Green Thumb Packet
Green Thumb Living
High School Independent Studies • Science & Daily Life Math
Week 1 Packet
Student Name:
Date:
Teacher / Advisor:
Weekly Study Goal
Day 1: Science
Day 2: Health
Day 3: Kitchen
Day 4: Money
Day 5: Review
Day 1 Reading: Plant Parts We Eat
Plants give our bodies energy, vitamins, and minerals. When we prepare meals, we eat different parts of plants. Each part has a special job:
1
Roots: Grow under the soil. They soak up water and store food. (Examples: carrots, radishes)
2
Stems: Grow above ground. They carry water up to leaves. (Examples: celery, asparagus)
3
Leaves: Catch sunlight to make plant food. (Examples: spinach, lettuce, kale)
4
Seeds: Can sprout into new plants. Great for energy! (Examples: sunflower seeds, peas)
Part A: Vocabulary Check
Word Bank: Leaves Roots Stems
- Carrots grow underground, so they are the
of the plant.
- Spinach catches sunlight, so we eat the plant's
.
- Celery stalks carry water upward, so they are
.
Part B: Supermarket Match
Write the correct letter (A, B, C, or D) in the answer box.
1. Crunchy Celery Stick
2. Fresh Spinach Salad
3. Sweet Orange Carrot
4. Sunflower Seeds Snack
A. Plant Root
B. Plant Stem
C. Plant Leaf
D. Plant Seed
Green Thumb Living • High School SDC Independent Study Page 1 of 5 • Day 1 Science
Day 2: Healthy Choices & Plant Power
Comparing plant survival needs with healthy human habits
Life Science
Science Connection: How Living Things Thrive
Both plants and humans are living organisms. Plants need sunlight, clean water, healthy soil, and fresh air to grow. Humans need nutritious food, water, rest, and physical activity to maintain energy and focus.
What Plants Need
- • Sunlight for photosynthesis
- • Clean water through their roots
- • Soil nutrients to stay strong
What Humans Need
- • Nutritious vegetables & whole foods
- • Daily hydration (water)
- • Good sleep & daily movement
Part A: Identify Healthy Choices
Read each daily habit. Check Healthy or Needs Improvement.
| Daily Life Habit | Healthy | Needs Improvement |
|---|
| 1. Drinking a glass of cold water with every meal | | |
| | |
|
| 2. Eating only chips and sugary soda for lunch |
|
|
| 3. Adding crunchy carrots (roots) to your dinner plate |
|
|
| 4. Going for a 20-minute walk after school |
|
|
Part B: Build Your Plant Power Lunch
Choose 2 healthy plant foods you would like to eat for lunch this week and explain why:
Plant Choice #1:
Which plant part is this? (Root, Leaf, Stem, Seed):
Plant Choice #2:
Which plant part is this? (Root, Leaf, Stem, Seed):
Daily Hydration Tracker (Plants & You Need Water!) Goal: 6-8 cups per day
Check off or shade a cup each time you drink a glass of water today:
Cup 1
Cup 2
Cup 3
Cup 4
Cup 5
Cup 6
Cup 7
Cup 8
Green Thumb Living • High School SDC Independent Study Page 2 of 5 • Day 2 Health & Science
Day 3: Kitchen Measurement & Cooking Time
Using measuring cups, spoons, and clocks to prepare healthy food
Daily Life Math
Measurement Helper Guide:
1 Cup = 8 Fluid Ounces • 1/2 Cup = Half of 1 Cup • 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) = 3 teaspoons (tsp)
Part A: Reading Measuring Cups
Look at each recipe step. Circle the correct measuring tool or write the amount.
1. Steamed Rice Bowl
The recipe calls for 1 full cup of brown rice seeds. Which cup is filled to exactly 1 cup?
Cup A
Cup B
Answer:
2. Doubling a Snack Recipe
You need 1/2 cup of sliced carrots for one snack. How much do you need for 2 snacks?
1/2 cup + 1/2 cup = ?
Total Cups:
Part B: Cooking Time & Schedule
Knowing what time to take food off the stove is an important independent living skill.
3. Simmering Garden Vegetable Soup
You put the soup pot on the stove at 5:00 PM. The timer says it must simmer for 30 minutes. What time will the soup be finished?
Finished Time:
4. Baking Roasted Root Veggies
You place a tray of sliced sweet potatoes in the oven at 6:15 PM. They take 45 minutes to roast tender. What time should you turn off the oven?
