- Author:
- Carrie Robledo
- Subject:
- Mathematics
- Material Type:
- Activity/Lab
- Level:
- Upper Primary
- Tags:
- License:
- Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
- Language:
- English
Education Standards
Fairy Gardens
Overview
Students will work independently or in small groups to plan a fairy garden for the K/1 students at the school. They will examine the school yard for the best location for a fairy garden; measure to determine how large of an area we can use and then build/create all the items for the fairy garden using recycled or inexpensive materials.
Instructor Directions
Fairy Gardens
Submitted by Stacie Bunn
Kannapolis City Schools
Driving Question / Scenario | Our Kindergarten and First grade classes would like a fairy garden in our school garden area where they could play and explore during outside recess time. |
Project Summary | Students will work independently or in small groups to plan a fairy garden for the K/1 students at the school. They will examine the school yard for the best location for a fairy garden; measure to determine how large of an area we can use and then build/create all the items for the fairy garden using recycled or inexpensive materials. |
Estimated Time | 2 -3 (45 minute) classes for students to plan and create the items depending on how many things the students create. |
Materials / Resources | Measuring tapes or meter sticks, Sticks, pinecones, rocks, sea shells, acorns, fake flowers, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, straws, index cards, plastic, 20oz bottles, 2 liter bottles, bottle caps, string, cardboard, glass stones (from the dollar store), , and paper (for designing items for in the garden), liquid glue for most of the project. Hot glue guns can be used for gluing the animals or fairies and gnomes, but it is recommended that the teacher use the glue gun for 3rd graders. Watering can (to test if the items they create will stand up to rain)PP that you can adapt for your needs. |
Grade | 3rd or 4th Grade |
Subject(s) | Math and STEM |
Educational Standards | NC.3.MD.2 Solve problems involving customary measurement.
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Project Outline | |
Ask | Ask students to help solve the problem of finding a place for a fairy Garden on the school grounds and let them know they will need to help create the items to go in the garden. |
Imagine | Take students outside to walk the school yard to find the best location for a fairy garden. Remind them that it has to be a place that teachers can supervise, away from a lot of foot traffic and large enough for about 4 students to play. Encourage students to use the measuring tape or meter sticks to locate a spot that fits our criteria.Students will present their idea for the location and size of the fairy garden and the class will vote for the best location/size. |
Plan | Students will work independently to plan what items they want to add to the fairy garden. They will use the paper to sketch their ideas and identify what materials they would like to use to create their item(s). |
Create | Students will gather the materials they need to build and create their item(s) for the Fairy Garden. This may take two class periods if they use a lot of liquid glue. |
Improve | Students will need to test the items against rain damage by sprinkling water from a water can over their item. If the items are not waterproof or fall apart, students will need to make adjustments and try again. |
Closure / Student Reflections | Students will share their Fairy Garden items with a Kindergarten of First Grade class and take them to the garden area to set up the Fairy Garden.Students will complete a 3,2,1 Reflection on the Fairy Garden Project. 3 things they liked about the project, 2 things they might want to do differently if we did it again, 1 new idea or thought about the project. |
Possible Modifications / Extensions | You could have students make shoe box Fairy Gardens for K/1 to use during rainy days. Students would test their items for how sturdy they are instead of if they can withstand rain. |
Photos of items my students made