Hello, agents! We need your special STEM skills for this important mission. Manny needs your help with a problem in his neighborhood.
Think about these questions as you watch the video. Write answers in your Double-O STEM Club notebook.
In this Community Garden Watering Solutions case, students will use library resources to complete the following tasks listed below. The learner version of the case can be found using this link.
Learners will need a place to take notes as they brainstorm and research solutions to the problem. Although questions are presented in the agent section of the online chapter, this course also includes a downloadable handbook for each case with brief activity descriptions, questions, thinking prompts, and white space for taking notes. This is presented as an "agent handbook," as learners are acting as new agents helping the main character with the mission/problem. Librarians may choose to download and print this handbook for learners or have them do it. Alternatively, librarians may decide to have learners type answers on a computer or provide learners with a folder in which to place the printouts or spiral notebook in which to write answers, sketch ideas, etc.
The following link to the handbook is also available to students in their student version of this book.
Double-O STEM Club Agent Handbook: Community Garden Watering Solutions
For your convenience, the student version of each activity is located in the "Think," "Create," and "Share & Grow" sections of this book.
Learning Objectives
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) - Engineering
American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Standards - Inquiry
Learning Activities
This activity introduces the community garden watering solutions case and the charge to propose an urban garden plan for a vacant lot of 100 X 80 feet. Problems associated with the case involve creating a plan to maintain the garden. Secondary problems include determining how to clean up pollution, determining what to plant seasonally, helping the garden become self-sufficient, and so forth. During this activity, Double-O STEM Club agents will identify and describe the main problem presented in the video, discuss possible solutions with peers, formulate research questions based on the identified problem(s) and prior knowledge.
Materials
Setup
This activity includes whole-class and group discussion. Set up an area that allows the librarian to introduce the case and share examples via internet websites. Provide agents with notebooks and writing instruments and encourage them to capture ideas (through words and illustrations) as they work on this case. Allow agents to brainstorm problems associated with the case and questions that may require additional research. Capture main ideas on a whiteboard, easel pad, or other medium. Be sure to ask agents if there are aspects of other cases they have completed that might apply in this case.
Activity 1: Discussion
Now that you have seen the video, work with other Double-O STEM Club agents to think about the problem and a solution.
Guiding Questions:
Learning Objectives
Next Generation Science Standards - Engineering:
American Association of School Librarians Standards - Inquiry:
Different plants grow well in different seasons. Some plants like cabbage and peas grow well in cooler weather. Others, like melons and tomatoes, thrive in warmer weather. Double-O STEM Club agents will research the growing seasons of fruits and vegetables that they are interested in growing. Share findings with the group. Then have agents develop a plan to grow different plants during the Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons.
Materials
Setup
This activity includes group discussion and individual research. Prior to the lesson, set up a seating arrangement that allows for whole class and small group discussion. Also setup resources to capture agent ideas/questions so that all agents can view postings easily. Ensure that agents will have easy access to library catalogues and other search tools.
Activity 2: Seasonal Planting & Crop Rotation Research
Use library resources to answer your research questions. Talk with your fellow agents about the best places to search for your answers. We can’t risk mission failure with bad information! Write down your notes and share them with other Double-O STEM Club agents.
Guiding Questions:
Learning Objectives
Next Generation Science Standards - Engineering
American Association of School Librarians Standards - Inquiry
As individuals or in small groups, have Double-O STEM Club agents create a scale drawing of the gardens, paths, compost areas, tool storage, and other areas in their 100 x 80 square-foot space. The drawing should include a corresponding key to indicate where gardening features (e.g., raised beds, pots, vertical planting, trellises) will be placed in the space. Agents should present their plans to other agents and incorporate feedback and additional ideas into future plans.
Things to instruct agents to consider when creating their drawings include:
Present your plan to other agents and incorporate feedback and additional ideas into future plans.
Materials
Setup
Focus the seating arrangement so agents have space to draw but can still see each other in classroom and small group discussions. Place writing instruments in a central location where agents can get them on an as-needed basis. However, this activity also includes small and whole-group discussion. Make sure the seating arrangement allows for whole and small group discussion.
Activity 3: Garden Drawing
Create a scale drawing of the gardens, paths, compost areas, tool storage, and other areas in your 100 x 80 square-foot space. The drawing should include a key that indicates where gardening features (e.g., raised beds, pots, vertical planting, trellises) will be placed in the space. Share your plan with other agents and incorporate feedback and additional ideas into future plans.
Guiding Questions:
Learning Objectives
Next Generation Science Standards - Engineering
American Association of School Librarians Standards - Inquiry
During this activity, Double-O STEM Club agents will use modeling clay and cardboard to create slightly sloped landscapes similar to the community garden case (and any plans developed in previous activities). They will then create irrigation and drainage systems in the clay (with toothpicks, nails, and other instruments) to reroute water. As they experiment, observe, and record the results, agents will improve their models and compare them with other individual/group models.
Materials
Setup
This hands-on activity focuses on modeling drainage and irrigation systems for use in the garden area. You may either prep the landscapes in advance (providing agents with a slightly sloped landscape with modeling clay) or have agents build their own as part of the activity. Regardless, you will need two settings: a location where individuals and teams can work on their models and another area where they can test them. Remember that once tested, models will be wet, making refinements potentially messy. Thus, set up the area in a space that allows for easy demonstration and clean-up. Use table or drop cloths, or go outside to facilitate clean-up. Take pictures of the activity!
Activity 4: Irrigation & Drainage Model
Use modeling clay and cardboard to create slightly sloped landscapes similar to the community garden case (and any plans developed in previous activities). Next, create irrigation and drainage systems in the clay (with toothpicks, nails, and other instruments) to reroute water. As you experiment, observe, and record the results, improve your models and compare them with other individual/group models.
Guiding Questions:
Learning Objectives
Next Generation Science Standards - Engineering
American Association of School Librarians Standards - Inquiry
Near the end of this case, Double-O STEM Club agents will showcase their work (plans, composters, seedlings, data analyses). Agents will describe their proposed garden area and structures, the design decisions used to develop them, how testing and reflection improved their product, and how they would continue to perfect the model if given the opportunity. Presentations can be given live, video recorded and uploaded online, written and illustrated, or a combination of these approaches. Use this session to celebrate accomplishments and creative thinking.
Materials
Setup
Prior to the lesson, set up a seating arrangement that allows for whole and small group discussion around group presentations. Make sure to decorate the presentation space with celebration materials. Provide agents with their work. Also provide tools for groups to develop a short presentation about their work. You may want to set up a poster session and split the groups in half to present and attend the presentation.
Activity 5: Showcase and Reflection
Great job, agents! I knew I could count on you to solve Manny's community garden watering problem. Now it is time to share your designs. As a group, present your prototype (make a new one if yours was damaged during testing).
Guiding Questions:
Learning Objectives
Next Generation Science Standards - Engineering
American Association of School Librarians Standards - Inquiry
Celebration
Excellent community garden watering solutions, agents! Watch the video below to wrap up this Double-O STEM Club mission.
This content is provided to you freely by EdTech Books.
Access it online or download it at https://edtechbooks.org/double_o_stem/CommunityGardenWateringSolutions.