Developing Individuals,
Growing Stewards
Helping youth understand the widespread impact and importance of agriculture.
A new way to introduce agriculture in the classroom
Developing Individuals, Growing Stewards (DIGS) is a curriculum developed by Colorado State University’s 4-H STEM AmeriCorps program and faculty in CSU’s Agricultural Education Program. Designed for 3rd-5th graders, the curriculum covers a wide range of topics across eight units with a total of twenty-four lessons. Each lesson contains Colorado Academic Standards, 4-H life skills, background information on the subject material, vocabulary lists, career connections, and more.
NOTE – We are currently working to revise and update the DIGS curriculum. The new curriculum materials will be made available in summer of 2026. Please fill out the form on this page to be notified and receive a download link when the new materials are completed.
A free curriculum for teachers, parents, and more
Anyone can teach DIGS. Whatever your role – if you’re looking to build afterschool programs or a homeschooling parent or classroom teacher looking for a cohesive lesson plan to teach Colorado agriculture – DIGS is your solution.
DIGS, developed during a two-week summer camp, encompasses all twenty-four lessons in the curriculum. The action-packed days were filled with interactive activities covering a range of topics, from plant health to genetics to basic nutrition. Curriculum developers included a CSU Extension 4-H Agent, a CSU graduate student, and an AmeriCorps member with no previous background in agriculture. By the end of the two-week camp, seventy-one percent of participants increased their knowledge of Colorado agriculture and their appreciation of STEM.
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