Lesson Information

At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

  • 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.
  • Communicate ideas to others in writing, visually and verbally.
  • Understand how careers and jobs are connected to learning/education.

Recommended Grades: 9-12

Subjects:

  • English – writing
  • Biology -biodiversity
  • History
  • Environmental science
  • Art – industrial arts, horticulture

In these lessons, students will:

  • Observe
  • Monitor
  • Collaborate
  • Think critically

National Education Standards

  • Science: K-4.4 Earth and Space Science; NS.K-4.6 Science in Personal and Social Perspectives.
  • Arts: NA-VA.K-4.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes; A-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
  • Paper
  • List of garden terms to find in the images

Activity:

  1. Students should be divided into teams, each to be assigned to one of the following garden themes (e.g. “Gardens of Color”). Have each student choose a garden image and respond to its respective questions.
  2. Optional as time allows: To introduce students to garden vocabulary, hand out the list of “Garden Terms” and ask students to find them in the images.
  3. Have each team present their findings to the class.
  4. Have students discuss which gardens they liked the best and why. What different garden themes are there? How do they connect to each other? What themes surprised students the most?
  5. Point out how garden designs can vary depending on what time period the garden was created in, what it is used for, and who designed it. Also explain that gardens can be constructed from different materials, types of plants, and features (urns, statues, pathways, etc.).