Author:
Carrie Robledo
Subject:
Mathematics
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Level:
Upper Primary
Tags:
  • 3rd Grade
  • 4th Grade
  • NCEngineers
  • k5engineers
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
    Language:
    English

    Education Standards

    Fairy Gardens

    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 / ScenarioOur 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 SummaryStudents 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 Time2 -3 (45  minute) classes for students to plan and create the items depending on how many things the students create.
    Materials / ResourcesMeasuring 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.
    Grade3rd or 4th Grade
    Subject(s)Math and STEM
    Educational StandardsNC.3.MD.2 Solve problems involving customary measurement.
    • Estimate and measure lengths in customary units to the quarter-inch and half-inch, and feet and yards to the whole unit.
    NC.4.MD.1 Know relative sizes of measurement units. Solve problems involving metric measurement.
    •  Measure to solve problems involving metric units:, centimeter, meter, gram, kilogram, Liter, milliliter.
    Project Outline
    AskAsk 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.
    ImagineTake 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.
    PlanStudents 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).
    CreateStudents 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.
    ImproveStudents 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 ReflectionsStudents 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 / ExtensionsYou 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