Changes to the Environment

Thematic Unit Topic: Garden

Classroom Area: Outdoor
Ready to submit as a final 1!1
"ist the #tems $ou %lan to #ntroduce and &o' (uch They )ill Cost *a minimum of +,:
1. Watering cans
a. Cost: Donation by local business
2. Child size gardening tools (hand shovels, rakes, and sifters)
a. Cost: $!.!!
. "ooks #ith $ictures of food that is in the garden and insects
a. Cost: %ree, taken fro& other area of the classroo&
'. (aised garden bo)
a. Cost: $'.!!*+and&ade , -aterials salvaged #ood and nails.
.. +u&&ing bird feeder
a. Cost: $.//* +and&ade 0 -aterials $lastic bottle and $i$e cleaners
1. -easuring Cu$s
a. Cost: %ree, taken fro& other area of the classroo&.
2. "ranches, flo#ers, leaves, #ater, rocks, shells, feathers
a. Cost: %ree
3. -agnifying glasses
a. Cost: %ree, 4aken fro& other area of the classroo&
/. 5lastic -olds and $ro$s added to sand area
a. Cost: $..!! * 6ard sale
1!. 7rt &aterials ($a$er, brushes, $aints, glue, seeds, natural ite&s collected)
a. Cost: %ree, taken fro& other areas of the classroo&
)hen 'ill you introduce these items- *At the beginning of the thematic unit. throughout the unit /
during a small group lesson plan. circle time,
8 $lan to introduce these ite&s during out outdoor lesson in the garden. We #ill take a field tri$ around the
outdoor classroo& and go over all of the ite&s that are ne#, hand&ade, or taken fro& other areas of the
classroo&.
Are there any 0special1 rules that the children need to follo' 'hen using these items-
9o&e of the s$ecial rules the children #ill need to be &ade a#are of are the $ur$oses of the garden tools and
that they are not to be used as #ea$ons. 4hey #ill need to understand that the books are for reading and should
stay out of the #ater.
)hat do you hope the children to learn-
8 ho$e the children #ill learn about gardening, fruits and vegetables, insects, birds, and ani&als, all through
&ani$ulating the &agnifying glass, observing the hu&&ingbird feeder, reading the books and co&$aring #hat
they see #ith the $ictures, and using the tools in the garden. 8 ho$e they #ill gain a better understanding of
&easure&ent and density by using the &easuring cu$s and $lastic &olds in the sand area.
)hat are some 'ays that the children can 0reflect1 on 'hat they have learned-
4he children #ill be able to reflect on #hat they have learned by vie#ing $ictures of their activities outside in a
book that #ill be created, and $ictures sent ho&e. 8 #ill dis$lay their art#ork outside on the fence. 4his art#ork
#ill be created of an ob:ect of their choosing using natural &aterials.