4-H CHILDREN’S GARDENS

Explore 56 theme gardens at Michigan State University. Includes lots of photos. Most gardens have Quick Time video virtual tours. (Note: See end of flyer for how to navigate a Quick Time Video) As an example, the Cottage Garden is planted with “old-fashioned” plants mentioned in Mother Goose tales. An outstanding site for ideas. Note: Use this URL for the direct link to the garden tour index. http://4hgarden.msu.edu/tour/contents.html Outstanding Excellent

GARDEN AT SCHOOL – MY FIRST GARDEN NEW!

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden/planning/school.html

A site for elementary schools on setting up a school garden. Includes tools you will need, tips for successful gardening, books and website links. Excellent

GARDENING FOR KIDS

http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Glade/3313/

Student level information on setting up and managing a garden. Sections: Basic Tips, Favorite Links, Flower Combinations, Kid-Friendly Plants, Heath & Heather, Bulbs, Flower Archives, Kid Critic Archives, Gardening Links and Plant Facts. Excellent

GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE NEW!

http://www.wildkids.org.uk/teachers/wildgarden.htm

Tips for teachers on gardening to attract wildlife. Sections: Teacher’s Notes, Getting Help and Advice (these are UK resources, not US), Activity Ideas K-12, and Children’s Activities. Excellent

THE GROWING EDGE – JUST FOR KIDS

http://www.growingedge.com/kids/

Information for students on hydroponic gardening. Sections: Projects You Can Do, Growing Information, What Other Kids Are Doing, Ask the Experts and Resources for Educators. Excellent

KID’S VALLEY WEBGARDEN NEW URL!

http://www.copper-tree.ca/garden/index.html

Sections include: Planning, Planting, Keeping Plants Healthy, Showing Your Plants, Flowers, Veggies, Herbs, Shrubs, Links and a Glossary. Excellent

KIDS WORLD – NC DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

http://www.agr.state.nc.us/cyber/kidswrld/index.htm

Kids site from the North Carolina Dept. of Agriculture on gardening and everything to do with agriculture. Includes games, a quiz, nutrition and much more. Sections: General Ag & History, Food Safety, Nutrition, and Plant Nutrition. Includes links. Excellent

KIDSGARDENING

http://www.kidsgardening.com/

A wealth of information on kids gardening both at home and at school. Sections include: Parents’ Primer, Classroom Stories, Activities, All About Plants, FAQs, Online Courses, Newsletter, Email Pals, Chat, Youth Garden Grants, A Garden in Every School, and more. Excellent

KINDERGARDEN

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/kindergarden/kinder.htm

An introduction to gardening for children. Sections include: Children’s Gardens, Fun Page for Kids, Take a Survey, Research on Children’s Gardens, and Special Tips for Gardening with Kids. Excellent

MAKING YOUR OWN SEED TAPES

http://www.boldweb.com/greenweb/g_tape.htm

How to make your own seed tapes – an easy way to plant a row of seeds with precise spacing. A fun project for the classroom in preparation for gardening. Excellent

MY FIRST GARDEN

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/firstgarden/

A site for 4^th grade students to introduce them to gardening and growing things. Includes a teacher’s guide. Sections: Teacher’s Guide, Show Me the Basics, Gardening FUNdamentals, Planning My Garden, and Garden Gallery. Excellent

NATIONAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION

http://www.garden.org/

A major gardening site with just about everything you would want to know. Sections: Flowers & Bulbs, Fruits, Veggies & Herbs, Home & Hearth, Lawns & Landscaping, Garden Care & Pests, and Kidsgardening.com. Excellent

THE OFFICIAL SEED STARTING PAGE

http://www.chestnut-sw.com/seedhp.htm

Information by plant species on how to grow the plant from seed. Divided into Flower, Vegetable and Herb seeds. Good quick information source. Excellent

PLANT ANSWERS INDEX

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/web.html

An archive of questions and answers from the plant experts at the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Click on Answers for the index of questions and answers. Also includes tips, recipes, and more. Excellent

PLANTS NEW!

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/plants/

Activities and information on plants for grades K-5. Includes: Illustrated Plant Dictionary, Plant Print-outs, Dichotomous Key, Printouts of Plant Growth Charts, plus books, crafts and themes. Excellent

PLANTS DATABASE NEW!

http://plants.usda.gov/

A database of plants from the USDA. You can search by scientific name, common name, symbol and state. Includes a 30,000+ Image Gallery, Facts, Guides, Downloadable Checklists and much more. A gateway to a huge amount of information on plants. Excellent

REGEN KIDS

http://www.kidsregen.org/

A new site for kids promoting healthy living. Kids learn how to garden, about healthy foods, physical fitness, and much more. Includes an Educator’s section with lesson suggestions. Excellent

SCHOOL GARDEN WIZARD NEW!

http://www.schoolgardenwizard.org/

A reference for teachers and students on planning and creating a school garden. Sections: Make Your Case, Plan for Success, Create the Garden, Learn in the Garden, and Keep It Growing. Excellent

SECRET GARDEN

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/secretgarden/index.html

Companion site to the PBS episode “The Secret Garden”. Includes: Hidden Life, Backyard Biodiversity, the Home Gardener, Resources, Teachers’ Guides, Puzzles and Fun and more. Excellent

SEEDS OF CHANGE GARDEN NEW URL!

http://www.mnh.si.edu/archives/garden/

A Smithsonian/NEH garden education site showing the history of agriculture in North America and garden activities for children. “This is an educational web site, created on the initiative of the Smithsonian Institution, which teaches about diversity and history by looking at the evolution of agriculture and cuisine throughout the world. It is designed so that it can be browsed for enjoyment and exploration, or to provide a basis for more in-depth classroom or home activities, for which support materials are included here.” Sections: History of the New World, Garden Activities for All Seasons, and Learning About Each Other. Excellent

