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Plan
Week 1
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Activities
Planting Party - Students plant seeds in small pots, learning about the essentials for plant growth and taking their pots home to observe and care for them. (45 min)
Garden Detective Day - Students explore the schoolyard to identify different plant parts and discuss their functions, sparking curiosity about plant anatomy. (25 min)
Garden Art Workshop - Students create plant-themed art pieces using natural materials, expressing their initial thoughts and feelings about the garden project creatively. (20 min)
Plant Anatomy Exploration - Students dissect flowers and leaves to identify and label parts, learning how each part contributes to the plant's survival and growth. (25 min)
Reflection Journal Creation - Students start their reflection journals by drawing and writing about their observations and feelings after the planting activity. (20 min)
Deliverables
1. Each student will have a planted pot to take home and care for.
2. Students will complete entries in their reflection journals about the Planting Party and Garden Detective Day.
3. Art pieces created during the Garden Art Workshop will be collected for the upcoming Garden Art Exhibit.
4. Initial peer sharing session where students discuss their planting and detective activities.
Preparation 1. Gather small pots, soil, and a variety of seeds for the Planting Party.
2. Prepare identification cards for plant parts to facilitate the Garden Detective Day.
3. Collect natural materials (leaves, twigs, flowers) for the Garden Art Workshop.
4. Create reflection journals for students to document their observations and feelings.
5. Coordinate with the nearby botanical garden for a field trip later in the project.
Week 2
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Activities
Introduction to Plant Needs - Students review the essential question 'How do plants grow and what do they need to survive?' and discuss their initial thoughts. (15 min)
Observation and Data Collection - Students observe their plant experiments and record data on plant growth, focusing on how different conditions impact survival. (30 min)
Reflection Journal Entry - Students draw and write about their observations in their reflection journals, noting discoveries and feelings about the experiment. (15 min)
Peer Discussion and Feedback - Students share their reflection journal entries with classmates, providing feedback and discussing insights on plant growth. (25 min)
Garden Art Creation - Students create artwork inspired by their experiments, using natural materials to represent different stages of plant growth. (20 min)
Deliverables
1. Completed plant part diagrams labeled by students from the Plant Anatomy Exploration.
2. Reflections written or drawn in journals, capturing observations and feelings from the Garden Detective Day.
3. Peer feedback notes from the Garden Reflection Circle to be included in reflection journals.
Preparation 1. Gather magnifying glasses, tweezers, and dissecting kits for the Plant Anatomy Exploration.
2. Prepare worksheets with diagrams of plant parts for labeling during the Plant Anatomy Exploration.
3. Set up a space for the Garden Reflection Circle with comfortable seating and prompts for discussion.
4. Collect and organize materials for the Garden Detective Day, including clipboards and pencils for note-taking.
5. Coordinate with the schoolyard supervisor for access and ensure safety measures are in place.
Week 3
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Activities
Garden Exploration - Students visit the nearby botanical garden, exploring different plant species and learning about their unique characteristics through guided tours. (45 min)
Reflection Journal Entry - Students draw and write about their botanical garden visit, focusing on new plant species they encountered and their thoughts about plant diversity. (20 min)
Peer Review Session - Students share their reflection journals with classmates, discussing observations and insights from the botanical garden visit, and receive constructive feedback. (25 min)
Garden Gallery Walk Preparation - Students select their best garden-related artwork and writing to display, preparing captions that highlight their academic progress and emotional connection to the project. (25 min)
Garden Gallery Walk - Students participate in a 'Garden Gallery Walk,' displaying their artwork and writing, reflecting on their learning journey and sharing their accomplishments with peers. (20 min)
Deliverables
1. Reflection journals with entries from the botanical garden visit and plant anatomy exploration.
2. Completed labels and diagrams from the plant anatomy exploration session.
3. Initial sketches and descriptions for the collaborative mural depicting the life cycle of plants.
Preparation 1. Coordinate with the botanical garden for the field trip date and logistics.
2. Prepare permission slips and safety guidelines for the field trip.
3. Gather materials for the plant anatomy exploration, including flowers, leaves, magnifying glasses, and charts for labeling parts.
4. Set up a reflection journal station where students can draw and write about their observations.
5. Organize art supplies for the collaborative mural creation, including large paper, paints, and markers.
Week 4
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Activities
Garden Story Brainstorm - Students brainstorm ideas and themes for their contributions to the class book 'Our Neighborhood Garden Adventure', focusing on their personal experiences and learnings. (20 min)
Mural Design Planning - Students collaborate on designing the layout for the collaborative mural depicting the life cycle of plants, deciding on elements to include from their individual drawings. (25 min)
Drafting Garden Stories - Students begin drafting their individual pages for the class book, incorporating illustrations and narratives about their garden experiences. (30 min)
Mural Artwork Creation - Students start creating their individual drawings for the mural, illustrating different stages of the plant life cycle. (15 min)
Peer Review and Feedback - Students share their draft pages with classmates for review, providing and receiving constructive feedback to improve their stories and illustrations. (25 min)
Mural Assembly - Students assemble their individual drawings into the collaborative mural, ensuring each stage of the plant life cycle is represented. (20 min)
Deliverables
1. Completed reflection journal entry documenting insights and observations from the field trip.
2. Prepared artwork and writing pieces for the 'Garden Gallery Walk' with informative captions.
3. Feedback from peers on journal entries, encouraging self-directed learning and reflection.
Preparation 1. Coordinate logistics for the botanical garden field trip, including transportation and permissions.
