LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Gardens all around

Students learn to appreciate the plants and animals that make their homes in the gardens of North Carolina.

A lesson plan for grade 1 English Language Arts and Science

By Bambi Heavner

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

  • Use literature to develop awareness for plants and animals that live in gardens.
  • Use the internet to tour Biltmore Estate & Gardens.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

5 days

Materials/resources

  • books about plants
  • drawing paper
  • science journal
  • outdoor learning environment and NC ECHO resources
  • computer lab with access to the internet for all students

Technology resources

  • computer with internet access for all students
  • presentation software
  • digital camera

Pre-activities

  • Talk about the plants on school grounds and at students’ homes.
  • Read several introductory titles about a variety of plants of North Carolina.

Activities

Day 1

The students will take a walk around the school campus. They will discover the variety of plants that have been planted in the butterfly garden, the bog area, and the nature trail through the North Carolina UTOTES program. (Any school landscaped area will be appropriate.) In their science journals, students will share the area that they enjoyed seeing the most. Students will draw a picture to help show others what they have learned.

Day 2

The students will use the computer lab and internet to view Biltmore Estate and Gardens. This will help them experience a garden in an alternative way before they embark on a class field trip to the Stowe Botanical Gardens. (Teacher may choose an alternative garden that is in their school area.)

Visiting Biltmore Estate:
Use North Carolina Echo to do a virtual tour of Biltmore Estates and Gardens, which can be found in the section relating to Buncombe County. The teacher should talk the students through the tour.

Day 3

Class Field Trip to Stowe Botanical Garden (or local garden of teacher’s choice). Students and teacher will use a digital camera to record types of plants that are in the gardens. The class will identify and examine environments that support various types of living organisms. Flower guides acquired through UTOTES program will be used throughout the tour of gardens to identify plants. Information shared by the guide will be discussed and students will recall environments that support the needs of North Carolina plants and animals.

Days 4 and 5

The class will work together to create a class multimedia sequential/linear story of their garden tour. They will then be able to share their garden experience with other students and their families. This presentation can be linked to a school or class web page so that students can share with others at their homes.

Assessment

  • Teacher observation
  • Response sheet and observation log
  • Oral responses to questions during discussion
  • Drawing of a plants native to North Carolina
  • Class multimedia presentation of plants observed on the garden tour

Supplemental information

Using the NC ECHO website, these alternative gardens could be used in place of Biltmore Estate Gardens:

Comments

A class field trip to Stowe Gardens was the inspiration for this lesson. After attending training for NC ECHO it became apparent that the internet could be used when a class could not take a personal trip. Visiting gardens within the state via internet can provide students with a better perspective of the plants and their environments that are important to their state.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Computer Technology Skills (2005)

Grade 1

  • Goal 2: The learner will demonstrate knowledge and skills in the use of computer and other technologies.
    • Objective 2.07: Use multimedia software to illustrate words/phrases/concepts. Strand - Multimedia/Presentation
    • Objective 2.08: Explore Internet resources and information using teacher-created bookmarks/favorites and discuss the variety and types of information found as a class activity. Strand - Telecommunications/Internet

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 1

  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.01: Elaborate on how information and events connect to life experiences.
    • Objective 3.02: Recognize and relate similar vocabulary use and concepts across experiences with texts.
    • Objective 3.05: Recognize how particular authors use vocabulary and language to develop an individual, recognizable voice.

Science (2005)

Grade 1

  • Goal 1: The learner will conduct investigations and make observations to build an understanding of the needs of living organisms.
    • Objective 1.01: Investigate the needs of a variety of different plants:
      • Air.
      • Water.
      • Light.
      • Space.
    • Objective 1.04: Identify local environments that support the needs of common North Carolina plants and animals.
  • Goal 2: The learner will make observations and use student-made rules to build an understanding of solid earth materials.
    • Objective 2.01: Describe and sort a variety of earth materials based on their properties:
      • Color.
      • Hardness.
      • Shape.
      • Size.
    • Objective 2.03: Observe the various components that combine to make soil.