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION BUTTERFLY HABITAT GARDEN

http://www.si.edu/gardens/butterfly/smith.htm

Explores the Smithsonian Butterfly Habitat Garden. Includes Fun Facts about Butterflies, How to Create Your Own Butterfly Garden, the Butterfly-Plant Relationship, Traits of a Good Butterfly Plant, Beneficial Insects and more. Note: Follow arrows from section to section. Excellent

S.H.A.R.P.- THE SUPER HYDROPONIC AWESOME RADISH PROJECT NEW!

http://library.thinkquest.org/C0110342/

A site by students for middle school students on hydroponics. Shows a project to grow radishes hydroponically. Includes how to grow plants using hydroponics. Includes 5 lesson plans. Outstanding. Excellent

YOUTH EDUCATION – TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION TO VALUE TREES

NEW!

http://www.arborday.org/kids/index.cfm

A youth site from the National Arbor Day Foundation. Includes sections for Pre-school through 3^rd Grade, 4^th Grade and Up and Educator Resources, Activities and Training. Download the free Nature Explore Activity from A Nature Explore Adventure. Carly’s Kids Corner includes games and lesson plans. Excellent

ALFY’S PICKS FOR PLANTS NEW!

http://www.alfy.com/teachers/teach/thematic_units/Plants/Plant_1.asp

Links for young students on plants. Very Good

BIGGS WILDLIFE POND NEW URL!

http://bigsnestpond.net/

Exploration of a home pond and garden in California. Good photos and information. Very Good

BUILDING AND USING A HYDROPONIC/AQUACULTURE SYSTEM IN THE CLASSROOM

http://www.accessexcellence.com/AE/AEC/AEF/1995/nicol_aquaculture.html

Detailed instructions for constructing a hydroponic system for the classroom. Includes materials, how-to and costs. Very Good

BUTTERFLY CAM

http://www.dcboces.org/sufsd/nassau/vitek/butterfly/

A student created site including a videocam of butterflies. Sections: Butterflies, Plants, Life Cycle, Puzzles and Poetry, Festival, Butterflies Live!, Journal, Resources and more. Note: The live cam was not showing anything when we checked. Very Good

THE BUTTERFLY WEBSITE NEW!

http://butterflywebsite.com/

A website with a great deal of information and photos of butterflies. Check out the Education section for lesson plans. Also includes: Articles, Photo Gallery, Gardening, Checklists, Conservation, Butterfly Exhibits, Clip Art, FAQs, Inspiring Stories, and more. Includes some commercial content. Very Good

COMPOSTING FOR KIDS

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/sustainable/slidesets/kidscompost/cover.html

A scripted slide set on composting. Aimed at kids with bright, simple information. Very Good

FUN SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS USING PLANTS

http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/CT/fun_science_fair_projects.html

Slightly off-topic but good advice for using plants or growing plants to use for a science fair project. Very Good

GARDENING WITH CHILDREN

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Children/children.htm

An informative site on gardening with children. Although intended for parents, the site has good information on projects to do with children in the garden, adaptable for the classroom. Very Good

GARDENS FOR BEGINNERS

http://www.geocities.com/mastergardener2k/

Basic information for starting a garden. Not geared for children but good basic information on how to get started. Very Good

THE GARDEN GATE

http://garden-gate.prairienet.org/

Good basic information on gardening, from links to plant lists and more. Sections: The Reading Room, The Teaching Garden, Garden Shop, Sun Room, Down the Garden Path…, Mailing Lists, Newsgroups & Web Forums, Holding Bed, and Gardening in Illinois. Very Good

GARDEN GUIDES NEW!

http://www.gardenguides.com/

Online gardening information. Sections: Garden Plants, Garden How-To’s, Community, Garden Pests, Garden Resources and Garden Supplies. Very Good

GARDENING – 42EXPLORE NEW!

http://www.42explore.com/gardening.htm

Basic information on gardening for elementary students. Includes activities, webquests and links also. Very Good

FLOWERING PLANTS WORD SEARCH PUZZLE

http://www.proteacher.com/cgi-bin/outsidesite.cgi?external=http://www.thepotters.com/puzzles/flowers.html&original=http://www.proteacher.com/110013.shtml&title=Flowering%20Plants%20Wordsearch%20Puzzle

A printable word search puzzle on flowering plants. Good

FLOWERS COLORING PAGES NEW!

http://www.coloring.ws/flowers.htm

A large selection of printable coloring pages on flowers, also fruits and vegetables and flowers with insects or animals. Good

FLOWERS COLORING PAGES NEW!

http://www.thekidzpage.com/colouring_menus/flowers/index.htm

Printable coloring pages on flowers. Good

FREE BIRDHOUSE PLANS NEW!

http://www.craftybirds.com/birdhouses.html

Free plans for different types of birdhouses. Check the links on the left for Butterfly House plans, too. Includes commercial content. Good

THE GARDEN

http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/eric.htm

A British site in which students explore the components in and around a garden such as birds, insects, plants, woods, etc. Good

THE GARDEN BENCH NEW!

http://www.thegardenbench.com/

A gardening site about backyard habitats. Visit a real backyard habitat in Marlton via photos. Includes online articles, downloadable lists and more. Good

GARDEN WEB GLOSSARY OF BOTANICAL TERMS

http://glossary.gardenweb.com/glossary/

A major database of botanical terms. Good

GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE NEW!

http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/wildlife/

A page of links from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden on gardening to attract wildlife. Good

GRANTS FOR SCHOOL AND YOUTH GARDENS NEW!

http://www.kidsgardening.com/grants.asp

” The National Gardening Association works with sponsoring companies and organizations to provide funding and in-kind grants to projects that actively engage kids in the garden and improve the quality of life for their communities.

