Archives Alive: American Garden Story Lesson Plan
Students will learn about key garden styles and features using historical photos and primary sources from the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gardens. They’ll then design their own garden based on what they learned.
Length of activity: 90-120 minutes
Age: 8-13
Goals:
- Consider the history of garden design and develop critical thinking skills as students consider which styles they like or dislike, differences and similarities.
- Learn units of measurement and conversions between measurement systems.
- Develop writing, drawing and critical thinking skills.
- Communicate ideas to others visually and verbally.
- Understand how careers and jobs are connected to learning/education.
National Education Standards:
- Science: NS.K-4.4 Earth and Space Science; NS.K4.6 Science in Personal and Social Perspectives.
- Arts: NA-VA.K-4.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes; NA-VA.K-4.3 Choosing and Evaluating a Range of Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas; NA-VA.K-4.5 Reflecting Upon and Assessing the Characteristics and Merits of Their Work and the Work of Others; NA-VA.5-8.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines
- Social Studies: NSS-C.5-8.5 Roles of the Citizen; NSS-G.K-12.2 Places and Regions; NSS-G.K-12.5 Environment and Society
- Mathematics: NM-MEA.3-5.1 Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement
- Language Arts: NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communication Skills; NL-ENG.K-12.11 Participating in Society; NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills
What you’ll need:
- Pencils or pens
- Colored pencils
- List of “Garden Terms” to find in the images
- 18 x 24-inch or 8.5 x 11-inch graph paper
- Rulers