2. Gather reflection journals and art supplies for students to use during their journal entry session.
3. Prepare display materials such as easels, boards, and labels for the 'Garden Gallery Walk'.
4. Contact the botanical garden to arrange guided tours and educational sessions for students.
Week 5
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Activities
Garden Story Draft Revisions - Students revise their garden story drafts using peer feedback, focusing on clarity, creativity, and accuracy in their illustrations and narratives. (25 min)
Mural Touch-Ups - Students refine the mural artwork, ensuring each stage of the plant life cycle is clearly represented and visually appealing. (20 min)
Book Assembly Preparation - Students finalize their pages for the class book 'Our Neighborhood Garden Adventure', adding last-minute details and illustrations. (20 min)
Final Mural Assembly - Students work collaboratively to mount the completed mural in a designated display area, preparing it for the upcoming exhibition. (25 min)
Mock Garden Story Time - Students rehearse reading their garden stories aloud, practicing clear and expressive reading skills for the upcoming exhibition event. (25 min)
Exhibition Setup - Students assist in setting up the 'Garden Art Exhibit' and 'Garden Story Time' event space, ensuring all artwork and stories are displayed prominently. (20 min)
Deliverables
1. Reflection journals with entries detailing observations and feelings from the botanical garden visit.
2. Garden-inspired artwork created using a variety of art materials that express students' personal connections to the project.
3. Participation in the ‘Garden Gallery Walk’ where students present and discuss their artwork and written pieces.
4. Peer-revised reflection journals incorporating feedback from classmates.
5. Engagement in a reflection circle sharing insights and experiences related to plant growth and ecosystems.
6. Preparation for the upcoming ‘Garden Story Time’ event where students will prepare to present their journals to an audience.
Preparation 1. Arrange a field trip to a nearby botanical garden for an immersive learning experience about plant species and their characteristics.
2. Coordinate with the botanical garden staff to prepare interactive sessions for students, focusing on plant anatomy and ecosystems.
3. Gather art supplies for students to create garden-inspired artwork, ensuring a variety of materials are available such as colored pencils, paints, and natural materials collected from the garden.
4. Prepare reflection journals for students to draw and write about their observations and experiences from the botanical garden visit.
5. Set up a space for the ‘Garden Gallery Walk’ where students can display their artwork and writing.
6. Organize a peer review session framework to guide students in giving constructive feedback on reflection journals.
7. Prepare prompts and guidelines for students to critically reflect on their learning and experiences during the project.
Week 6
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Activities
Final Reflection Journal Entry - Students draw and write a summary of their garden project journey, emphasizing personal growth and key learnings about plant growth and community interactions. (20 min)
Garden Story Time Rehearsal - Students practice reading their reflection journals aloud, focusing on clear expression and engaging storytelling for the upcoming exhibition event. (25 min)
Exhibition Setup - Students collaborate to arrange the 'Garden Art Exhibit' and 'Garden Story Time' space, ensuring all artwork and stories are displayed attractively. (25 min)
Peer Exhibition Walkthrough - Students participate in a walkthrough where they view each other's exhibits, offering feedback and celebrating the diverse ways their peers have expressed their learning. (20 min)
Garden Story Time Event - Students read their reflection journals aloud to classmates, family, and community members, sharing personal experiences and discoveries from the garden project. (25 min)
Garden Art Exhibit - Students showcase their garden-inspired artwork with informative captions, inviting visitors to explore the creative and scientific aspects of the project. (20 min)
Deliverables
1. Students participate in a virtual field trip to the botanical garden, learning about diverse plant species and their characteristics.
2. Completion of individual reflection journal entries capturing final observations and learnings from the garden project.
3. Participation in a 'Garden Gallery Walk' to showcase and reflect on their academic and creative progress.
4. Presentation during the 'Garden Story Time' event, where students read their journal entries to classmates and family members.
5. Finalization and display of the collaborative mural illustrating the life cycle of plants.
6. Completion of the class book 'Our Neighborhood Garden Adventure,' with each student contributing a page.
Preparation 1. Coordinate with the botanical garden for a virtual field trip session to explore different plant species.
2. Prepare reflection journals and art materials for the 'Garden Gallery Walk.'
3. Collect and organize student artwork and reflection journal entries for the 'Garden Art Exhibit.'
4. Set up a space for the 'Garden Story Time' event, including seating and audio equipment for student presentations.
5. Prepare peer review guidelines and questions to facilitate constructive feedback sessions.
6. Organize a display area for the collaborative mural and class book.