To be eligible for these awards your school or organization must plan to garden with at least 15 kids between the ages of 3 and 18. (The Mantis Award is also open to non-youth organizations.)

Please note that starting with the 2006/2007 grant cycle, all grant winners are required to complete a year-end impact report (see individual grants for details).” Lists several grants available. Good

INTEGRATING HORTICULTURE INTO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM NEW!

http://www.hort.vt.edu/HORT6004/network/index.html

“Horticultural activities and school gardens are excellent interdisciplinary teaching tools that provide hands-on learning opportunities. Research and experience have shown us that gardening can make a positive impact on students' knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors. This site provides information and links for teachers, parents and volunteers interested in creating new or adding to existing classroom horticulture activities and gardens.” Good

IT’S SO EASY TO GARDEN FOR WILDLIFE NEW!

http://www.nwf.org/backyard/

Information from the National Wildlife Foundation to create a backyard wildlife habitat and get it certified. Good

KIDZCORNER- I CAN GARDEN

http://www.icangarden.com/kidz.htm

Lots of ideas for kids gardening projects both at home and at school. Good

NOBLE FOUNDATION PLANT IMAGE GALLERY

http://www.noble.org/imagegallery/

In image gallery with specific descriptions and photos of different plants. Sections: Forbs, Grasses, and Woodies. Good

PLANT EXPLORER NEW!

http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/plant/index.html

A fun site for primary students on plants. Sections: Find the Flower!, Parts of the Plant, Eating Plants, What Do Plants Need?, Plants for Food, Plant Glossary, I Didn’t Know I Ate That!, and links. Good

PLANTS NEW!

http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00232/

A site by students for middle school students on plants. Sections: Edible Plants, Poisonous Plants, List of Edible Plants, Other Uses. Good

PLANTS NEW!

http://www.mcwdn.org/Plants/PlantsMain.html

A variety of information on plants. Sections: How Plants and Animals Differ, Photosynthesis, Algae, Mosses, Fungi, Ferns, Gymnosperms. Angiosperms, Leaves, Roots, Stems, Seeds, Flowers, and Links and Activities. Good

POISONOUS PLANTS AND PLANT PARTS

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/poison/poisonlinks.html

Several links to lists of poisonous plants and their effects. Not really a site for children but a helpful reference. Good

SCHOOL COMPOSTING NEW!

http://journeytoforever.org/edu_compost.html

Composting information and links for schools. Includes a simple way to test your soil composition. Good

SCHOOL GARDENING NEW!

http://www.chicagobotanic.org/schoolgarden/

Sections: Why Garden with Your School?, Sample School Gardens, Support for Developing a School Garden, Resources for Teachers, and Interested in Supporting School Gardens? Good

TREE PLANTING TIPS NEW!

http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/climate/tree_planting/

Tips for kids on planting trees. Includes: Why Plant Trees, Getting Started-Tree Planting Basics, Tree Planting Day, How to Plant Seedlings, Caring for Your Trees, Projects & Activities, Possible Funding Sources, and Other Tree Planting Resources. Good

TREES ARE TERRIFIC….TRAVELS WITH PIERRE NEW!

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees1/index.html

Animated information on trees for primary students on the structure and function of trees. Includes a Teacher’s Guide with ideas for activities. Good

WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/wildseed/tamuhort.html

Extensive information on wildflowers with photos and growing information on each kind. Very Good

LESSON PLANS & CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

ALL ABOUT PLANTS – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/allaboutplants/

A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on plants. “Students will 1/Identify and describe the parts of a flowering plan; 2/Differentiate between types of plants; 3/ Describe the needs of plants; 4/Define the term photosynthesis.” Excellent

BEES – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/killerbees/

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on bees and their role. “Students will understand the following: 1/ Bees use the pollen from flowers as food; 2/ When they land on flowers to collect pollen, they spread pollen from one flower to another; 3/ Many plants cannot grow unless they are cross-pollinated by insects such as bees; 4/ Because bees cross-pollinate so many fruit and vegetable plants, they play a vital role in the food production all over the world.” Excellent

THE BLOSSOMING OF FLOWER POWER: UNDERSTANDING FLOWER REPRODUCTION: A DISSECTION LAB FOR THE SCIENCE CLASSROOM – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990803tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on flower reproduction. “In this lesson, students explore the reproductive functions of flowers by participating in a flower dissection lab.” Excellent

BOTANY LESSON PLANS NEW!

http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/lessons.cgi/Science/Botany

A list of lesson plans from Educator’s Reference on botany. Excellent

BUILDING A MINI-PARK AND BIRD SANCTUARY – CURRICULUM UNIT NEW!

http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/unit11/

A seven lesson unit for grades 3-5 on planning and building a mini-park and bird sanctuary. “Students will take an active role and gain pride in adding beauty to their surroundings. The long-term result will be to create a quiet area for students and others to read or study in a pleasant outdoor environment or location in the community or neighborhood to be shared by all.” Excellent

THE CREAM OF THE CROP: COMPARING ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL FARMING METHODS – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20000822tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan for grades 6-12 comparing organic and conventional gardening. “In this lesson, students work in small groups to investigate the similarities and differences between organic and conventional agricultural practices. Students coordinate and present their findings to the class. Students assimilate their knowledge by composing reflective essays.” Excellent

DESIGNING A NATIVE PLANTS GARDEN – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/gk2/tggarden.html

