Garden Growth Slides Storybook Garden
Let's grow our very own stories! In this project, we are gardeners of words and imagination.
The Big Question
"How can we use our imagination and words to grow a story from a single seed?"
Project Phase: Inquiry & Discovery
Our Gardening Tools
Letter Seeds
The building blocks of our stories.
Picture Rain
Drawings that bring our words to life.
Story Soil
Setting the scene: where does it happen?
Character Sprouts
Who lives in your garden world?
Our Project Path
1
Plant
Pick your characters and setting.
2
Water
Add actions and 'sparkle' words.
3
Bloom
Create your final Story Garden book.
Let's Dig In!
Open your Story Seed Journal and find the first page. What will you plant today?
Story Seed Journal My Story Seed
Journal
This Story Seed Journal belongs to:
Date Planted:
Draw a picture of yourself as a Story Gardener!
Step 1: Plant a Character
Every story needs a friend! Who will live in your story garden? Is it an animal? A person? A magical creature?
My character's name is:
Draw your character here:
Three words to describe them:
Tip: Think about how they feel. Are they happy? Brave? Tiny?
Step 2: Prepare the Soil
Where does your story take place? Set the scene for your character!
The setting of my story is:
Draw the setting here:
Checklist for your setting:
Weather
Time of day
Plants/Trees
Buildings
Step 3: Harvest Your Story
Use your character and setting to tell what happens. What is the big event?
First...
Then...
Next...
Finally!
Word Bank Seeds
suddenly happily bravely wonderful scary beautiful
Gardener Guide Teacher Notes Gardener Guide
Teacher Resource • Storybook Garden PBL
Duration: 2 Weeks
Project Overview
In this early literacy PBL unit, students assume the role of "Story Gardeners." They explore the components of a narrative by "planting" characters, "nurturing" settings, and "harvesting" plots. The project culminates in a classroom "Garden of Stories" exhibit.
Target Skills
Narrative Sequencing
Vocabulary Expansion
Character Motivation
Oral Presentation
Pacing & Milestones
Days 1-2
Inquiry & Discovery
Launch with the "Garden Growth Slides." Define the driving question. Begin brainstorming character "seeds" in the Story Seed Journal.
Days 3-5
Nurturing the Elements
Develop settings and characters. Focus on descriptive adjectives. Use sensory bins (soil, flowers) to inspire vocabulary related to the theme.
Days 6-8
The Harvest (Drafting)
Sequencing the story: Beginning, Middle, End. Students draft their plot lines using the journal's harvest section.
Days 9-10
Final Bloom & Exhibit
Create final 3D garden displays or accordion books. Host a "Gallery Walk" for families or other classes.
Facilitation Tips
Differentiation
For emerging writers, allow dictation or use "word stamps." For advanced learners, challenge them to include a "weed" (a conflict) that their character must overcome.
Driving Engagement
Use real seed packets to organize ideas. Let students "plant" their written ideas in a physical garden bed (box of dirt or green paper) as they finish each step.
Market Mastermind Slides Simulation Active
MARKET MASTERMINDS
Where Math meets Business. Are you ready to launch your store?
Inventory
Budget
Profit
The Mission
"How can we use math operations to build a profitable business from scratch?"
Project Goal: Design • Budget • Sell • Analyze
Your Business Toolkit
Addition
Combining item costs to calculate a customer's total bill.
$5.00 + $3.50 = $8.50
Subtraction
Calculating change for a customer or paying business expenses.
$10.00 - $8.50 = $1.50 change
Multiplication
Buying inventory in bulk or calculating tax on multiple items.
$2.00 x 5 items = $10.00
Profit Calculation
Total Sales - Total Costs = The money you get to keep!
$50.00 - $20.00 = $30.00 Profit
The Mastermind Roadmap
1. Plan
Design products & name your store.
2. Prep
Calculate costs & set your prices.
3. Sell
Open for business! Sell to customers.
4. Review
Tally your profits & reflect.
