Planting in The Garden Lesson Plan
Planting in The Garden Lesson Plan
Goals
Students choose what to grow, how to grow it, and when to plant a fall garden.
Curriculum Alignment
Find a list of which Common Core State Standards and NC Essential Standards this lesson plan aligns with on the
lesson plan page at www.growing-minds.org.
Materials
-Fall seeds (with seed packets that have planting/spacing directions on
them) or plant starts (with plant tags that have planting/spacing
directions on them)
-Wood craft sticks cut to 1” in length
-Trowels
-Watering cans
-Fall vegetables to taste (optional)
grows – does it climb? Does it grow underground? Do we eat its root? Its leaves? Show the students examples of
the seeds or plant starts you are going to plant. Do they want to plant in rows or create a design with the plants?
Again, take note of the suggested seed spacing on the seed packets or plant tags so that you can plan your
planting accordingly. Explain that each vegetable grows differently and needs different amounts of space to
grow. Show the students the 1” measuring tools (pre-cut wooden craft sticks). Explain how to use this tool to
measure the space between each plant start or seed. For example, if lettuce plants need to be 5” apart then you
would place 5 pieces of 1” wooden craft sticks in between each plant.
Other options for helping students to determine spacing are to mark spacing with tape along a piece of rope or
string. The rope can then be laid down on the soil in the garden and students can plant along it at the indicated
marks. You can also mark where to plant with baking flour.
Garden Rules
If your class already has garden rules then review these before going out to the garden. If not, brainstorm with
the students some important rules that everyone should follow in the garden. For example: work together,
share tools, walk in the garden, keep dirt in the garden beds, stay on paths, etc.
With your finger (or use a string or baking flour) draw a line for the row where the seeds will go. Guide the
students in counting out the wooden craft stick pieces to measure the space between each seed or plant start
and guide them in how deep top plant seeds and/or plant starts.
After everything is planted have the students take turns watering the newly planted garden.