A lesson plan for grades K-2 on using native plants in a garden. “In this lesson, students will compare native vegetation in different parts of the United States. They will then explore Web sites to learn about native plants in their own region, and design gardens containing those local plants.” Excellent

FROM SEED TO PLANT – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Agriculture/AGR0010.html

A unit plan for grades 1-3 on plants. “I created this unit by compiling materials from many sources. Most teachers have many ideas up their sleeves. Here are some of my favorite ideas that I use. I will be teaching this unit over a twelve-day period for approx. 45 minutes at a time although the lessons can be adapted for longer or shorter time periods.” Excellent

A GARDEN OF GROWING ACTIVITIES

http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson229.shtml

A group of classroom activities related to garden. Excellent

GEMS FROM THE GARDEN: DIGGING UP ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES

http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson167.shtml

Ten different garden and plant activities for the classroom. Excellent

THE GREAT PLANT ESCAPE

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/tg/tg-main.html

Help Detective LePlant and his partners unlock the amazing mysteries of plant life. The Teacher’s Guide gives activities for 4^th and 5^th grades for both individual and group work. Excellent

GROWING PAINS: ASSESSING THE COMPLEXITIES IN PLANT GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20030617tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on plant growth and reproduction. “In this lesson, students compare common food items with the parts of a plant. They then grow their own plants to assess the difficulties in assisting a plant’s growth and reproduction.” Excellent

HOW DOES MY GARDEN GROW? WRITING IN SCIENCE FIELD JOURNALS – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=846

A lesson plan for grades K-2 on planting a garden and using a field journal to record observations. “Science field journals have been in use for many, many years. In fact, Lewis and Clark were asked to keep a field journal by President Thomas Jefferson. Their journals included detailed observations of the land, plants, and animals they saw. This lesson plan invites students to observe and explore their environment in much the same way. Students work together to plant a garden and study its growth using the inquiry process of questioning and exploring. As they research and study, students record their observations in a field journal, to be shared with others—just like Lewis and Clark!” Excellent

LET IT GROW: AN INQUIRY-BASED ORGANIC GARDENING RESEARCH PROJECT NEW!

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=804

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on gardening. “Struggling readers at the middle school level often become frustrated with research projects because of their low literacy skills. However, they are often very creative, kinesthetic learners and when a research project is scaffolded properly, are able to work independently, think critically, and accomplish a finished product they can feel proud of. This project motivates students to learn about organic gardening by developing their own research questions, conducting research, and gardening at their school. They then create signs about their plants and present their research to the class so that other students can learn about each plant.” Designed to cover 9 45-minute sessions. Excellent

PLANNING AND CARING FOR YOUR FIRST GARDEN – UNIT

http://www.suite101.com/course.cfm/16654/lessons#top

Eight lessons which study in detail planning a garden. 1/Preparing the Soil 2/Planning Your Garden 3/Disease and Pest Control 4/A Labor of Love 5/Annuals, Perennials and Biennials 6/Trees and Shrubs 7/Vegetable Gardening 8/Raised Beds and Container Gardening. Outstanding. Note: You need to scroll down past a few sponsored links to get to the lessons. Excellent

PLANT LIFE TEACHING THEME NEW!

http://www.teach-nology.com/themes/science/plants/

A collection of links on plants. Sections: Bulletin Board Set, Downloads, Hands-on Activities, Resource Materials, Sites for Background Information, Webquests, Interactive Sites for Students, Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Worksheets You Can Customize. Excellent

PLANT POLLINATION – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/plantpollination/

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on pollination. “Students will 1/ identify the different parts of a flower and understand their functions and; 2/ understand the importance of pollen for plant reproduction and diversity.” Excellent

POLLINATION PARTIES! – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/tlc-butterflies/

A lesson plan for grades K-5 on pollination. “Students will: 1/ understand the concept of pollination and show examples of bee pollination on specific plants; 2/understand the interdependence between insects, plants and humans.” Excellent

SCATTERING SEEDS – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/scatteringseeds/

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on seeds. “Students will do the following: 1/Investigate how seeds are dispersed; 2/ Understand the variety of seed dispersal that exists in the plant kingdom; 3/ Understand how factors in the natural environment can affect how far a seed is dispersed.” Excellent

SUNFLOWERS – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2353/

A lesson plan for grades K-4 on sunflowers. “In this lesson, van Gogh’s depiction of sunflowers is used as a means of focusing on the parts of a flower, growing sunflowers in the classroom, and developing students' artistic impressions of sunflowers.” Excellent

WATCH ME GROW – CURRICULUM UNIT NEW!

http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/unit182/

A unit on plants for grades K-2. “The purpose is for students to see the interconnectedness of nature and its importance in their lives. Focus Questions: Why do we need plants? What is our responsibility to the natural world?” Includes 4 lesson plans. Excellent

YUMMY PLANT PARTS – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/plantparts/

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on edible plants. “Students will: 1/ Understand the structure and function of roots, stems, and leaves; 2/ Identify the parts of a plant by looking at an entire plant or a part of a plant; 3/ Understand the importance of plants for animals’ (humans’) existence.” Excellent

BUTTERFLY 2: A BUTTERFLY’S HOME – LESSON PLAN

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=85

A lesson in which students study which environmental factors make up a successful butterfly garden. “During this lesson, students will design their own butterfly gardens to demonstrate which environmental characteristics make up a favorable butterfly habitat. Teachers will have the option of planting a student-created "butterfly garden," which will afford students an opportunity to interact with butterflies in their natural environment.” Very Good

DESIGN A REGIONAL “ECO-PARK” – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/tgecopark.html

