Math:
Planning and laying out the garden. Figure out the perimeter and area, determining how much dirt will be needed. Volume can be incorporated as well by figuring out how deep the dirt will be turned and then using volume equations to calculate the amount of dirt.
Monitoring the growth of seeds to plants. This can be as simple as using a mm ruler to measure the growth each day. For more complicated math, using percentages, fractions, graphs, etc., this information can be charted and used. For instance, the rate of growth will change -- a graph will show the initial rate and then the leveling out. What percentage of a week's growth was accomplished the first days, etc.
With some of the growth experiments (such as growing in the dark and light, growing in different soils, etc.), be sure to use fractions and percentages to define the results.
Multiplication and division will come in as they lay out rows and read seed packages to see how far apart they are to be planted. How many seeds will go in this row?
Look in your child's math book -- what topics are they studying? How can you incorporate those topics into your gardening?
Social Studies and History:
Research different countries and their agriculture. The encyclopedia is a good source for this. The library will also have different books on various countries. Include research on why different areas are better for growing crops. For instance, look at a map of China. Where do you think the main farmlands are?
Visit nurseries to find out what qualifications are needed for a nursery worker. Find out where their product comes from. Interview the nursery worker to find out best conditions for growing certain plants. Remember, this is work for your child -- they need to do the planning and interviewing.
Study various scientists that have anything to do with plants. What about Gregor Mendel and his experiments with pea plants? How about Eli Whitney and the cotton gin? How about Rachel Carson? There are many different people.
If you are studying history, determine what plants and planting methods were used. What tools and implements? Who was responsible for planting crops and who benefited (this is especially pertinent studying the feudal systems).
What about economics? How much of our economy is based on agriculture? How about the economy of other countries? How does good planning help in the appropriate supply of food? Discuss and learn about supply and demand.
Language Arts:
The most obvious is keeping a journal on the growth of the plants. Also, a science journal which tracks the results of any seed or plant experiments.
How-to writing: Have your child write a step-by-step essay on planting a garden. This should include all skills such as introductory paragraph and topic sentences, paragraphing, closing paragraph, diagrams, etc. If you aren't sure of the requirements for writing such an essay, be sure you use resource.
Descriptive writing: Have your child write a descriptive paragraph or essay on some aspect of plants or gardening. It could be a description of a specific plant or flower, or a description of the garden, etc.
Report writing: Incorporate research skills for any aspect of plants or gardening, or growing crops. Expect a report that begins with an interesting opening paragraph and presents information learned. There should be a bibliography at the end in the correct format.
Persuasive writing: Take sides on whether to grow a vegetable or flower garden (with the assumption there would only be room for one). Have them write a persuasive essay to convince you (or each other) of the benefits of the chosen side. If there are two children, have these essays presented aloud and judge the persuasiveness of each side. Do not allow simple opinions. Reasons must be presented logically.
Creative writing or poetry: A story can be written with some aspect of gardening or the science of plants incorporated into the story. Poetry is a natural outpouring of studying plants. This is a great time to incorporate your poetry unit!
Science:
Okay, the underlying purpose of your study! There are many, many experiments to be done with growing plants, treating seeds, watering, etc. Studying the purpose of terracing a garden on a hill will introduce erosion and ecology.
Studying the benefits or destructiveness of insects on plants and crops can develop a whole new aspect of plants and gardening.
Genetics is an exciting topic to study with plants. Studying cell biology and results of genetic engineering on plants is another area. The interrelationship of plants and mankind is important to include.
Experiments with chlorophyll, dark, light, soil types, fertilizer types, etc. should be conducted carefully with an eye to scientific method. Check science catalogs -- you can purchase radish seeds that have been treated with radiation for use in various experiments.
You can also include chemistry in here -- boil purple cabbage to obtain a testing solution for acid and base. Extend from here into more chemistry.
Cooking:
Develop and prepare recipes using different types of plant foods
--identifying from what part of the plant they come. Learn about how flour
is ground and used. Visit Mesa Southwest Museum to show how Indians ground
flour. This is also great for history.
Include many types of art -- both simplistic (food prints, seed pictures), and more complex. Look through books of famous paintings and find ones that depict farm life or plants or flowers, etc. Work with your child to use some medium to create a work of similar art. Experiment with dyes made from various plants.
Useful Links:
Classifying Living Things Activity
Information about structure and various plant parts
Seeds of Life - Wonderful World of Seeds
Plants and Animals: Partners in Pollination
The Great Plant Escape -- a fun plant learning adventure
