School Garden - Learning Experiences and Resources for STEM Unit by Imoasina Niuula https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1 en-us 2023-05-27 09:29:13 UTC 2026-03-15 19:53:58 UTC hello@padlet.com Measuring Soil Composition iniu103 https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2606732706 Find out the composition of the soil by carrying out the 'Mason Jar Soil Test':
  1. Sift soil to remove large rocks or clumps
  2. Fill mason jar about half way with water
  3. Add water and detergent
  4. Shake the jar vigorously
  5. After the mixture has settled for one minute, mark the side of the jar; this represent the sand layer
  6. After the mixture has settled for 2 hours, mark the side of the jar; this represent the silt layer
  7. After the mixture has settled for 2-3 days and the water is clear, mark the side of the jar; this represents the clay layer
  8. Measure the height of each layer and divide this by the total height to determine the percentage of each soil component

Represent the soil composition on a pie chart.

Compare soil composition with ideal 'loam' soil (40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay).

Research and discuss ways to improve the soil quality e.g. adding compost or mulch, making our own fertilisers, or worm farming.
]]> 2023-05-27 09:33:06 UTC https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2606732706 Designing a Trellis iniu103 https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2606732779
  • Show images of growing peas with and without trellises. Ask students what they notice and wonder.
  • Watch a time lapse of a pea plant growing and ask students what they notice and wonder.
  • Tell students they will be designing a trellis to keep pea plants off the ground as they grow. The materials they can use include bamboo sticks, twine, wire, and anything you can bring from home.
  • Discuss how we will know if the trellises are successful.
  • Research the conditions that pea plants need to survive.
  • In small groups, sketch initial designs.
  • Build a prototype using a small container, soil, kebab sticks, and twist ties.
  • Leave the prototypes outside overnight. Discuss which designs succeeded or failed and why, introducing the idea of balanced forces.
  • Revisit and improve designs in light of new learning.
  • Build trellises and test whether they will be successful by simulating likely real-world conditions that could cause them to fall over (rain, wind, and plant weight).
  • Make improvements as needed.
    • ]]>     2023-05-27 09:33:22 UTC https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2606732779     Regrowing Spring Onions iniu103 https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2606733064
  • Cut spring onions 3cm from the base.
  • Regrow the spring onions, placing each spring onion into a container with different conditions: normal water, water but no light, no water, slightly acidic water (add lemon juice),  alkaline water (add baking powder), and coloured water (add food colouring).
  • Record hypotheses about which conditions will produce the best results.
  • Each day for five days, measure the height of the plants.
  • Represent the growth of the plants on a time series graph.
  • After the 5th day, discuss the results and draw conclusions about the conditions that plants need to grow and thrive.


    • ]]>     2023-05-27 09:34:16 UTC https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2606733064     Dissecting Flowers iniu103 https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2606995272
  • Display this image of kowhai flowers and ask students to make observations and inferences about what they see.
  • Read this article from the Science Learning Hub about the parts of a flower and their functions.
  • Provide a range of flowers for students to dissect.
  • Identify and label the following parts: petal, nectary, pollen, anther, filament, sepal, ovule/seed, stigma, style, and ovary.
  • Compare and contrast the parts of flowers across the different species.
  • Connect to students' knowledge of pollination: Is their flower pollinated by birds, insects or the wind? How do you know?
    • ]]>     2023-05-28 00:58:01 UTC https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2606995272     Designing a Bug Hotel iniu103 https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2606999377
  • Discuss the importance of insects in our school garden (e.g. pollination, pest control, and decomposition).
  • Tell students they will be designing a 'bug hotel' from reused materials to provide shelter for beneficial insects.
  • Discuss how they will know if the bug hotel is successful.
  • Predict which insects might visit the hotel and research what their needs are.
  • Show an image of a bug hotel and ask students what they notice and wonder.
  • Identify key attributes of the bug hotel.
  • Design the bug hotel, using words and symbols to describe how it works.
  • Collect materials and build a prototype.
  • Test the prototype's stability and make improvements if needed.
  • Revisit the bug hotel to see how many bugs are using it, making improvements as needed.
    • ]]>     2023-05-28 01:20:55 UTC https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2606999377     Matching Flowers to their Pollinators iniu103 https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2607039676
  • Use this article to discuss and compare the characteristics of flowers pollinated by insects, birds and the wind.
  • Display images of different flowers.
  • In small groups, students describe the flower and decide its pollinator.
  • Once students are confident matching flowers to their pollinators, send students into the school garden to look at flowers and predict what pollinates them.
  • Divide the class into groups to watch different flowers for a set period of time.
  • Set up data sheets so that students can record the flower and what it looks like, the time, the weather, the different animals that visit (or absence of animals if the flower is wind pollinated), and the number of visits.


    • ]]>     2023-05-28 04:54:42 UTC https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2607039676     Growing Guides iniu103 https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2607112732 A collection of growing guides for the New Zealand context. Includes a wide range of fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers.]]> 2023-05-28 10:07:12 UTC https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2607112732 Video About How Bees Pollinate Flowers iniu103 https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2607117013 A clear explanation of how bees pollinate flowers, including close up footage of bees collecting pollen.]]> 2023-05-28 10:23:06 UTC https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2607117013 Planting Calendar iniu103 https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2607120236 Handy planting calendar showing when to plant common fruit and vegetables.]]> 2023-05-28 10:36:01 UTC https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2607120236 How to Know If Your Soil is Healthy iniu103 https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2607124571 An article describing 11 simple tests you can do to determine soil quality.]]> 2023-05-28 10:52:03 UTC https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2607124571 The Great Kiwi Earthworm Survey iniu103 https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2607128463 Citizen science project a methodology for investigating soil quality.]]> 2023-05-28 11:07:29 UTC https://padlet.com/iniu103/6ikwnw5d9s8ye2k1/wish/2607128463