The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Let's Begin Planning for a Greenhouse

Let’s Begin Planning for a Greenhouse

A 3rd-5th grade STEM lesson

Jeanelle Fetty

1/5/2023

Notes for teachers

This lesson is for teachers to complete with students as they are planning to build a greenhouse on school grounds. This will be completed in both STEM club and as a grade wide project for 5th grade.

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Why do we need a greenhouse? What is it used for? Where should it be built that will get the proper amount of sunlight? Where will we place the greenhouse to have enough room?

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Click here for Lesson 2

List of Materials

• Computer with internet access for video
• White boards and markers
• Measuring Tape
• Graphing Paper
• Clip boards or notebooks to write outdoors
• Pencils
• Compass (for teacher to show only, unless used for extension activity)

Standards

Math:

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3.MD.C.8 Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving perimeters of plane figures and areas of rectangles, including finding the perimeter given the side lengths, finding an unknown side length. Represent rectangles with the same perimeter and different areas or with the same area and different perimeters.

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Science and Engineering Practices:

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● ask questions and define problems

● develop and use models

● plan and carry out investigations

● analyze and interpret data

● use mathematics and computational thinking ● construct explanations and design solutions

● obtain, evaluate, and communicate information

Objectives:

Today, we will determine where a greenhouse could be built on the school grounds.

We will learn about the path of the sun needed to provide sunlight to a greenhouse.

We will measure, draw, and find the perimeter of 2 different outdoor spaces to be able to choose the appropriate placement for our greenhouse.

Agenda (70 minutes)

Intro Video and Activity: 20 minutes

Outdoor exploration, data gathering, draw outline and direction of the sun: 30 minutes

Complete drawing and find perimeter: 15 minutes

Share choices based on data: 10 minutes

Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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Intro Video: How does a greenhouse work? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtTDx8_dlsE

Where could we build a greenhouse at our school?

• We will read the first 2 sections of the article about growing gardens in Arizona and tell which direction they think we will need to have our greenhouse in order to grow vegetables https://www.summerwindsnursery.com/az/inspire/blog/guide-to-mapping-garden-sun-exposure/
• Based on the article, on a white board, TSW draw how they think the sun will shine the best facing in different directions. We will share and discuss thoughts about the direction we will be looking for as we go outside.

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

• We will go outside and explore 2 areas.

TSW choose from 2 different areas which will get the most amount of sunlight based on their reading. What did the reading say about the most amount of sunlight throughout the day during the winter and early spring? TW will show the students the compass rose to determine directions around our school.

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• TSW measure each area and determine about how much space they will have for the structure. Will we be able to walk around? Is there room to work? TSW add perimeter needed.

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• TSW draw the direction the sun will be shining to be most effective for our greenhouse.

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• TSW determine which area we should build our greenhouse in.

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Assessment

The students will correctly complete their measurements of the perimeter needed for the greenhouse.

The students will be able to explain why the greenhouse needs to be placed in the location chosen by explaining the path of the sun.

Differentiation

For students who need more practice with perimeter, we will use a pre-drawn rectangle with determined lengths to measure together and add the lengths of the sides. We can compare to others drawings and see if this would fit in the designated area.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Students who have clear understanding of perimeter will be able to practice finding the area needed for the greenhouse. They can also add a walkway around the perimeter of the greenhouse and find the new area.

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We will go outside during different times of the day to see if the area we have chosen will have sunlight. They can graph the data and compare areas.

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Teach students to use a compass and track the direction of the sun over time.