning through the lens of soccer. Educators should request their MLS STEM Goals games when preparing for Lesson 1 to ensure they receive them before reaching Lesson 3. Requests can be placed at this link or using the link found in Lesson 1.