Growth Guide Teacher Guide
Growth Guide
Teacher Preparation & Facilitation
Subject Mathematics
Lesson Overview
In this lesson, students become "Garden Scouts" exploring a classroom garden of paper plants. They will use non-standard units (like snap cubes or paperclips) to measure the height of various plants, recording their findings in a specialized journal.
Objectives
- Measure using non-standard units.
- Compare lengths (taller/shorter).
Preparation Checklist
Before Class:
- Print and cut "Paper Plant Cutouts"
- Tape plants at student eye-level
- Print "Sprout Scout Journals"
Measuring Tools:
- Snap Cubes or Paperclips
- Uniform building blocks
Instructional Flow
1. The Garden Hook (10 mins) Intro
Gather students and show them a physical plant. Ask: "How do we know how much this plant has grown?" Introduce the "Garden Scouts" mission. Demonstrate measuring from the baseline to the highest point.
2. Field Research (25 mins) Activity
Hand out measuring kits and journals. Students explore the "garden". They must find 5 different plants, measure them, and record results in their journals. Encourage finding the tallest and shortest plants.
3. Growth Circle (10 mins) Debrief
Ask: "Which plant was the hardest to measure?" and "What happens if we leave gaps between our cubes?" Compare findings—discuss why some Scouts might have different numbers for the same plant.
Support
Provide a "measuring stick" made of pre-snapped cubes to help with alignment and stability for students.
Extension
Ask students to predict the height of a plant in paperclips after they have measured it in cubes.
Garden Giants Slides
Garden Growth
Giants
Become a Sprout Scout and measure our classroom garden!
Field Mission
Your Mission
1
Find the hidden plants around the room.
2
Use your snap cubes to see how tall they are.
3
Write the number in your Scout Journal.
Scout Rules
Start at Ground
Line up your first cube with the ground line.
No Gaps!
Snap your cubes together. No spaces allowed!
Go to the Tip
Measure to the very highest point of the plant.
Growth Check!
4 Cubes
Red Tulip
7 Cubes
Sunflower
Which plant is taller?
Sprout Scout Journal
Sprout Scout Journal
Name: ______________________
Date: ______________________
🌿 Mission: Find 5 plants! Draw and measure each one.
Plant #1
Height
Units
Draw Plant Here
Plant #2
Height
Units
Draw Plant Here
Plant #3
Height
Units
Draw Plant Here
Plant #4
Height
Units
Draw Plant Here
Plant #5
Height
Units
Draw Plant Here
Final Scout Report
The Tallest Plant:
The Shortest Plant:
Garden Growth Cutouts
Teacher: Cut along dashed lines
Tape at eye-level. Ensure the ground line is level!
Sunflower
Prickly Pear
Tiny Tulip
Broad Bean
Teacher: Cut along dashed lines
Mystery Mushroom
Little Lily
Giant Grass
Blue Bell