Turn Off Time:
Show Your Work / Scratch Space
Green Thumb Living • High School SDC Independent Study Page 3 of 5 • Day 3 Kitchen Math
Day 4: Market Money & Smart Shopping
Budgeting money and calculating totals at the grocery store
Money Math
Fresh Produce Market Price List Use these prices for all problems
Baby Carrots $1.50 per bag
Fresh Spinach $2.00 per bunch
Crisp Celery $1.25 per stalk
Cherry Tomatoes $3.00 per tub
Sunflower Seeds $2.50 per bag
1. Adding Two Items
You buy 1 bag of baby carrots ($1.50) and 1 bunch of spinach ($2.00). How much is the total?
$1.50
+ $2.00
Total:
2. "Dollar-Up" Paying Strategy
Your grocery total is $3.50. You pay with one-dollar bills. How many dollar bills do you give the cashier?
Next Dollar Up from $3.50:
3. Calculating Your Change
You buy Cherry Tomatoes for $3.00. You hand the cashier a $5.00 bill. How much money should you get back?
Change Returned:
4. Independent Living Budget Challenge
You have a $6.00 budget in your wallet. Name any two items from the price list above that you can buy without going over $6.00.
Item 1:
Item 2:
Total Cost:
Green Thumb Living • High School SDC Independent Study Page 4 of 5 • Day 4 Grocery Math
Day 5: Weekly Mixed Review & Recipe Challenge
Connecting plant science, healthy living, and functional daily math
Weekly Review
Healthy Snack Recipe: "Power Garden Salad" Serves 1 Person
Recipe Ingredients:
- • 2 cups fresh baby spinach (Leaves)
- • 1/2 cup shredded sweet carrots (Roots)
- • 1/2 cup crunchy celery chunks (Stems)
- • 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds (Seeds)
Kitchen Prep Instructions:
Rinse vegetables under cold running water. Pat dry with a clean paper towel. Mix ingredients in a bowl.
Prep Time: 15 minutes • No Cooking Needed!
1. Science Check: In the recipe above, which ingredient comes from the root of a plant?
2. Kitchen Math: If you make this salad for 2 people, how many cups of fresh spinach do you need? (2 cups x 2):
3. Time Check: You start preparing your salad at 12:00 PM. It takes 15 minutes. What time is your lunch ready?
Weekly Self-Check & Reflection
Check off the goals you completed this week:
I learned 4 plant parts we eat
I practiced kitchen measuring
I solved grocery money problems
Student Signature:
My Weekly Effort Rating:
Great Effort Did My Best Need Help
Green Thumb Living • High School SDC Independent Study Page 5 of 5 • Day 5 Weekly Review
Green Thumb Answer Key
Green Thumb Living • Answer Key
Educator Facilitation & Grading Guide • Days 1 to 3
Teacher Resource
SDC Instructional Note: Accept phonetically accurate spelling and oral answers scribed by an aide or family supervisor. Focus is on conceptual understanding and functional life skills.
Day 1: Science Foundations (Plant Parts We Eat) 7 Total Points
Part A: Vocabulary Check (3 pts)
- 1. Carrots grow underground: Roots
- 2. Spinach catches sunlight: Leaves
- 3. Celery stalks carry water: Stems
Part B: Supermarket Match (4 pts)
- 1. Celery Stick → B (Plant Stem)
- 2. Spinach Salad → C (Plant Leaf)
- 3. Orange Carrot → A (Plant Root)
- 4. Sunflower Seeds → D (Plant Seed)
Day 2: Science & Healthy Choices 6 Total Points
Part A: Habit Sorting (4 pts)
- 1. Water with meal → Healthy
- 2. Only chips and soda → Needs Improvement
- 3. Crunchy carrots → Healthy
- 4. 20-minute walk → Healthy
Part B: Plant Power Lunch (2 pts)
Any reasonable plant food with accurate part identification.
Examples: Carrots (Root), Spinach (Leaf), Broccoli (Stem/Flower), Rice/Beans (Seeds), Apple (Fruit).
Day 3: Kitchen Measurement & Cooking Time 4 Total Points
Part A: Measuring Cups (2 pts)
- 1. Steamed Rice: Cup B (filled completely to the top).
- 2. Doubling Carrots: 1/2 cup + 1/2 cup = 1 cup (or 2/2 cup).
Part B: Cooking Time (2 pts)
- 3. Soup Simmer: 5:00 PM + 30 min = 5:30 PM
- 4. Roasted Veggies: 6:15 PM + 45 min = 7:00 PM
Green Thumb Living • High School SDC Facilitator Guide Page 1 of 2 • Days 1-3 Solutions
Green Thumb Living • Answer Key
Educator Facilitation & Grading Guide • Days 4 to 5 & Rubric
Scoring Guide
Day 4: Market Money & Smart Shopping 4 Total Points
