Thanksgiving Garden
Thanksgiving is a holiday that focuses on food. That makes it a perfect time to connect students with food from the garden!
Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, this blog will be taking a break next week…enjoy the lessons based on these two books for the next two weeks…both lessons teach about six plant parts.
What’s in the Garden? — Good food doesn’t begin on a store shelf with a box. It comes from a garden bursting with life, color, sounds, smells, sunshine, moisture, birds, and bees! Healthy food becomes much more interesting when children know where they come from. Includes kid-friendly recipes!
Molly’s Organic Farm —Affectionately named “Molly” by the farmers who discover her, a mischievous cat romps, naps, and hunts among the vegetables. Based on a true story, Molly will touch children’s hearts while introducing them to the key elements of growing food through the seasons.
LESSON PLAN: Name That Plant Part
Students learn about the six parts of a plant and match the twelve fruits and vegetables in What’s in the Garden? to a specific plant part.
Suggested Grade Level: K-3
Procedure: Read aloud What’s in the Garden? Use the book to answer questions about the foods. Link to a pdf of complete directions for the lesson plan.
LESSON PLAN: Have a Plant Part-y
Students work at stations to prepare vegetables for a big salad as a fun way to review the parts of plants introduced in Molly’s Organic Farm.
Suggested Grade Level: K-3
Procedure: Read aloud Molly’s Organic Farm. Discuss the parts of the book that are a story (fiction) and the parts that are facts (non-fiction). Read “The True Story of Molly” on the last page of the book. Celebrate Thanksgiving with a healthy snack. Link to a pdf of complete directions for the lesson plan.
Common Core Standards (ELA K-3)
- Reading: Literature–Key Ideas and Details (K.1, 2.1, 3.1); Craft and Structure (K.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5); Integration and Knowledge of Ideas (K.7, 1.7, 2.7, 3.7)
- Reading: Informational Text–Key Ideas and Details (K.1, 2.1, 3.1); Integration and Knowledge of Ideas (K.7, 1.7, 2.7, 3.7)
Next Generation Science Standards (DCI K-3)
- LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: A. Structures and Processes; B. Growth and Development of Organisms
- LS2: Ecosystems: A. Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics; B. Cycles of Matter and Energy in Ecosystems
- LS3: Heredity: A.Inheritance and Variation of Traits; B. Variation of Traits