Lesson Plan Matrix

Organize activities aligning instruction goals with classroom outcomes.

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Yuma Conservation Garden Lessons

Click on the activity in which you are interested below. All documents are in PDF format and can be read using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Please check the Topic and Skills Index to determine which activity you might want to use based on the topic presented or the skills needed or practiced.

Garden Lesson Journal: For on-site visits. This link will take you to PDF copies of a generic journal to be used when visiting the garden. Copy the pages and assemble them in the numbered order. It is designed to provide space for 3 activities: notes and a visit evaluation. A "clothespin necklace" will be provided at the garden for students to use during their visit to keep their journal papers organized and their hands free for activities.

This table below is designed to assist groups in selecting activities to do while at the garden. Almost all the activities can be modified for any grade level. The grade level column to the right indicates the level that most closely matches the Arizona Articulated Science Standard for content, and most of the activities incorporate Inquiry Strand One. Many of these activities will also assist in teaching performance objectives in many content areas other than science. A planned garden visit can incorporate a full day's curriculum for a class.

Activity Title Description Grade(s) Science Content Strand Other Content Areas
1. The Pond is a Habitat For? Collect and observe pond water samples 1, 6, 7, 8, HS 1, 4
2. Who Lives in This Pond? Use microscopes and hand lenses to observe microscopic life K, 1, 6, 7, 8 1, 4
3. Caught in a Web Identify producers and consumers in an aquatic food chain 3, 4, 7 4
4. Is That All Water? Collect and filter pond water samples 6, 7, HS 1
5. Parts Per Million Explore mathematical concept of parts per million HS 1 Math
6. Measuring Temperature Measure and compare water temperature at varying depths in the pond HS 1 Math
7. Investigating Pond Perimeter and Area Estimate perimeter and area of an irregular shape 6, 7, 8 1 Math
8. Testing One, Two, Three Explore pond water quality including pH 6 1, 5
9. Animal Match-Up Animals and their adaptations to desert climate 1, 2, 4, 6 4
10. Good Buddies Plant and animal relationships of symbiosis, commensalisms, mutualism and parasitism 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, HS 4
11. Speed Buddies Compare and contrast adaptations of the tortoise and jack rabbit K, 1 1 Reading
12. Track That Animal Identify animal tracks K, 2, 6 1, 4
13. Web of Life Plant and animal interdependence 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, HS 1, 4
14. Wildlife at the Garden Observe evidence of life in the Garden K, 1, 4, 7, 8 1, 4
15. Mr. Arthropod's Neighborhood Arthropod identification 4, 7, 8 1, 4
16. Polar Bears in Yuma! Animal to climate adaptation 4, 6, 7, 8 1, 4
17. Riparian Life Zones Study desert riparian habitats 4, 7 1, 4
18. Riparian Areas Vocabulary associated with riparian habitats 7 1, 4 Reading, Writing
19. Ants Observe and describe ant behavior in a natural setting K, 1, 2 1, 4 Writing
20. Desert Plants Observe and describe desert plant adaptations 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 1, 4 Writing
21. What Leaf is This? Observe and classify leaf structures 3, 4, 6 1, 4
22. How Big is That Cactus? Measure cactus heights using various methods 6, 7, 8 1, 4 Math
23. Exploring the Desert Sketch and describe desert plant characteristics 3, 6, 7 1, 4 Writing, Art
24. Cactus Kids Collection and storage of water by cactus 3, 4, 6, HS 1, 4
25. Desert Trees Are Terrific Examine tree adaptations to desert climate 3, 4, 6, 7, HS 1, 4
26. YCG Detective Agency Examine cause and effect relationships 7, 8, HS 1 Writing
27. Habitats of the Conservation Garden Examine different habitat zones in the Garden K, 1, 4, 7, HS 1, 4
28. Fibonacci Patterns in Desert Flora Analyze plant growth patterns HS 1, 4 Math
29. Litter Analysis Analyze litter in the Garden K, 1, 4 1, 3
30. Mapping a Pond Create a map of the pond area 6 1 Social Studies, Math
31. Operation S.O.N.A.R. Create underwater topographic map 6 1 Social Studies, Math
32. Contour Mapping Construct a contour map of a hill 6 1 Social Studies, Math
33. What's in That Area of Sand? Examine all that exists in a small area of the Garden 1, 3, 4, 7 1, 4, 6
34. What Kind of Rock Is It? Classify and identify rocks K, 3, 7 1, 6
35. Mineral Lotto Play a game to learn about minerals in rocks 3, 7 6
36. What Settles First, Sand or Rocks? Examine sediments from a pond sample 6 1, 6
37. Rock Hounds Classify rocks using multiple attributes K, 1, 6, 7 1, 6
38. Temperatures in the Desert Record and compare temperatures in different locations 6, HS 1, 6 Math
39. Nature Made Toolbox Identify natural objects that could be used as simple machines or tools K 1, 5
40. Castaway Creatures on a Desert Isle Study ecosystem relationships 6, 7, HS 1, 4 Writing, Art
41. Garden Scavenger Hunt Identify locations of objects in the Garden All 1
42. Once Upon a Time… Read stories about regional history 3, 6 2, 3 Reading
43. Characters Sketches Examine antique farm machinery K, 6 1, 6
44. Aliens in the Garden (Weeds) Use map skills to locate weeds in the Garden 3, HS 3, 4 Social Studies
45. Simple Machines Identify simple machines as used in antique farm machinery 6 1, 5
46. Off Road Vehicle Examine impact of off road vehicle use and its impact on the fragile desert environment 4, HS 1, 3
47. Letter to Farmer Hank Examine antique farm equipment, predict uses and write a letter to "Farmer Hank" for verification All 1, 5 Writing
48. Air Quality Study of air particulates in the Garden environment 4, HS 1, 3, 6
49. Shapes Identify shapes in the everyday objects in the Garden K, 1 1, 5 Math
50. How Much Water and Soil Is There? Discover how limited our soil and water resources are by using an apple or water analogy 4 – 12 1, 3, 4 Math
51. Oh Coyote! Examine changes in a species with changes in its habitat 4 – 12 1, 4