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3rd Grade
- Project
- 4 weeks
Green Thumbs: Growing Garden Adventures!
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to engage 3rd-grade students in hands-on learning by creating and managing a community garden. Through this experience, students will explore plant life cycles and sustainable practices, integrating environmental science and social studies. By actively planting, maintaining, and harvesting the garden, students will develop a deeper understanding of what plants need to thrive and how they change over time.
Learning goals
Students will explore the life cycles of plants by actively engaging in the planting, maintenance, and harvesting of a community garden. They will investigate the environmental factors that influence plant growth and learn sustainable gardening practices. Through hands-on activities, students will develop an understanding of the interdependence between plants and their environment, while also connecting these concepts to social studies by examining the role of gardens in communities.
Standards
- NGSS - 3-LS1-1: Develop models to describe that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but all have in common birth, growth, reproduction, and death.
- Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
- Common Core - CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.MD.B.4: Generate measurement data by measuring lengths using rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch.
Products
Throughout the project, students will create a detailed plant growth journal, documenting observations, measurements, and changes in the garden. They will also design and display informational posters about sustainable gardening practices and the life cycles of different plants. By the end of the project, students will collaboratively produce a community garden showcase, inviting family and community members to tour the garden and learn from the students' findings and presentations.
Launch
Begin the project with a visit to a local community garden or invite a guest speaker who is a local gardener to share their experiences and knowledge about plant life cycles and sustainable practices. Engage students in a hands-on activity where they can plant seeds in small pots to take home, sparking curiosity and excitement about the growth process. Encourage students to brainstorm what plants might need to thrive and create a class list of questions they hope to answer throughout the project.
Exhibition
At the end of the project, students will host a community garden open day, inviting family members, local community members, and school staff to explore the garden. Each student will present a plant they have cared for, sharing observations about its growth, life cycle, and the sustainable practices used. Students will also create informational posters detailing the environmental and social studies aspects of the project, fostering an interactive learning experience for visitors.
| Week 1 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
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| Activities |
Community Garden Introduction - Visit a local community garden or host a guest speaker to discuss plant life cycles and sustainable practices, sparking curiosity and excitement (20 min)
Seed Planting Activity - Students plant seeds in small pots to take home, encouraging them to observe and care for the growing process (25 min)
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Brainstorming Session - Engage students in a class discussion to brainstorm what plants need to thrive, creating a class list of questions to explore (15 min)
Plant Life Cycle Chart - Introduce and create a large classroom chart outlining the stages of a plant's life cycle, using examples from the garden visit or speaker (30 min)
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Exploring the Garden Space - Walk around the designated garden area at school, discussing potential plants to grow and what they need to thrive (20 min)
Measurement Introduction - Teach students how to measure garden plots using rulers, preparing them for planting activities (25 min)
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Gardening Tools Exploration - Introduce students to common gardening tools, explaining their uses and safety precautions (15 min)
Soil Preparation - Demonstrate and guide students in preparing the soil for planting, discussing the importance of soil health (30 min)
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Planting Plan - Collaboratively create a planting plan, deciding which plants to grow based on student interests and the garden's conditions (20 min)
Planting Practice - Practice planting techniques in the prepared soil, ensuring students understand spacing and depth (25 min)
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| Deliverables |
1. Completed plant growth journal entries with initial observations and plant life cycle diagrams.
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| Preparation |
1. Arrange a visit to a local community garden or invite a guest speaker.
2. Gather materials for planting: seeds, small pots, soil, labels, and markers. 3. Prepare plant growth journals for each student. 4. Set up different environmental conditions for the plant growth experiment (e.g., varying sunlight exposure areas). 5. Create a class chart for the list of questions students hope to answer during the project. |
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| Week 2 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activities |
Introduction to Plant Needs - Review the class list of questions from Week 1 about what plants need, and discuss key plant requirements such as water, sunlight, and nutrients (20 min)
Watering Schedule Creation - Collaboratively create a weekly watering schedule, assigning student groups to manage watering duties, reinforcing responsibility and teamwork (25 min)
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Sunlight Observation Activity - Guide students in observing sunlight patterns in the garden area, marking sunny and shaded spots on a map to determine optimal planting locations (20 min)
Plant Mapping Exercise - Using the sunlight map, help students map out where different plants will be planted based on their sunlight needs, integrating math skills of spatial awareness (25 min)
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Nutrient Exploration - Introduce students to essential plant nutrients, discussing the role of compost and organic matter in soil health (15 min)
Composting Station Setup - Set up a small composting station in the garden area, showing students how to add organic matter and maintain compost, linking to environmental science (30 min)
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Plant Care Journaling - Teach students how to record observations in their plant growth journals, including measurements and changes in their plants over time (20 min)
Plant Measurement Practice - Practice measuring plant growth using rulers, applying math skills to record precise measurements in journals (25 min)
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Creating Informational Posters - Begin designing posters about plant life cycles and sustainable practices, focusing on clear illustrations and simple explanations (25 min)
Collaborative Poster Presentation - In small groups, students present their poster drafts to the class, receiving feedback and refining their work to enhance understanding of key concepts (20 min)
