Create a scale drawing of the gardens, paths, compost areas, tool storage, and other areas in your 100 x 80 square-foot space. The drawing should include a key that indicates where gardening features (e.g., raised beds, pots, vertical planting, trellises) will be placed in the space. Share your plan with other agents and incorporate feedback and additional ideas into future plans.
Guiding Questions:
- What garden beds will you use?
- How will those spaces receive water and sunlight?
- What garden structures might be useful to store and maintain tools, protect plants, and extend growing seasons (e.g., raised beds, green houses, storage sheds, plant cages)?
- How does pest management factor into your design?
Learning Objectives
- Based on findings from conducted library research, the agent will hypothesize one or more solutions to an identified problem in the case.
- The agent will design an urban garden that covers a 100 X 80 foot space.
- The agent will identify resources needed for optimal plant growth.
- The agent will revise work based on analyzed data and feedback.
Next Generation Science Standards - Engineering
- 4-ESS3-2 Earth and Human Activity. Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans.
- 3-5-ETS1-2 Engineering Design: Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
American Association of School Librarians Standards - Inquiry
- A.B.3: Learners engage with new knowledge by following a process that includes generating products that illustrate learning.
- A.C.3: Learners adapt, communicate, and exchange learning products with others in a cycle that includes acting on feedback to improve.
- A.D.1-4: Learners participate in an ongoing inquiry-based process by continually seeking knowledge, engaging in sustained inquiry, enacting new understanding through real-world connections, and using reflection to guide informed decisions.
Time to start building! Based on prior research and using library-provided resources, create a model pest management structure for your garden. Have someone in your group write down the design decisions you make along the way.
Guiding Questions:
- Based on your research, how does your design solve the particular pest management issue?
- As you test your designs, what do you notice?
- What works well and what still needs improvement?
- How might you modify your initial design to improve the structure and better meet your pest management needs?
Learning Objectives
- The agent will identify three pests that harm garden plants/structures and techniques to manage/remove them.
- The agent will articulate questions suitable for library research based on identified problems in the case.
- The agent will use library databases and circulation materials to examine identified research questions.
- Based on findings from conducted library research, the agent will hypothesize one or more solutions to an identified problem in the case.
- The agent will develop garden and pest management plans.
Next Generation Science Standards - Engineering
American Association of School Librarians Standards - Inquiry
- A.A.1: Learners display curiosity and initiative by formulating questions about a personal interest or a curricular topic.
- A.B.1: Learners engage with new knowledge by following a process that includes using evidence to investigate questions.
- A.B.2: Learners engage with new knowledge by following a process that includes devising and implementing a plan to fill knowledge gaps.
- A.D.1-4: Learners participate in an ongoing inquiry-based process by continually seeking knowledge, engaging in sustained inquiry, enacting new understanding through real-world connections, and using reflection to guide informed decisions.