Patterns in Nature
McNear Elementary School Garden
Grant Elementary School Garden
Besides being one of the NGSS cross-cutting concepts, learning to recognize patterns is fundamental to understanding natural systems. Visual art practices are an excellent way for students to become familiar with patterns and our work in nature journals was the foundation for all the planting, tending and harvesting in the gardens this year.
Branching patterns
Exploring through observation, drawing and planting
We see branching patterns all over nature. They can be drawn simply with iterations of the letter Y. We wonderWhy does nature choose this structure? What advantages does it provide? Branching patterns were observed all around the garden and helped us understand the function of roots, branches and stems and leaves. Our magnifying glasses and magiscopes helped us see roots up close and when it came time to untangle some root bound baby plants, our understanding of branching patterns helped our plants thrive.
Cycles
What are cycles and how do we experience them? We told the story of the life cycle of various plants through illustration. We observed radish and bean pods, took them apart, counted the seeds and recorded the data. Then we planted our seeds in order to set the cycle in motion again. We also observed various stages in the life cycle of strawberry plants as we put in new strawberry crowns for harvesting in the spring.
We learned about how to take care of the soil in the garden beds by observing how plant matter cycles through the stages of the soil cycle. Magiscopes and magnifying glasses helped us identify the components of soil and compost. We also learned about worms, their life cycle and the role they play as decomposers. Compost worms made many appearances.
Webs
Webs occur in nature in the familiar form of spider webs and can also be found in the wings of bats and the feet of ducks. Our main focus was food webs which we observed in the garden. Students rotated through activities relating to each part of the web; observing and drawing animals, birds, worms and pollinators and exploring our own place in the food web as we harvested and tasted. Seeing the garden as a system of interdependent relationships is the over arching concept and one we will continue to revisit.
