Learning & Activities

Learning &
Activities

Gardens are great places to learn for virtually any subject area. Following are ideas and links to more information for learning and activities both in the garden and the classroom.

ART & CREATIVE THINKING
	Design Garden Layout - during the planning stages of the garden students can create design layouts. This could be a "contest" with incentives for the best design.
	Sign Making - give the garden an identity by giving it a name and making a sign. A sign could include the garden name, "open hours", or garden rules. Individual classes could create a sign for their particular plot.
	Create Photo Exhibit - chart the progress and changes in the garden with a photo exhibit in the classroom.
	Produce a Video - make a video about the garden. Students can be assigned as "journalists" to do a "live report" on the "events" happening in the garden.
MATH & SPATIAL SKILLS
	Make a Map - students can be assigned to draw a "map" of an existing garden, detailing locations of the various plants and pathways. Older students could be assigned to measure and draw the garden to scale.
	Measuring Tools - teach students how to correctly read a rain gauge and thermometer with the correct units of measurement.
	Measure the Plants Using a ruler, students can learn to measure the plant stems and leaves to the nearest inch, half inch, and/or quarter inch. Older students can measure in metric units and learn to convert measurements. Regular measurements can be taken of growing plants and recorded in a table, plotted on a line graph, or used to create a bar graph.
WRITING & VOCABULARY
	Keep Garden Journal - each student keeps a "journal" with entries including observations, activities, drawings, and conclusions.
	Garden Vocabulary - develop a list of new garden terms students learn (ex: mulch, compost, germinate). Quiz students on definitions or using terms correctly in a sentence.
	Garden Spelling - many plant and flower names can be challenging to spell. Such names could be added to regular spelling lessons for "extra credit." Older students can be challenged to learn correct spellings of every plant name in the school garden. Have a "Garden Spelling Bee."
	Produce Garden Newsletter - include poems, stories, articles, drawings, and reports.
LIFE SCIENCE
	Learn Garden Etiquette Tool uses, safety, and sharing. Walk only in pathways. Pick/eat plants and weeds only when directed by an adult. Never throw anything. Keep litter and trash picked up.
	Water the Garden Students can assist in watering or be given responsibility for regular watering of selected plants. Deliberately select a few extra plants to overwater and underwater. Show students the effects of improper watering.
	Weed the Garden Teach students to identify weeds apart from garden plants. Teach students the importance of weed removal to reduce competition with garden plants, to prevent growth of new weeds, and to improve garden appearance. Students can use hoes or pull weeds by hand.
	Catch a Bug Teach students to identify various beneficial and harmful insects found in the garden. Students can use small jars or containers with lids to catch insects in the garden and observe under a magnifying glass. Insect collections can be made from garden insects. Teach students to remove harmful insects from the garden either by hand or spraying with the garden hose. Make a toad house - bury flower pots on their sides half into the ground. They will help catch insects.
	Dissect a Flower - dissect a flower and identify the parts (stem, leaf, petals, etc.)
RESOURCES
	Books & Literature
	Links - Activities, Lesson Plans, and Curriculums

Learning &
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