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Pre-k, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Grades  Project 10 weeks

"Buzzing Back to Nature: Farm Fest Fun!"

Sacha R
Develop a plan to pursue a goal
Monitor progress and adjust
Give and receive feedback
Engage in discussion
Reflect
+ 9 more
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Purpose

This project invites learners to engage deeply with the land, fostering a connection through observation, inquiry, and creative action. Over ten weeks, students will explore natural systems, including interactions with goats, chickens, and bees, identify needs, and collaboratively design solutions that regenerate and sustain the environment. Through hands-on activities, learners will develop critical competencies such as purposeful learning, inquiry, and solution design, while reflecting on their impact and contributions to the community and ecosystem. The project aims to cultivate a sense of stewardship, empathy, and long-term thinking, ensuring students leave a positive legacy for the land and its inhabitants, culminating in a community exhibition that celebrates their regenerative efforts.

Learning goals

Students will explore and connect with natural systems on a farm, including goats, chickens, and bees, developing curiosity and empathy for the land. They will design and prototype regenerative solutions, engaging in hands-on activities that foster collaboration and iterative thinking. Throughout the project, students will reflect on their impact, share their learning journey, and contribute meaningfully to the land and community. The project will cultivate skills in observation, questioning, prototyping, and storytelling, while nurturing attributes of gratitude, responsibility, and interconnectedness.
Standards
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.1: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade-appropriate topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
  • NGSS - K-LS1-1: Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.
  • NGSS - 3-5-ETS1-2: Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
Competencies
  • Learn with Purpose - Develop a plan to pursue a goal (LI.1)
  • Learn with Purpose - Monitor progress and adjust (LI.2)
  • Learn with Purpose - Give and receive feedback (LI.3)
  • Learn with Purpose - Engage in discussion (LI.4)
  • Learn with Purpose - Reflect (LI.5)
  • Sustain Well-Being - Connect to the natural world (SW.4)
  • Engage In Inquiry - Frame a question (EI.1)
  • Engage In Inquiry - Develop an inquiry plan (EI.2)
  • Engage In Inquiry - Select and evaluate sources (EI.3)
  • Engage In Inquiry - Gather and organize original data (EI.4)
  • Engage In Inquiry - Synthesize sources or findings (EI.5)
  • Design Solutions - Identify an issue or design challenge (DS.1)
  • Design Solutions - Build models, prototypes, or action plans (DS.2)
  • Design Solutions - Test, act, iterate (DS.3)

Products

Throughout the project, learners will create sensory maps and nature journals to document observations and curiosities about the land, including interactions with goats, chickens, and bees. They will design and build prototypes such as pollinator gardens, compost systems, or worm farms, collaborating intergenerationally to refine solutions that support these animals. By the project's end, learners will produce a storytelling video or photo essay showcasing the transformation of the soil and their impact, culminating in a community gathering where they share their harvest and stories, aligned with the exhibition theme.

Launch

Start the project with a sensory exploration walk on a local farm, where learners engage with the land by observing goats, chickens, and bees. Encourage them to document their observations through sketches and notes, focusing on how these animals interact with natural systems like soil and water. Facilitate a group discussion to share curiosities and questions, setting the stage for deeper inquiry and design challenges that incorporate these farm elements.

Exhibition

Students will host a community gathering where they showcase their projects and share stories of their learning journey. They will present their findings through multimedia presentations, including videos and photo essays, highlighting the transformation of the land and their contributions. The event will feature a mini-harvest meal prepared using produce from their garden, allowing students to demonstrate the impact of their work and celebrate their connection to the land. Additionally, students will organize interactive stations where guests can learn about the care and management of goats, chickens, and bees, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for these integral components of the ecosystem. This exhibition will foster a sense of community and gratitude, encouraging ongoing collaboration and stewardship.