Lesson Description:
Elementary students will make garden signs. Gardeners often label the plants they grow by using garden signs. Garden signs not only provide information about the vegetables and fruits growing in a garden, but can also be colorful and decorative. Making garden signs can be a fun activity to learn about vegetables and to add beauty to a garden.

Eco-fact: Nutritionists recommend that you eat five servings of fruit or vegetables a day. A serving equals one-half cup.

Procedure:
Before making the garden signs:

• Create a class list of different vegetables that can be grown in the garden. try to include at least one vegetable for each letter of the alphabet.
• Next, students will develop a list of adjectives to describe each vegetable on the class list. try to have students come up with at least one adjective that begins with the same letter of the alphabet as the vegetable they are describing (such as “awesome asparagus” or “bodacious broccoli”).

Making the garden signs:
Option 1:

• Have each student select two vegetables from the list. these will be the vegetables for their garden signs.
• Next, cut 2 by 4 inch rectangles out of corrugated cardboard and push a small stick into each one.
• Mix 1 part white glue with 1 part water in a plastic dish. dip tiny strips of white paper into the mixture and paste them all over the sign. Students write the names of the vegetable along with an adjective starting with the same letter to describe the vegetable. Have students to decorate their signs using markers. Glue on the pictures of the vegetable as well.
• Waterproof the signs with clear tape, then stake them in the garden.

Option 2:

• Students can clean and dry large rock.
• Students can paint name and add illustration to rock.
• Let rock dry and place in garden.

Adaptations:

• Students can make larger garden signs. with larger garden signs, students can list facts and statistics about the vegetable.
• Students can make garden signs using wood and poster boards. These garden signs will be stronger, and will be able to withstand wind and rain. In addition, students can add creative designs and colors to their signs.

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Lesson Type:

• Project

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Sustainability Topic:

• Gardening

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GEF Program Category:

• Green Thumb Challenge

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