Lessons

The purpose of this lesson is for students to understand that plants have different parts and that we eat different parts of different plants. Students will also begin to understand the structure and form of each plant part and work collaboratively to sort plants by which part we eat. In the garden, they will observe and draw plants and identify the different parts of edible plants growing there.

The purpose of this lesson is for students to understand that there are many health benefits to eating fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors. Students will sort produce by color, create a rainbow poster illustrating different colored produce, and search the garden for examples of colorful produce. This lesson supports the DCPS 1st grade ELA Unit Body Functions and Self Identity.

The purpose of this lesson is for students to study seeds that fly and understand why and how seeds disperse. Students will closely observe seeds in different ways and design their own plant to explore the various ways that seeds travel. They will also learn different ways to collect and save seeds. This lesson can also be used to support the DCPS 1st Grade ELA Unit Taking Flight.

The purpose of this lesson is for students to learn about how plants use adaptations for survival. Students will explore examples of unique plant adaptations, create a model of a plant with a special adaption, and work to prepare the garden so that the plants can adapt and survive the winter. This lesson can be used to support the DCPS 1st Grade Science Unit Design from Nature.

The purpose of this lesson is for students to understand seasonality – that different plants grow in different seasons. Students will carefully observe the school garden in winter and build their own seasonality chart based on the plants that are available at different times of year. They will also read seed packets in order to make a planting plan for the school garden. This lesson supports the DCPS 1st grade Science Unit Patterns in the Sky.

The purpose of this lesson is for students to practice partitioning and creating equal parts through real-world applications in the kitchen and garden. In the garden, students will prepare raised beds for planting by dividing them into equal parts. In the kitchen, they will work on creating equal parts from fruits and vegetables of different sizes for sharing. They will explore the terms fair and equal and consider if equal is always fair.