Click on a subject to see examples of how plant-related science and garden activities support the National Standards Scope-and-Sequence of Teaching and Learning.


Subjects : Math : Social Studies : Geography : Reading/English/Language Arts


Math

Kindergarten

Measuring the schoolyard garden, both before and after construction, with various non-standard units (hand-widths, arm-lengths, etc.). Identifying shapes in the garden. Recording the daily temperature on a classroom chart.

Grade 1

Measuring the schoolyard garden both before and after construction with non-standard and standard units. Identifying two- and three-dimensional shapes in the garden. Collecting data on daily temperature in the garden and recording it on a classroom chart. Recognizing patterns in the garden.

Grade 2

Measuring the garden in metric units. Dividing garden beds to gain understanding of simple fractions. Measuring the daily temperature and recording it. Identifying symmetry and asymmetry in the garden.

Grade 3

Measuring the perimeter and area of the garden. Measuring temperature of air and soil in the garden. Diving garden beds into fractional units. Identifying geometric shapes and concepts in the garden.

Grade 4

Measuring the garden and creating a map to scale. Identifying geometric shapes and concepts in the garden. Using the garden measurements to demonstrate fractions and decimals. Create a graph to illustrate data from plant studies, such as a bar graph to show the number of seedlings that sprout or a line graph to show the growth of a plant over time.

Grade 5

Measure perimeter and area of the garden using metric units. Calculate the volume of soil in a plant bed. Create graphs to illustrate data from plant studies in the garden. Identify geometric shapes and concepts in the garden.

Grade 6

Measure the garden; calculate the volume of soil in a garden plot. Observe a plant over time and graph its growth over time. Solve story/word problems related to the garden.

Grade 7

Measure and calculate perimeter, area, surface area, and volume of garden beds. Create graphs to show data collected from experiments in the garden. Identify geometric shapes and concepts in the garden.

Grade 8

Perform experiments in the garden, collect numerical data, and create a graph. Identify geometric shapes and concepts in the garden. Practice various measuring techniques in the garden.

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Social Studies

Kindergarten

Identifying garden plants that are used or have been used by various cultures. Relate folk tales, fables, and myths to the garden. While discussing family roles of various cultures, highlight agriculture and/or gardening practices.

Grade 1

Relate legends, myths, stories, and fables to the garden. Apply what is learned about rules of conduct and work to behavior in the garden. Relate study of elements of culture to the plants and activities in the school garden; grow plants used by various cultures.

Grade 2

Apply rules of conduct, rights and responsibilities to behavior in the school garden. Introduce botanical/garden/agricultural details into study of the diversity of backgrounds of Americans; grow plants from other cultures in your school garden. Use the garden to illustrate simple economic concepts.

Grade 3

Highlight gardens, plants, agriculture, and nature in study of cultural diversity. Grow plants from theses cultures in the school garden. Consider how inventions and new developments in agriculture have influenced gardening practices used in the school garden.

Grade 4

Use the garden to illustrate economic concepts such as effects of supply and demand. Grow plants from Africa and Asia.

Grade 5

Discuss botanical/agricultural contributions by various cultures and grow some of the plants discussed.

Grade 6

Use the garden to illustrate economic concepts such as effects of supply and demand. Grow plants from Africa and Asia.

Grade 7

Investigate how agricultural discoveries and inventions changed daily life and affect practices in the school garden. Grow plants farmed or used by indigenous people.

Grade 8

Investigate plants used by various Western Hemisphere civilizations; grow some examples.

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Geography

Kindergarten

Compare a simple map of the garden to the actual garden. Create and identify symbols to represent features on the garden map.

Grade 1

Compare a map of the garden to the actual garden. Use a map legend to identify features on the garden map. Observe the weather and seasons effect on the garden.

Grade 2

Create simple maps of the school garden. Collect data on weather and seasonal changes in the garden.

Grade 3

Create map of school garden using relative locations: distance, scale, and map symbols. Discuss the neighborhood and/or community involvement in the school garden. Collect data on weather and seasonal changes in the garden.

Grade 4

Create a scale map of the school garden. Collect data on weather and seasonal changes in the garden. Discuss their impact on the school garden. Use the garden to describe interaction of climate, weather, soil, and natural vegetation.

Grade 5

Highlight crops and other plants that moved with human migrations; grow some examples. Collect data on weather and seasonal change in the garden; compare this to historical patterns.

Grade 6

Highlight crops and other plants that have influenced growth and decline of empires, political policy, and other human activities; grow some examples. Collect data on weather and seasonal change in the garden; compare this to historical patterns.

Grade 7

Highlight crops and other plants that have human activities across the globe; grow some examples. Collect data on weather and seasonal change in the garden; compare this to historical patterns.

Grade 8

Discuss the effect of climate on vegetation as it relates to the school garden. Use the school garden as an example when discussing patterns of land use.

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Reading | English | Language Arts

Kindergarten

Reading children’s literature on plants, gardens, or nature. Exercises in following directions when planting or caring for the garden.

Grade 1

Reading children’s literature on plants, gardens, or nature. Writing and talking about the garden; asking questions about what is happening in the school garden.

Grade 2

Reading children’s literature on plants, gardens, or nature. Writing and talking about the garden; asking questions about what is happening in the school garden.

Grade 3

Reading children’s literature on plants, gardens, or nature. Writing and talking about the garden; asking questions about what is happening in the school garden.

Grade 4

Reading children’s literature, both fiction and nonfiction on plants, gardens, or nature. Writing and talking about the garden; giving a written or oral report on the garden.

Grade 5

Reading children’s literature, both fiction and nonfiction on plants, gardens, or nature. Identifying literary devices in such literature. Writing and talking about the garden; giving a written or oral report on the garden.

Grade 6

Reading literature, both fiction and nonfiction on plants, gardens, or nature. Identifying literary devices in such literature. Communicating about plans and tasks in the garden; making group decisions.

Grade 7

Reading literature on plants, gardens, or nature – including a selection of folk tales, fables, and parables, and multi-ethnic literature. Writing a report or a research paper on a garden-related theme. Communicating about plans and tasks in the garden; making group decisions. Group presentations on a garden-related theme.

Grade 8

Relating Greek and Roman mythology to the garden. Writing a research report on a garden-related theme. Individual and group presentation on garden-related themes.

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