Community Garden Design Challenge: Area and Perimeter

Created byAnn D'silva

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Community Garden Design Challenge: Area and Perimeter

Grade 3Math1 days

In this 3rd-grade math project, students tackle a community garden design challenge where they apply their knowledge of area and perimeter to maximize growing space for healthy vegetables. Faced with a simulated blight and limited garden plot dimensions, students explore shapes, plan vegetable plots, and experiment with perimeter to create an optimal garden blueprint. The project culminates in a detailed blueprint with a written justification, assessing mathematical accuracy, design efficiency, and reasoning.

AreaPerimeterGarden DesignMaximizationBlueprintVegetablesCommunity

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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we design a community garden using our knowledge of area and perimeter to maximize the growing space and provide healthy vegetables for everyone?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.

How can we measure the area and perimeter of different garden shapes?
How can we maximize the growing space within a given perimeter?
How do different vegetables impact the design of our garden?
How can we use math to plan and create a community garden that benefits everyone?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:

Students will be able to calculate the area and perimeter of various shapes.
Students will be able to design a garden layout that maximizes growing space within a given perimeter.
Students will be able to apply mathematical concepts to real-world problems.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

The Great Garden Challenge!

A local farmer announces that a blight has devastated crops and challenges the students to design the most productive vegetable garden to help feed the community. The farmer provides specific (and limited) dimensions for the garden plot, requiring students to optimize their designs.

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Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.

Activity 1

Garden Shape Explorers

Students explore different shapes and their area/perimeter relationships to understand how shapes impact growing space.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Explore various shapes (squares, rectangles, triangles) using manipulatives or drawings.

2. Calculate the area and perimeter of each shape.

3. Compare shapes with the same perimeter to see which has the largest area.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA chart comparing different shapes, their perimeters, and their areas.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will be able to calculate the area and perimeter of various shapes.

Activity 2

Vegetable Plot Planner

Students plan their vegetable plots by selecting vegetables and determining the space required for each, using area and perimeter calculations.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Research different vegetables and their space requirements (e.g., how much area each plant needs).

2. Choose a selection of vegetables for their garden.

3. Calculate the area needed for each type of vegetable based on the number of plants.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed plan showing the area allocated to each vegetable in the garden.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will be able to design a garden layout that maximizes growing space within a given perimeter.

Activity 3

The Perimeter Challenge

Students experiment with different garden designs, focusing on maximizing area within a fixed perimeter.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Given a fixed perimeter (e.g., using rope or string), create different rectangular garden designs.

2. Calculate the area of each design.

3. Determine which design provides the maximum growing area within the fixed perimeter.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA report detailing the different garden designs, their areas, and the optimal design with the largest area.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goal: Students will be able to design a garden layout that maximizes growing space within a given perimeter.

Activity 4

Community Garden Blueprint

Students create a final blueprint of their community garden, incorporating all their learning about area, perimeter, and vegetable needs.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Combine the optimal garden shape and the vegetable plot plan.

2. Create a detailed blueprint of the garden, including dimensions, vegetable placement, and total area/perimeter.

3. Write a justification for the design choices, explaining how it maximizes growing space.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed blueprint of the community garden with a written justification.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses the learning goals: Students will be able to calculate the area and perimeter of various shapes; Students will be able to design a garden layout that maximizes growing space within a given perimeter; Students will be able to apply mathematical concepts to real-world problems.

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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Community Garden Design Rubric

Category 1

Mathematical Accuracy

Demonstrates accurate calculation and application of area and perimeter concepts.

Criterion 1

Area and Perimeter Calculations

Accuracy of area and perimeter calculations for different shapes and garden designs.

Exemplary

4 Points

All area and perimeter calculations are accurate and clearly presented with correct units. Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the relationship between area and perimeter.

Proficient

3 Points

Most area and perimeter calculations are accurate with minor errors. Shows a good understanding of the relationship between area and perimeter.

Developing

2 Points

Some area and perimeter calculations are accurate, but there are noticeable errors. Shows a basic understanding of area and perimeter.

Beginning

1 Points

Area and perimeter calculations are largely inaccurate. Struggles to apply the concepts of area and perimeter.

Criterion 2

Vegetable Space Planning

Accuracy in calculating and allocating space for different vegetables based on their requirements.

Exemplary

4 Points

Accurately calculates and allocates space for all vegetables based on their needs, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of plant spacing.

Proficient

3 Points

Calculates and allocates space for most vegetables accurately with minor errors in spacing.

Developing

2 Points

Attempts to calculate space for vegetables, but there are significant errors in spacing and allocation.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to calculate and allocate space for vegetables. Demonstrates little understanding of plant spacing.

Category 2

Design Efficiency

Effectiveness of the garden design in maximizing growing space within the given constraints.

Criterion 1

Space Maximization

Effectiveness of the design in maximizing growing space within the fixed perimeter.

Exemplary

4 Points

The garden design demonstrates an innovative approach to maximizing growing space within the fixed perimeter. All available space is utilized effectively.

Proficient

3 Points

The garden design effectively maximizes growing space within the fixed perimeter. Most available space is utilized.

Developing

2 Points

The garden design attempts to maximize growing space, but there are areas that are not efficiently utilized.

Beginning

1 Points

The garden design does not effectively maximize growing space. Significant portions of the space are wasted.

Criterion 2

Layout and Organization

Clarity and organization of the garden layout, including placement of different vegetables.

Exemplary

4 Points

The garden layout is exceptionally clear, organized, and visually appealing, with logical placement of different vegetables that considers sun exposure, plant compatibility, and accessibility.

Proficient

3 Points

The garden layout is clear and organized, with logical placement of different vegetables.

Developing

2 Points

The garden layout is somewhat disorganized, and the placement of vegetables is not always logical.

Beginning

1 Points

The garden layout is confusing and disorganized. The placement of vegetables appears random.

Category 3

Justification and Explanation

Clarity and completeness of the justification for the design choices, including reasoning for maximizing growing space.

Criterion 1

Design Rationale

Explanation of the design choices, including the rationale for selecting specific shapes and vegetable placements.

Exemplary

4 Points

Provides a comprehensive and insightful justification for all design choices, explaining the reasoning behind the selection of specific shapes, vegetable placements, and space allocation strategies. Demonstrates a deep understanding of the design principles.

Proficient

3 Points

Provides a clear justification for most design choices, explaining the reasoning behind the selection of specific shapes and vegetable placements.

Developing

2 Points

Attempts to justify the design choices, but the explanation is incomplete and lacks specific reasoning.

Beginning

1 Points

Provides little or no justification for the design choices. The reasoning is unclear or missing.

Criterion 2

Mathematical Reasoning

Use of mathematical concepts to support and justify the design choices.

Exemplary

4 Points

Uses mathematical concepts effectively to support and justify all design choices, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of how area and perimeter influence the garden design. Presents clear and logical arguments based on mathematical evidence.

Proficient

3 Points

Uses mathematical concepts to support and justify most design choices.

Developing

2 Points

Attempts to use mathematical concepts, but the connection to the design choices is weak or unclear.

Beginning

1 Points

Shows little or no use of mathematical concepts to support the design choices.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning

Question 1

What was the most surprising thing you learned about area and perimeter while designing your garden?

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Question 2

If you could redesign your garden, what is one thing you would change and why?

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Question 3

How well do you think your garden design met the challenge of maximizing space to grow vegetables for the community?

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Question 4

What was the most challenging part of designing the community garden, and how did you overcome it?

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Question 5

How did working on this project change your understanding of how math can be used in real-life situations?

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