A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on local plants and animals. “Students will use the Web to find out about the plants and animals that live in their local area. They will design "eco parks" containing local plants and animals. If there is time, have students extend their research into the "real world" by doing some outdoors observations near school or their homes.” Very Good

GOVERNOR’S GARDEN – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/Lessons/198.htm

A lesson plan for older students in which they plan a garden for the Governor’s mansion. “The governor is planning to hire a landscape artist to design six polygonal gardens for the estate. Students create sketches of their plans and write an expository paragraph detailing their designs as part of the interview process for the job.” Very Good

HOW PLANTS GROW: WHAT DO LIVING THINGS NEED TO SURVIVE? LESSON PLAN

http://www.nyu.edu/projects/mstep/lessons/howplants.html

A unit for 6^th grade students in which they study plants and then plant seeds and monitor their growth. “Students will begin the project by experimenting with lima bean seeds and observing the process of germination. They will experiment with celery and food coloring to understand the role of stems and vascular tubes in the movement of food and water through plants. In groups of four (4), students will plant a variety of seeds and will monitor the growth of the plants. Each group will vary the amount of food and water provided to the plants; one group will serve as the control. They will keep journals in which they record their observations.” Very Good

INVESTIGATING LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=80

A lesson plan on local ecosystems for grades K-2. “In order to learn about the living environment, young children should begin with direct observation of their immediate surroundings, such as a backyard, schoolyard, or local pond. As students observe their environment, they should have many opportunities to record and communicate their findings using words and pictures. In this lesson, students will observe living organisms in a local ecosystem and create detailed drawings and descriptions of them.” Very Good

LETTUCE BE DIFFERENT LESSON PLAN NEW URL!

http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Agriculture/AGR0004.html

A lesson plan for K-5 grade students in which they compare their own similarities and differences and then grow several variations of lettuce to explore differences within the same plant. Very Good

PLANNING A SCHOOL GARDEN LESSON PLAN NEW URL!

http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Mathematics/Geometry/GEO0202.html

A lesson plan for 4^th & 5^th grade students in which they will use their knowledge of perimeter and area to plan a school garden. Very Good

PLANT LESSON PLANS NEW!

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=91

PLANTS 1: PLANT PARENTS - LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=91

A lesson plan on plant reproduction for grades 6-8. “In this lesson, students will come to understand that most plants usually reproduce sexually. Students will learn the parts of the flower and the process of sexual reproduction in plants.” Very Good

PLANTS 2: PLANT PROPAGATION – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=22

A lesson plan on plant propagation for grades 6-8. “This lesson is the second in a two-part series on plants. In these lessons, students research and carry out reproduction in plants and come to understand that most plants reproduce sexually, but can be forced to reproduce asexually.” Very Good

SUCCESSION AND SOIL COMPACTION LESSON PLAN NEW URL!

http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Environmental_Education/ENV0056.html

A lesson plan for K-5^th grade students in which they study the influence of soil compaction on the growth of plants and animals. Very Good

THE TEACHER’S GUIDE LESSON PLANS & ACTIVITIES ON PLANTS AND FLOWERS NEW!

http://www.theteachersguide.com/plantsflowers.htm

A list of lesson plans, activities and thematic units on plants and flowers. Very Good

WHAT PLANTS NEED TO GROW – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?BenchmarkID=8&DocID=377

A lesson plan on plants for grades K-2. “In Crops 2: What Plants Need to Grow, students focus on the second part of the central benchmark by learning how to grow plants and about the kinds of things that promote growth (warmth, sunlight, water, soil). Their activities involve learning about how seeds and plants grow and participating in a simple, in-class gardening project.” Very Good

BOTANY LESSON – LIGHTEN UP!

http://www.caosclub.org/freelessons/plan1.html

A lesson in which students study the light conditions needed for plants to grow. Good

CLASS GARDEN

http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-5563.html

A lesson plan for grades K-5 in which students plant a class garden and observe the growth of the plants. Good

GROWING IN THE GARDEN LESSON PLANS

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/GrowingintheGarden/lessons.html

Three lessons for grades 2-3 on gardening and growing plants. 1/The Value of Soil 2/Size Up the Soil 3/Test and Feed the Soil. Good

HYDROPONIC GARDENING – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.nasaexplores.com/show_912_teacher_st.php?id=030109113044

A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on hydroponic gardening. “To set up one or more hydroponic systems, to collect data for a four-week period to determine which system resulted in the best plant growth, and to analyze the role of different environmental factors, such pH, light, and aeration, on plants grown in the absence of soil.” Good

PLANTS AND SEEDS – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Agriculture/AGR0006.html

A lesson plan for grades 1-3 on plants and seeds. A hands-on lesson on the different types of seeds in fruit. Good

ROOFTOP GARDENS: WHY IS THERE A GARDEN OF THE ROOF OF CHICAGO’S CITY HALL? – LESSON PLAN NEW!

http://www.architecture.org/images/education/S2.final.pdf

A lesson plan for second grade students uses the garden on the roof of Chicago’s City Hall as an example in helping students design a rooftop garden. Good

VEGETABLE GARDEN MATH ACTIVITY – LESSON NEW!

http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/mathline/concepts/farmingandgardening/activity1.shtm

A math activity for grades K-5 in which students use math to plot their vegetable garden. Good

WEBQUESTS

BUTTERFLY GARDENS – WEBQUEST NEW!

http://www.rvschools.org/lhoffman/ButterflyWebquest/ButterflyGarden.htm

A webquest on butterflies for 4^th grade students on butterfly gardens. “The school that you attend wants to build a butterfly garden consisting of native prairie plants. It will become the show place of the school. Your principal is going to have a butterfly garden design contest. Participants are to submit ideas to the principal of how they would like the butterfly garden to look. A panel of judges will then pick the best design.” We found one broken link on this site. Excellent

