Standards (Microsoft
Word Document)
Materials:
- Bring in several flower bulb catalogs. Have each student or group of students cut out photographs of bulbs and design their "dream" bulb gardens on paper. Measure the exact dimensions of your garden plot and have students make their garden design to scale. Ask, how will you decide where to place the bulbs in your garden?
- As a class, create a color wheel of bulb flower colors to help students decide where to place their bulbs in the garden. Ask, Which colors look good together? Which colors will you keep separate?
- Display the garden designs at the front of the classroom and have students compare them. Then, as a class, create a master garden plan that incorporates features from the original designs.
- Have students plant the bulbs in the garden according to their plan. While they are waiting for the bulbs to sprout, students can create "growing journals" where they will record observations and make drawings.
- As soon as the bulbs sprout, ask students to start drawing what they see in their journals. Because bulbs grow and bloom quickly, have them do this at least once a week. Ask them to record answers to questions such as, What's happening? What was the first thing you noticed? What, if anything, surprised you?
Making Connections
Possible discussion questions:
- How is our garden the same as or different from our garden design?
- How would you explain any differences?
- Is there anything you would do differently if you were to create another bulb garden?
- Ask students, Who might be interested in the information you have learned? How can you share this information?
- Students can create a sign to place in their bulb garden. The sign might include a map of the garden identifying the plants, and diagrams of the bulbs during different stages of growth.
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