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| Deliverables |
1. Each student will update their plant growth journal with detailed observations and measurements.
2. Students will draft an outline for their informational poster, including key information about their chosen plant and sustainable practices. |
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| Preparation |
1. Gather materials for plant growth experiments, including different soil types, water containers, and light sources.
2. Ensure that each student has a ruler for precise plant measurements. 3. Provide art supplies for poster creation, such as poster boards, markers, and templates. 4. Prepare resources on sustainable gardening practices, including books or digital media for students to reference. |
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| Week 3 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activities |
Plant Growth Observation - Students observe and record changes in their plants, noting the stage of life cycle and measuring plant height (20 min)
Environmental Factors Discussion - Facilitate a discussion on environmental factors affecting plant growth, such as sunlight, water, and soil quality (25 min)
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Sustainable Practices Exploration - Explore sustainable gardening practices through hands-on activities like composting and water conservation techniques (30 min)
Garden Maintenance - Students engage in weeding and watering the garden, reinforcing the importance of regular care for plant health (15 min)
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Community Connection Activity - Discuss the role of gardens in communities and brainstorm ways the school's garden can benefit the community (20 min)
Poster Design Workshop - Begin designing informational posters about sustainable gardening practices and plant life cycles, incorporating students' research and observations (25 min)
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Data Collection and Analysis - Teach students how to organize and analyze their plant growth data, using graphs to represent changes over time (25 min)
Garden Showcase Preparation - Plan the layout and presentation format for the upcoming community garden showcase, ensuring each student has a role (20 min)
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Collaborative Reflection - Reflect on learning experiences by sharing observations and insights in small groups, focusing on growth and challenges (20 min)
Showcase Practice - Practice presenting individual plants and posters, receiving peer feedback to refine presentations for the community showcase (25 min)
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| Deliverables |
1. Updated plant growth journals with measurements, pollination observations, and composting notes.
2. Draft versions of informational posters on plant life cycles and sustainable practices. |
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| Preparation |
1. Gather small brushes and flowers for the pollination experiment.
2. Set up a compost bin and collect organic waste materials for the composting activity. 3. Ensure rulers are available for students to measure plant growth accurately. 4. Provide poster paper, markers, and access to research materials for creating informational posters. |
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| Week 4 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activities |
Garden Showcase Roles - Assign and review roles for the community garden showcase, ensuring students understand their responsibilities (20 min)
Final Poster Enhancements - Make final adjustments to informational posters, incorporating feedback received during the showcase practice (25 min)
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Rehearsal Presentations - Students practice presenting their findings and posters to peers, focusing on clarity and confidence (30 min)
Peer Feedback Session - Provide constructive feedback to peers on presentation skills and content, fostering collaborative improvement (15 min)
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Garden Maintenance Final Touches - Conduct a final garden maintenance session, ensuring the garden is prepared for the showcase (20 min)
Reflective Journal Entry - Write a journal entry reflecting on the entire gardening experience, including personal growth and learning (25 min)
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Showcase Rehearsal - Conduct a full dress rehearsal of the community garden showcase, ensuring smooth transitions and clarity (25 min)
Invite Creation - Design and distribute invitations for the community garden showcase to family and community members (20 min)
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Community Garden Showcase - Host the community garden open day, presenting individual plants and posters to visitors, demonstrating learning and growth (45 min)
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| Deliverables |
1. Completed Plant Growth Journal with final reflections
2. Informational Posters on plant life cycles and sustainable practices 3. Presentation for the Community Garden Open Day event |
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| Preparation |
1. Gather materials for poster creation, such as poster boards, markers, and art supplies
2. Arrange the layout of the garden showcase area, ensuring there is space for visitors to view the plants and posters 3. Send out invitations to family members and community guests for the Community Garden Open Day 4. Organize any equipment needed for the presentations, such as a microphone or speaker system if necessary |
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Remixed from
Green Thumbs: Growing Garden Adventures!