"Gifting Gardens: Scented Success Soap & Sachets"

High School Grade

Project
3 weeks

"Gifting Gardens: Scented Success Soap & Sachets"

Dawn Wirts

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to engage high school students in a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience that combines entrepreneurship, science, and sustainability. By creating soap and herbal products using ingredients from their garden and hydroponics system, students will explore the intersection of business and environmental responsibility. They will gain practical skills in product development, marketing, and scientific inquiry while fostering an understanding of sustainable practices and local sourcing. Through collaboration with community partners and real-world applications, students will develop a deeper connection to their learning and the broader community.

Learning goals

Students will develop skills in precision measurement and chemical processes through hands-on soap making, integrating scientific principles with practical application. They will explore sustainable business practices by creating a business model using garden-sourced ingredients, enhancing their entrepreneurial and marketing skills. Additionally, students will engage in collaborative problem-solving and reflection, fostering socio-emotional growth and self-awareness as they navigate challenges and celebrate successes in their project journey.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSN.Q.A.1: Use units as a way to understand problems and to guide the solution of multi-step problems; choose and interpret units consistently in formulas; choose and interpret the scale and the origin in graphs and data displays.
NGSS - HS-PS1-3: Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer the strength of electrical forces between particles.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Products

Students will create handmade soap infused with herbs and essential oils sourced from the garden and hydroponics system. Additionally, they will craft aromatic sachets filled with dried lavender, mint, rosemary, and sage. These products will be packaged attractively for sale at the 'Garden to Gift Gala' and pop-up market event, showcasing their entrepreneurial skills and understanding of sustainable business practices. Through this process, students will develop unique fragrance profiles and branding strategies to differentiate their products in the marketplace.

Launch

Kick off the project with a dynamic 'Scent Exploration Workshop' where students dive into the world of essential oils and herbs. They will experiment with blending different scents to create their own unique fragrance profiles, which will be used in their soap and sachet products. This hands-on activity will spark creativity and set the stage for the entrepreneurial and scientific exploration to come.

Exhibition

Students will host a 'Garden to Gift Gala' to showcase their soap and herbal products, setting up interactive booths that highlight their entrepreneurial journey and product development. They will engage with parents, community members, and local business owners, receiving feedback and discussing their business models. The event will also feature a 'Reflection and Recognition Ceremony,' where students share personal insights and growth experiences, celebrating their achievements and learning throughout the project.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Project Introduction and Goal Setting - Introduce the project, discuss the purpose, goals, and timeline, and have students set personal learning objectives (20 min) Scent Exploration Workshop - Engage students in experimenting with different essential oils and herbs to create unique fragrance profiles for their products (30 min)	Soap-Making Fundamentals - Teach students the basic principles of soap making, including the chemical reactions involved and safety protocols (25 min) Measuring and Mixing Workshop - Practice precise measurement and mixing of ingredients to prepare for soap production, emphasizing accuracy and precision (25 min)	Garden Tour and Sustainable Practices - Facilitate a guided tour of the school garden to observe and learn about sustainable gardening practices and ingredient sourcing (30 min) Reflection Journal Setup - Introduce students to reflection journals and have them document initial thoughts and learnings from the garden tour (20 min)	Local Community Garden Visit - Visit a local community garden or urban farm to learn about sustainable practices and the benefits of local sourcing (50 min)	Soap Recipe Development - Collaborate in groups to design custom soap recipes incorporating selected herbs and oils from the garden (30 min) Weekly Reflection and Check-In - Facilitate a group discussion to reflect on the week's activities, challenges, and successes, and plan for the upcoming week (20 min)
Deliverables	1. Individual fragrance profiles developed by students for use in their soap products. 2. First batch of handmade soap crafted by each student according to their fragrance profile. 3. Reflection journal entries summarizing learning experiences and insights from the week.
Preparation	1. Gather essential oils, herbs, and soap-making materials for the Scent Exploration Workshop. 2. Coordinate visit to the community garden or urban farm, ensuring transportation and scheduling. 3. Prepare reflection journals for students to document their experiences. 4. Contact and confirm participation of local artisan soap maker for the workshop.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Soap Making Workshop - Students practice measuring and mixing ingredients to make soap, focusing on precision and accuracy in following a recipe (50 min)	Sustainable Gardening Practices Tour - Students visit a local community garden to learn about sustainable gardening and local sourcing (50 min)	Scientific Principles Session - Students explore the chemical processes involved in soap making and investigate the properties of herbs and essential oils (30 min) Fragrance Profile Development - Students experiment with blending herbs and oils to create unique fragrance profiles for their products (20 min)	Business Model Brainstorming - Students brainstorm sustainable and profitable business models using garden-sourced ingredients (25 min) Market Strategy Discussion - Students discuss marketing strategies for their soap and herbal products (25 min)	Reflection Journal Entry - Students document their experiences, challenges, and breakthroughs in the project (20 min) Peer Feedback Session - Students present their progress and receive feedback from classmates, fostering collaborative problem-solving (30 min)
Deliverables	1. Finalize and document a unique fragrance profile for their soap, using a combination of herbs and essential oils. 2. Create a draft business model plan, highlighting the sustainable and local sourcing elements. 3. Update the reflection journal with entries about the soap-making process and lessons learned from the community garden tour.
Preparation	1. Secure materials for the soap-making workshop, including soap bases, molds, measuring tools, and safety equipment. 2. Schedule and coordinate the guided tour at a local community garden or urban farm. 3. Obtain a variety of essential oils and dried herbs for students to experiment with in their soap creations. 4. Prepare templates for the business model plan to guide student documentation. 5. Set up a space for the group critique session, ensuring students have the necessary tools and materials to present their prototypes.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Final Soap Making and Packaging - Complete any final batches of soap and package the finished products with labels and branding elements (50 min)	Market Strategy Finalization - Finalize marketing strategies, including pricing, advertising, and sales pitch preparation for the pop-up market event (30 min) Customer Engagement Role-Play - Practice engaging with customers through role-play scenarios to prepare for the market event (20 min)	Scientific Poster Creation - Develop scientific posters explaining the soap-making process and the effects of herbs and oils, preparing for the poster session (30 min) Peer Review and Feedback - Share posters with peers for constructive feedback and make necessary revisions (20 min)	Pop-Up Market Event Setup - Set up booths and displays for the pop-up market, ensuring all products are ready for sale (25 min) Pop-Up Market Event - Host the market event, engage with customers, and sell products while gathering feedback through surveys (25 min)	Reflection Journal Entry - Reflect on the entire project, noting personal growth, challenges overcome, and successful strategies (20 min) Reflection and Recognition Ceremony - Share excerpts from reflection journals and celebrate achievements with peers and guests (30 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed soap and sachet products packaged for the 'Garden to Gift Gala.' 2. Scientific poster explaining the soap-making process and the properties of different herbs and oils. 3. Reflection journal with daily entries documenting the project experience. 4. Letter to future self reflecting on personal growth and lessons learned.
Preparation	1. Ensure all ingredients and materials for final soap and sachet production are available and prepared. 2. Organize the venue for the 'Garden to Gift Gala,' including tables, decorations, and any necessary signage. 3. Coordinate with community members and local business owners to attend the 'Garden to Gift Gala.' 4. Prepare any technology or display materials needed for the scientific poster session. 5. Provide students with guidance and templates for writing their letters to their future selves.