FLUTTERINGS AND FLOWERS: A BUTTERFLY GARDEN WEBQUEST NEW!

http://www.pen.k12.va.us/Div/Stafford/gves/vste/wqbutterfly.htm

A webquest for 4^th grade students on creating a butterfly garden. “Your job, as an entomologist, is to plan and design a butterfly garden that will attract a certain kind of butterfly. Many adult butterflies only eat certain foods and the larvae often eat something completely different. You will choose a kind of butterfly and design a garden where the butterfly will have everything it needs to survive. Remember, every living creature needs three items in which to survive: food, water and shelter.” Excellent

GARDEN PONDS WEBQUEST NEW!

http://wneo.org/WebQuests/TeacherWebQuests/garden/garden.htm

A webquest for 12^th grade students on garden ponds. “Are you ready to have some fun? Mr. Paris wants to hire you to build a garden pond in his backyard. You will have to design the pond to certain specifications provided by Mr. Paris as a landscaper you will build a pond complete with a waterfall, water lilies, and fish. The budget for the pond will be $1,000.” Excellent

GARDEN WEBQUEST

http://www.netxv.net/esc/technology/InstructionalTechnology/webquest%20examples/garden%20webquest.htm

A garden webquest for 7^th grade students. “You and your team members have been elected by the student body to design a garden area for the other junior high students. This area will provide a place for students to enjoy the beauty of nature. Garden landscaping is an interesting hobby and can be a profitable endeavor. Our school is in need of improving the aesthetics and atmosphere of our patio area. It is your job to make it happen!” Excellent

HONEY, I TURNED THE KID INTO A BEE! A POLLINATION ADVENTURE - WEBQUEST NEW!

http://www.iwebquest.com/pollinate/pollinationadventure.htm

A webquest with three tasks having to do with pollination. Very well done. Excellent

HOW DOES OUR GARDEN GROW? WEBQUEST NEW!

http://people.uwec.edu/MCGEETR/edmt382/gardenquest.htm

A webquest for elementary students on gardens. “Your teacher would love to have a garden outside the window of your classroom but admits she is not a great gardener. You have been studying plants in science so she as asked you help in picking plants that will grow well in the new garden. The garden has three sections, one that receive no sunlight, one that receives sunlight part of the day and part that receives sunlight all day long.” We found one broken link on this site. Excellent

ISAAC NEWTON’S PERENNIAL GARDEN WEBQUEST NEW!

http://midsolutions.org/webquest/samples/angeloni/webquest%20project.htm

A webquest for junior/senior high students on perennial gardening. “Princeton University has convinced renowned scientist and mathematician Isaac Newton to teach and research at their educational institution. He has to relocate to Northeastern Pennsylvania. He has carried on his one-day journey a sapling from an apple tree at Woolsthorpe Manor, which is the species Flower of Kent, to his new home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He must plant this sapling soon for it to flourish and produce the pear-shaping cooking apples in the United States.
His cottage’s landscape consists of a 50 foot wide by 30 foot deep flat area covered with blue grass. He has hired your landscape architecture firm to design an inspirational perennial garden around his apple tree. His would like his garden to utilize his complimentary color theory as well as provide a space for his new invention, the telescope. Isaac Newton is one of the greatest scientific and mathematical minds of this century, however he lacks a green thumb. His garden must be easy to maintain and care for in this Northeast climate he lives in now. His new teaching position doesn’t pay much so his budget is limited to $3000.
Fall is the optimal time to plant and is just 6 weeks from now. You will present Isaac Newton a 3d drawing of his landscape with plant specifications including maintenance and care instructions, hard scape solutions and cost estimates.

Nature has always inspired Isaac. His hypothesis of universal gravitation was prompted by the fall of an apple. Isaac needs you to design a garden that will inspire his future discoveries. Good luck!” We found some broken links on this site. Excellent

RECLAIMING THE SCHOOL YARD: AN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVENTURE – WEBQUEST NEW!

http://wneo.org/WebQuests/TeacherWebQuests/reclaimingyard/reclaim.htm

A webquest for 4^th and 5^th grade students on gardening. “The schoolyard was a drab and boring place. What was needed is a great place where children and wildlife could intermingle. This would be a place the children could build, plant, and maintain their gardens. With the help of Botanist Bob we could make this an area that all could enjoy. Put on your gardening gloves and lets hit the dirt.” We found one broken link on this site. Excellent

THE REPRODUCTION OF FLOWERING PLANTS – WEBQUEST NEW!

http://www.can-do.com/uci/ssi2001/floweringplants.html

A webquest for primary students on flowering plants. “Students will investigate the reproduction cycle of a flowering plant using the information provided from the internet as well as teacher made activities.” Excellent

SOIL AND PLANTS WEBQUEST NEW!

http://edujourney.net/Webquests/Soil/Frame.htm

A webquest for 3^rd grade students on plants and soil. “Ernie the Earthworm and hundreds of his relatives would like to be your classroom pets. Here are some questions to consider before you decide to adopt worms: ● Do you know the different types of soil? ● Do you know about plant parts? ● Do you know what plants need to live? ● Do you know how soil can be improved for plants? ● Do you know about the role of earthworms?

Follow this webquest to find the answers to the questions. Then, write a story about Ernie the Earthworm to share with other children. Publish your story on paper or the web.

