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Lesson 1: Accessibility Inventory
To prepare, read Background Information

Objectives
 Students will:

  • complete a site analysis
  • learn the elements of an accessible garden design
  • brainstorm ways to make the garden accessible

Central Concepts

  • Gardens should be accessible to everyone.
  • There are specific elements to incorporate into a garden design to make it accessible.

Standards addressed: click here

Materials

  • pencils
  • rulers or tape measure
  • copies of the site analysis questions
  • clipboard (or pieces of cardboard and paper clips)

Discussion Questions

1. Why are gardens important to us? (Provide beauty, food, air and source of therapy)

2. Do you like gardens? Why?

3. Are there any reasons people may not enjoy a garden? (They do not like the outdoors; a garden is not accessible to them)

In-Class Activity: Accessibility Inventory

1. Tell the class you are going to conduct a site analysis of your garden to evaluate its accessibility. Explain that a site analysis is the first step of any landscape design where you take measurements and write down existing conditions. This particular analysis will focus on whether or not the garden is accessible to people with disabilities and special needs such as people who use a wheel chair or do not see well.

2. Give each student, (or group of students) a clipboard (or piece of cardboard with a paper clip for holding paper in place) and a sheet of paper listing the following questions. Ask them each to bring a pencil and ruler with them. Once outside ask them to answer the questions:

  • How wide is the path to the garden?
  • How wide are the paths in the garden?
  • Are there any steps in the paths?
  • Are there any steep slopes in the paths?
  • What are the paths made of?
  • Are there any holes or cracks in the paths?
  • Are there any puddles of water or mud in the paths?
  • Are there piles of garden clippings or other debris in the garden?
  • Do you see any garden tools lying out?
  • Where are the tools stored? Is it close to the garden?
  • How heavy are the tools?
  • Where is the hose? Could you trip on it?
  • Is there any place to sit down?
  • How tall are the planting beds? Are they easy to reach?

3. When you return to the classroom, answer the questions as a group and then ask the following questions:

  • Would someone in a wheelchair be able to move through our garden?
  • Would someone in a wheelchair be able to work in our garden?
  • Would someone who could not see well be able to walk through our garden? Is there anything they might trip on?
  • Do you think our garden is accessible to people with disabilities?

4. If the class determines the garden is not accessible, ask them to brainstorm ways to make it more accessible. If they need prompting, share one or two of the ideas from the background information to get them started. Ideas from background information: install accessible pathways, build raised beds, plant vertical gardens, place hanging baskets on pulleys, avoid garden clutter, buy or make adaptive tools, choose sensory plants, use cultural and mechanical pest control, incorporate places to sit.

5. As a follow up, invite a student, parent, or volunteer with a disability to the class to talk about some of the challenges they face on a daily basis. Ask them to walk through the garden and discuss any special challenges they encountered to determine whether or not the students’ analysis was accurate.

*If you do not have a classroom garden, you can adapt this inventory for another public space in your school (like the playground or a courtyard).

Extensions

Government - Ask students to research the Americans with Disabilities Act and find out what it is, when and why it was created, and how it impacts our society. They can explore the ADA Web site or use reference books. Ask them to identify ways they see it implemented in daily life (such as adaptations to buildings).

Art - Ask students to draw plans for an accessible garden. They can include ideas mentioned in class or come up with creative ideas of their own.

 

Copyright© 2005 National Gardening Association

  


July 2005
Kids Garden News

Contents

Newsletter Home

Mantis Awards

Spotlight Article: Growing Kids
in Accessible Gardens,
Camp ASCCA

News Items

Lesson Feature:
Gardens Are for Everyone

Introduction

Background

Lesson 1:
Accessibility Inventory

Lesson 2: Flower Power

Plant of the Month: Sunflower

Resources

 

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