Extraordinary Gardeners Sum1 2025
Extraordinary Gardeners
Summer 1 2025
Science, English and Art
DT and Geography
Thinking and Independence
RATIONALE:
Inspired by their trip to Wisley and their parcel from Joe, children decide to learn about plants, how they grow and how to look after them. The school garden will be the ideal place to become extraordinary gardeners ourselves, Joe will set the children challenges via the ‘Apple Tree Display’ and they can answer him by writing on leaves with what they find out. They will tell him how to identify and name common plants and trees, explain the structure of a plant, introduce the life cycle of a bean, look at how plants are suited to their habitat and find out why plants need light, water and warmth to grow. The children will show us all what they have learnt by looking after and planting out the school garden. Back in the classroom they will write descriptions of the extraordinary parts of Wisley and explore narratives (Jack and the beanstalk). The children will also show Joe the beauty of plants and flowers by learning to sketch and use colour inspired by famous artist such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Van Gogh. This will all culminate in a garden party!
Hook:
Visit to RHS Wisley – the children are presented with a parcel from Joe the extraordinary gardener. It contains the story of his garden, gardening objects and a challenge for the children to transform the school garden into their own extraordinary garden.
Joe’s first question: Are there different types of plants and trees? Emerald Class set about trying to find out about different types of plants and trees. We look at sorting wild and garden plant, deciduous and evergreen trees, followed by drawing and labelling the parts of a plant and tree.
