Native Plants Landscape Project

Native Plants at School - a Garden Landscape Project

A Problem based Learning Project

The Challenge:

The construction project at your school is nearing completion. Your class has been selected to make an important final contribution. You are to design the landscaping. It is to serve as an outdoor laboratory for natural science classes. You are to utilize native plants, as well as, those that are significant to your community or state. The school's property lies within the watershed of your community. It is important that the plantings can survive in the USDA Planting Hardiness Zone in which your school is located. Your budget is $10,000.

Which plants, bushes, and trees do you recommend be used in the project?
What purpose does each one serve? Where should they be placed in the landscape around the building and property?

Step 1 -

Identify what you know about native plants and habitat gardens.

Step 2 -

Identify what you need to learn.
Be specific. Make a list.
Be sure to connect the plantings to your school's curriculum.
Get digging for information - Learn how to research elementary | middle school & high school

Working in a group? Assign the group member who is to find each answer or fact.
Everyone will be researching info. (how to work as a group)
You do not have to be physically together to work together. - Watch Google Docs video

Step 3 -

As a group - Discuss your findings.
Decide on a plantings list.

Step 4 -

Create a project/report to explain your choices and support their selection.

Develop a planting list that includes common and scientific names of plants

Calculate the cost of all the plants, bushes, trees in the design.

Proof the project. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets work.

Extra: Create a plot plan for the landscaping. Use the outline of a local elementary school or invent one. Be sure to consider the energy savings that can come from strategic landscaping.

Rubric template - teacher resource

Online Resources: I have collected a set of valuable Internet sites for researching native plants. You may also use print resources and video based info.