Market Ledger Worksheet Business Ledger
Market Masterminds Project
SERIAL NO. 883-29
PHASE: PLANNING
Store Name
Business Owner(s)
Inventory Pricing Sheet
List the items you plan to sell and calculate your markup (Profit per item).
Item Description Unit Cost Sale Price Profit ($)
Math Check: Pricing Logic
Why did you choose your Sale Prices? Pick one item and explain how you decided its price.
Sales Journal
PHASE: OPERATIONS
Record every transaction. Show your math for totals and change.
TRANSACTION #01 Customer: ___________________
Items Purchased & Subtotal
Show your addition here...
Total Sale
$
TRANSACTION #02 Customer: ___________________
Items Purchased & Subtotal
Show your addition here...
Total Sale
$
TRANSACTION #03 Customer: ___________________
Items Purchased & Subtotal
Show your addition here...
Total Sale
$
The Big Tally
Add up ALL your Total Sales to find your Gross Revenue.
= TOTAL SALES
Market Setup Teacher Guide Market Setup Guide
Teacher Resource • Market Masterminds PBL
Grade Level Elementary (3rd - 5th)
Project Simulation Flow
1
The Business Pitch
Students work in pairs to decide what they will "sell" (e.g., paper bookmarks, pet rocks, high-fives, or school-approved snacks).
2
Costing & Pricing
Distribute the Market Ledger. Students must assign a "cost" to materials and set a "sale price" that ensures profit.
3
Market Day
Students set up storefronts. Half the class acts as shopkeepers while the other half shops using "Market Bucks." Then swap.
4
Audit & Analysis
Final ledger completion. Calculation of total profit and reflection on business success.
Supply List
"Market Bucks" (Printable currency)
Poster board for store signs
Stickers/Small items for inventory
Play money/Calculators
Math Focus Areas
• Decimals (Money)
• Multiple-step problems
• Data recording
• Mental math (Change)
Facilitator "Scripts"
Encouraging Competition
"I see three stores selling bookmarks! How can you make your bookmark stand out? Should you lower your price or improve your product?"
Guiding Math Errors
"Your ledger shows you sold 5 items for $2 each, but your total is $8. Let's re-verify that multiplication."
Habitat Heroes Slides Conservation Mission
HABITAT HEROES
The wild is calling. Can you design a sanctuary where life can thrive?
Hydration
Nutrition
Shelter
The Project Brief
Driving Question
"How can we engineer a balanced ecosystem that provides everything an animal needs to survive?"
Research
Design
Build
Survival Essentials
Water
Where does it come from? Rain? A pond? A river? Your habitat must have a water source.
Food
Is your animal a carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore? Show their food source in the design.
Shelter
Where do they sleep? Where are they safe from weather and predators?
Space
Animals need room to move, grow, and raise a family. Don't make it too crowded!
Engineering Your Model
The Base
Start with a sturdy shoebox or cardboard tray.
Textures
Use sand, cotton, clay, and twigs for a realistic feel.
Labels
Tag each part of your habitat so others can learn.
Phase 1 Starts Now: Discovery & Blueprints
Ecosystem Blueprint Worksheet Field Notes Vol. 1
Ecosystem Blueprint
Research Phase • Habitat Heroes
Selected Species
Natural Environment
e.g. Tundra, Rainforest, Desert
Diet & Nutrition
What does it eat? Is it a producer, consumer, or decomposer?
Climate Needs
What temperature range and weather does it need?
Anatomical Sketch
Draw your animal and label 2 physical adaptations (e.g., thick fur, sharp claws, long beak).
Engineering Plan
Translate your research into a 3D design. How will you represent the survival elements using recycled materials?
Blueprint Area: Top-Down View
Water Source
Materials I will use...
Shelter Build
Materials I will use...
Food Representation
Materials I will use...
