Free Lesson Plans and Guides
Download free nature-based lesson plans and activity guides.
Fall
Seed Dissection
Through this lesson, students will learn to use tools and data to develop scientific observations about seeds. Investigate the internal structure of a seed, use a scale to measure the weight of different seed types and quantities and collect seeds from plants in the garden.
Plant Part Functions
Investigate the roots and leaves of plants growing in the garden, while also enjoying the edible nature of roots and leaves that are freshly harvested from the garden!
Plant Adaptations
Experience the garden by investigating the roots and leaves of several plants – you’ll even get to taste some of them!
Exploring Soil
Investigate the soil in the garden and (if possible) compost habitat to observe and identify soil components based on physical characteristics. Collect and compare soil samples from different parts of the garden. Also add to the compost pile!
Exploring Plant Parts
Build a deeper connection with your school garden by identifying and examining the roots and leaves of plants growing in the garden!
Experimenting with Seed Dispersal
The focus of this lesson is seed dispersal. Students get to sketch and write their observations about a seed and hypothesize about its dispersal mechanism. They also get to create a model of this mechanism.
Spring
Tracing the Shadows of the Sun
Observations about the position of the sun and its place in the sky can be made and compared to the shadows created on the earth. The time of day can even be predicted by observing the sun’s position in the sky. This apparent motion of the sun can be a bit puzzling – is the sun moving, or is the Earth moving? This activity can help to launch an exploration of the relationship between the Earth and the Sun and make a solid connection to the Sun.
Plants in the Garden – Inside and Out
Explore plant parts and growth stages with a series of fun activities – involving books, a game and even acting out the lifecycle of a plant!
Patterns in Plant Growth
Learn about the life cycle and growth stages of plants through a series of hands-on and interactive activities- including acting out the plant life cycle.
Meet a Tree
Learn about the different characteristics of trees and help students realize that they are as unique individuals as people!
Investigating the Life Cycle of a Plant
Learn about the life cycle of a plant with fun activities: investigating plants in the garden, a game and even acting out the lifecycle of a plant!
Healthy Water, Healthy People
Explore how vegetation helps minimize the effects of storm water runoff and soil erosion in this interactive lesson.
Get OUTSIDE Scavenger Hunt
Take students outside and have a scavenger hunt with the natural world around them! For an extra challenge and mental exercise, use a bandana and have them do the activity by memory!
Exploring Seeds
Learn all about seed characteristics. Read Pumpkin Pumpkin to introduce concepts about seeds and plants. Then sort seeds based on their physical characteristics and collect seeds from plants in the garden.
Exploring Seasons
What do seasonal changes look, feel and smell like in the garden? In this lesson, students engage in making observations and collecting data to investigate characteristics of the spring season!
All Seasons
Bob and Otto
Through the friendship between Bob the caterpillar and Otto the worm; children will observe the very distinct roles of each organism in the world around them. Children will see that all living beings play a special part in their ecosystem and realize they are all interdependent. Afterward, each child gets to decorate their own cocoon and is given a butterfly to take home!
Sound Mapping
While we often rely on vision to study the world, thorough observation requires all senses, so today students will tune into their hearing.
