Imagine a Garden Site Level: K-3 Materials: Which Spot is Best?, pictured below (site checklist) Standards Before youngsters learn the "rules" for planting "official" Journey North gardens, invite them to think about what plants need. Next, ask them to imagine spots in the schoolyard that might fit the bill. They'll then see how well these locations fit with Journey North's protocol. Laying the Groundwork: What Plants Need Ask students what they think plants need to grow well. Accept all suggestions and make a class list. (They might mention sun, water, room to grow, and so on.) Also ask them how they know what they know. For instance, they might have grown beans in a container or seen parents water plants. Explain that the class is going to imagine locations in the schoolyard that they think can best meet plants' needs. Exploration: Schoolyard Visit 1. Take the class into your schoolyard. Ask students to close their eyes and listen to this scenario: Imagine you are a tulip bulb (or other plant) that has landed in a great place to grow. It's now spring. What does it feel like there? Is the sun on your leaves or are you tucked in the shade? Can your roots stretch out in the soil? What else is around you? Are you safe and warm? 2. Ask small groups of students to work together to find a spot in the schoolyard that they think would be good for growing tulips. (Let them know which areas are off limits.) Each group should choose a location and stand on or near it. 3. Have each group explain to the class why they chose the spot they did. (Don't evaluate their answers.) Next, have them share questions they have about the spot or about tulip needs. Encourage other students to ask questions, too. Keep a running list to spark future investigations. (See What If . . .? Time to Experiment.) Making Connections: Use a Checklist 1. Introduce students to the planting site checklist, "Official" Tulip Gardens: Which Spot is Best? Explain that kids around the U.S., Canada, and beyond will use this same list to find spots for their Journey North tulip gardens. 2. As a class, use the checklist to evaluate the different spots students chose. Discuss these questions: Which spot best fits Journey North's "rules?" What made it such a good fit? Now that we've seen the rules, are there other sites we think might be better? Why? Why do we think kids across the globe must follow the same instructions? Teacher Tip: The checklist helps you choose an official site, but Journey North's Planting Instructions explain what types of tulips to plant, how to plant them, and so on. If you haven't already done so, read the Planting Instructions before digging in. National Science Education Standards Science as Inquiry Plan and conduct a simple investigation. (K-4) Employ simple equipment/tools to gather data and extend senses. (K-4) Life Science Organisms have basic needs. Organisms can survive only in environments in which their needs can be met. (K-4) Earth Science Soils have properties of color and texture, capacity to retain water, and ability to support the growth of many kinds of plants, including those in our food supply. (K-4) Weather changes from day to day and over the seasons. Weather can be described by measurable quantities, such as temperature, wind direction and speed, and precipitation. (K-4) This Season Teachers Kids Orientation Registration Search Copyright 1997-2009 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Contact us.