Ecosystem Rubric Teacher Resource Habitat Evaluation
Teacher Resource • Habitat Heroes PBL
Mastery Rubric
Criteria Exceeds (3) Meets (2) Developing (1) Ecosystem Logic Habitat features clearly match animal's specific climate and needs. Includes all 4 survival needs (food, water, shelter, space). Missing one or more survival needs; logic is inconsistent. Scientific Accuracy Identifies complex adaptations and trophic levels (producer/consumer). Identifies basic physical adaptations and diet. Basic identification of the animal only; little research shown. Engineering & Craft Innovative use of varied textures/materials; includes detailed labels. Functional 3D model; clean construction and basic labeling. Incomplete or fragile model; no labeling present.
Deep Inquiry Questions
• "What would happen to your animal if the water source dried up? How could they adapt?"
• "If we introduced a predator to your habitat, where would your animal hide?"
• "How does your choice of materials represent the real texture of the animal's environment?"
Science Standards (NGSS)
LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions
Observation Notes & Feedback Space Mystery Archive Slides Classified File #001
HISTORY
DETECTIVES
"The past is a puzzle. Are you ready to find the missing pieces?"
Case Assignment
The Cold Case
"How can we use primary sources to reconstruct a historical truth that has been lost or distorted?"
Investigation Phase: Research Target: Verifiable Evidence
The Evidence Locker
Primary Sources
First-hand accounts from people who were there. Letters, diaries, photos, and legal documents.
"The Eyewitness Testimony"
Secondary Sources
Analysis written after the event. Textbooks, documentaries, and modern articles.
"The Professional Analysis"
"Detectives prioritize Primary Sources to avoid bias and hearsay."
The Detective's Process
1
Acquire
Gather all available documents and clues.
2
Corroborate
Compare sources. Do they agree or disagree?
3
Contextualize
What else was happening in the world then?
4
Present
Build your case and share the findings.
Evidence Log Document Investigation Log
Case File: History Detectives Unit
Ref: 01-SS-PBL
Agent Name
Date of Entry
Part 1: The Historical Mystery
Describe the historical event or figure you are investigating. What is the "missing link" or the big question you are trying to solve?
Part 2: Initial Theories
What do people normally say about this event? What is the "standard" history?
Warning: Watch for bias in your secondary sources!
Evidence Log
Evidence Item #01
Source Description
Title, Author, Year, and Type (Primary or Secondary)
Reliability
How trustworthy is this?
Key Finding
What does this source tell us about the mystery?
Evidence Item #02
Source Description
Reliability
Key Finding
Corroboration Check
Do Item #1 and Item #2 agree? If not, why might their perspectives be different?
Source Investigator Teacher Guide Bureau of Inquiry
Teacher Resource • History Detectives PBL
Investigation Scope
In this project, students move beyond rote memorization of dates and facts. They engage with history as an ongoing inquiry. They will select a "Cold Case" (e.g., The Lost Colony of Roanoke, The Disappearance of Amelia Earhart, or the motive behind the Boston Tea Party) and use professional historiography techniques to analyze it.
Core Competencies
Critical Thinking & Sourcing
Evidence-Based Argumentation
Perspective Recognition
Information Literacy
Case Study Starters
If students are struggling to find a topic, suggest these curated mysteries with high-quality primary source availability:
1
The Salem Witch Trials
Inquiry: What social pressures led to the mass hysteria?
2
The Industrial Revolution Workers
Inquiry: How did life actually change for children in factories?
3
The Silk Road Merchants
Inquiry: How did cultural exchange impact local traditions?
The SHEG Method (Stanford)
SOURCING
Who wrote this? When? Why? What is their perspective?
CONTEXTUALIZATION
What was going on when this was written? How does it fit the era?
CORROBORATION
What do other pieces of evidence say? Is there a pattern?
CLOSE READING
What claims does the author make? What evidence do they use?
The Grand Inquest
The project should conclude with students presenting their findings to a "Commission of Inquiry" (peers and teachers). They must defend their conclusions using cited evidence and acknowledge any gaps in the historical record.