Click on the buttons on the left frame to continue your journey!” Excellent

WEBQUEST ON PLANTS NEW!

http://laika.ed.csuohio.edu/SUM00/ETE567/plants/plants2.htm

A webquest for 3^rd grade students on plants. “Are you ready to learn something new? Seeds and flowers just to name a few. Plants are around us in many forms. And just like us, weather life's storms! Be creative and work your mind. You'll be surprised what you might find. It's time to work, no time to rest. You're about to begin the Plant WebQuest!” Excellent

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF PLANTS NEW!

http://www.blackgold.ab.ca/ict/Divison2/Plants/

A webquest for primary students on plants. “Plants play an important role in our environment. In this WebQuest you will identify the general purpose of plant roots, stems, leaves and flowers. You will learn about the requirements and care needed for plant growth. There is so much to learn about plants, let's get started!” Excellent

BUTTERFLY GARDEN WEBQUEST

http://www.edu.pe.ca/bil/pdf/buttrfly.pdf

A webquest for 5^th grade students in which they study the kinds of plants that would form a butterfly garden. They then plan and plant a butterfly garden for the school. Very Good

BUTTERFLY GARDENS WEBQUEST

http://www.rvschools.org/lhoffman/ButterflyWebquest/ButterflyGarden.htm

A webquest in which students plan a butterfly garden and participate in a competition for the best plan. Very Good

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WEBQUEST NEW!

http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/webquests/fruitveg/plants.htm

A webquest on fruits and vegetables for elementary students. “The Task: You will research ten fruits and vegetables to learn as much as you can about them. You will use the information from your research to fill out the charts and worksheets about your ten fruits and vegetables. Then you will use the worksheets to make a fruit and vegetable riddle book entitled: Which Fruit or Vegetable Am I?” Includes a quiz, worksheets and more. No links to outside resources. Very Good

GLORIOUS GARDEN – WEBQUEST NEW!

http://www.bolivar.k12.mo.us/BIS/bishome/eMINTS%20homepage/Webquests/Plant%20Webquest/index.html

A webquest for 3rd grade students on gardening. “Welcome to Norwood School. Our Superintendent wants to add beauty to our playground by building a flowerbed and he wants your help. I have told him that we are studying about plants and what they need to live and he thought you would be the a great landscape expert. When you get ready, you can check out the playground. This is where your job actually begins. I am telling you, we're sure glad to see a good group of landscapers around here. You will be very busy.” Very Good

GRAN’S BEAUTIFUL GARDEN –WEBQUEST NEW!

http://www.webquestuk.org.uk/Gran's%20Garden/INDEX.htm

A webquest for elementary students on gardens and soil. “Your Gran has just moved into an old cottage. The garden is not like this one - it's overgrown with weeds. You and your friends have promised to make it into a beautiful garden for her with lots of vegetables and flowers. You have been advised to test the soil before choosing which plants to grow.” This webquest is from the UK and you might want to change the wording slightly. It requires students to test the soil in a garden to determine what kinds of plants will work there. Very Good

HERB WEBQUEST

http://www.bsd.k12.in.us/~dbent/Herb%20Webquest.htm

A webquest for junior/senior high students in which they study herbs and develop an herb garden. Very Good

NATIVE AMERICAN THREE SISTERS GARDEN WEBQUEST NEW URL!

http://ddl.nmsu.edu/kids/webquests/wqthreesisters_k.html

A webquest in which students study the Native American “three sisters” gardens and then present a report on them. “Congratulations! You and your partners have been selected to be Botanists, Anthropologists, Folklorists, and Curators for the Abingdon Museum of Natural History. The first task in this WebQuest will be to divide your team into each type of expert. During this WebQuest, you will learn about the science of the relationship between the Three Sisters and their importance in creating a stable food supply, how the Haudenosaunee's environment inspired this agricultural technique and how this type of gardening influenced their culture, the stories and traditions surrounding the Three Sisters, and how to organize information, prepare a museum display and present your findings.” A bit off-topic but very good. Very Good

POSITIVELY PLANTS – WEBQUEST NEW!

http://www.spart5.k12.sc.us/techtraining/teacher/webpages/Plantweb/index.htm

A webquest for elementary students on plants. “After you look through the sites in this web, you will be able to: ●List the stages in a plant life cycle ● Identify and label the parts of a plant ● List three things plants need to survive ● Classify parts of plants you can eat ● Classify plants by the habitats.” Very Good

SUNFLOWER WEBQUEST NEW!

http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/jmendez/sfwebqst/snflwrwbqst.htm

A webquest on sunflowers for 3^rd grade students. “In April our class will be planting and growing a Sunflower garden right outside of our very own classroom. But before we can get started, we need to learn all we can about Sunflowers so that when it comes time planting, we'll be prepared!” We had some trouble with the links on this site. Very Good

BOTANICAL GARDEN WEBQUEST

http://home.sullivan.k12.il.us/teachers/williams/botgar.htm

A webquest for middle school students in which they research botanical gardens in the U.S. “The President of the United States, President Moss has a love of nature. It is his goal to educate and inform everyone on the beauty of the natural world. President Moss is well aware of the fact that everyone can not visit one of nation's magnificent Botanical Gardens for one reason or another. You have been assigned to the lead a research project to determine the best Botanical Garden via the Internet.” Good

EXPLORING THE PARTS OF A PLANT – WEBQUEST NEW!

http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/webquests/plantquest/index.htm

A webquest for elementary students on the parts of a plant. “Most plants have 6 basic parts. You will find out what they are and what they do for the plant. Then using that information, you will create a game or activity to teach someone else about plant parts.” No links to outside resources. Good

FLOWER POWER: THE JOURNEY OF A SEED – WEBQUEST NEW!

http://www.manteno.k12.il.us/webquest/elementary/Science/FlowerPower/Flower%20Power%20Home.htm

A webquest on plants for 3^rd grade students. “It's a sunny springtime morning and you are lying upon the soil in Farmer John's garden. Everything seems great until Frog, Robin and Butterfly gather around you laughing. Robin points at you with her wing and says, "You are just a puny thing. You'll never amount to anything special." Frog laughs along with her and croaks, "You're not just small. You're boring and ugly too!" Butterfly hovers over your tiny body and says, “Seed, you will never be beautiful like me," as she spreads her delicate rainbow-colored wings.

