Inquiry Project

The Learner Inquiry Project I designed is for Fourth Grade. Our school's Garden Committee is working on an outside garden space to be butterfly friendly. This project would help the committee come up with ideas to create the space while also involving the students in the plans. Involving students in planning will create a partnership with the Garden Committee as well as help the students use their research skills to learn about local habitats.

How Might We.. Create an outside environment that is welcoming to butterflies?

Resources for Educators:

Bulletin #7151, Landscaping for Butterflies in Maine

This is a detailed bulletin by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Articles from this link can be shared with the students. I believe sharing it all may feel overwhelming to 4th graders.

GARDEN LESSON PLAN: HABITAT AND POLLINATORS

 This lesson is geared towards older students but it is filled with lesson ideas on creating a garden for habitat and pollinators.

Education Grants Program

Planning and creating a garden cost money. Maine Agriculture in the Classroom offers grants that can help. You will need to apply the year before implementing the program.

Passionate about Pollinators  In this youtube video, you will get excited to plan a garden for pollinators.

Resources for Students:

Selecting Plants for pollinators  research here for different plants to encourage pollinators to visit your garden.

The Wild Seed Project Another site to help choose plants to attract pollinators. This link goes directly to list of Favorite Plants for Schoolyards

Maine Native Plants This site is part of the Maine Audubon Site and focuses on plants that are indigenous to Maine. The link will help you chose plant based on critera including butterflies and woldlife.

Technology:

Canva  This can be used to create a poster explaining what would be in your garden and why.

Paint tool for Chrome This can be used to draw outline of garden.

Standard

4-LS1-1.	Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.