You have never felt so small and insignificant in your life. After all, you are only a little seed! As you sit on the soil feeling sad and alone, you hear a deep voice chuckling. You look up and see Giant Sunflower swaying his mighty head back and forth. He smiles and says, "Seed, don't you listen to them. They are just a mean bunch who don't know anything about your kind. You ARE special! You have more power inside your little body than the three of them combined! Today you will begin a journey. It's up to you to discover the power hidden inside of you. Cheer up and follow me!” We found several broken links on this site. Good

FROM SEED TO PLANT – WEBQUEST NEW!

http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/valencia/seed/

A webquest on plants for primary students. “Each day we eat food that our bodies use to keep us in top shape; but where does that food come from? Does it just show up at our local grocery store? Or does it take something else? For thousands of years, man has turned the earth to grow his food. But how do plants grow? You are a detective trying to identify the life cycle of plants. Let's find out what makes them grow.” We found some broken links on this site. Good

GROWING A GARDEN WEBQUEST NEW!

http://scots.covenant.edu/faculty/bryoung/webquests/Growing%2DA%2DGarden/

A webquest for elementary students on planting a school garden. “Does your school campus lack beauty? We here at webquest have a wonderful solution. We are going to help you grow your own garden! We have lots of fun things planned for you! You will be divided into four groups to research the proper way to grow a garden. When the research is complete, you will be able to beautify your school with a beautiful garden!” We found a couple of broken links on this site. Good

HOW TO BE A PLANT – WEBQUEST NEW!

http://yorkcountyschools.org/mes/plant%20webquest/index.htm

A webquest for grades 1-2 on plants. “Oh no... Our teacher has made us go through a shrinking machine. We are now the size of ants. Grass is the size of trees. Plants are everywhere and bigger than ever. Our whole world has changed. We are here as scientist to study plants. Leaves, stems, roots, and petals are our mission. Get ready and let's grow!!!” Doesn’t include outside links. Good

IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE – WEBQUEST NEW!

http://studentweb.fontbonne.edu/~lmcke565/webquest/

A webquest for grades 4-5 on plants. “All living things are made of cells, even you! Plant cells work hard to keep the plant alive. You can see them under microscopes. By the time you are done with your missions you will be a certified scientist! Your teacher has informed your class that she will be absent for the next week. Your teacher has asked you to take her spot in the classroom as the science instructor. She has left the goals and missions below. She has even left resources! You have been picked for an awesome challenge!” We found a couple of broken links on this site. Good

PARTS OF A PLANT – WEBQUEST NEW!

http://www.radford.edu/~sbisset/grp202.htm

A webquest for upper elementary students on plant parts. “You will investigate and understand the basic plant anatomy and life processes using the Internet as your tool. Also, you must recognize and understand the structure of a plant, including leaves, stems, roots, seeds, and flowers. Take notes and transfer your work onto the worksheet entitled, "Parts of a Plant." Then to appease Patrick Pickle-Nose you must go into KidPix and draw and label a picture of a plant.” Good

PLANNING A GARDEN WEBQUEST

http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/fellows/DAVIS-S/WEBQUEST/Index.htm

A webquest for primary level students in which they form teams to plan a class garden. Good

PLANT WEBQUEST FOR 5^TH GRADE NEW!

http://www.webquests.ips.k12.in.us/Communities/webquests/Assets/webquests/35/sc/spring02/lawson/webquest2.htm

A webquest on plants for 5^th grade students. “Your task is to create an original game that will help others learn the information that you gain about plants from this Web Quest. You, and your partner, need to remember to be creative, and to use any materials that are available to you in the classroom.” Good but probably better for grades 3-4. Good

PREMIER PLANT PUBLICATIONS – WEBQUEST NEW!

http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/stonemilles/thirdgrade/plantwebquest.htm

A webquest for elementary students on plants. “Congratulations!!! Premier Plant Publications heard the news that you are quickly becoming a plant growth expert. The publishers have been asked to begin a new publication for elementary school students and they need your help. Premier Plant Publications would like for you to use your expertise to design a pamphlet or a brochure about plants for their new publication, Primarily Plants.” Good

A WORLD WITHOUT PHOTOSYNTHESIS? – WEBQUEST NEW!

http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/photosynthesis/

A webquest for 4^th grade students on photosynthesis. “In this project you will learn all about the complex process of how plants make their food. This process is called photosynthesis. Your group has been assigned a very important task and challenge! Read on to find out how your learning about photosynthesis could save the world!!!

You live in the country of Maxomania. The dictator of your country is named Max. Max’s favorite season is Fall. He has asked a group of environmental advisors to build a shield that will block the sun’s rays for 20 hours of every day. Because of the threat of global warming and the increased rate of skin cancer, the environmental advisors think that having one permanent season of Fall is a great idea. They think is will be a great new way of life for the people of Maxomania.

You and the members of your group have decided to develop a presentation to give to Max and his advisors that will argue against the idea of the shield. You realize that a permanent Autumn will have disastrous results on the earth. In order to present your belief convincingly you must be able to teach Max and his advisors about the process of photosynthesis and why it is so important.” We found several broken links on this site. Good

THE BUTTERFLY ZONE

KINDERGARDEN

SECRET GARDEN

KIDZCORNER- I CAN GARDEN