Area of my garden bed - Cool Australia

Activity Introduction

Quick summary: Students are asked to measure the perimeter and area of a range of garden bed shapes. They are also asked to explore how these shapes affect the materials required for creating garden beds and the number of vegetables that can be planted. As a result of this activity students are encouraged to apply their learning and build a garden of their own.

Learning goals:

Students use perimeter and area to measure parallelograms, triangles and composite shapes.
Students use knowledge of vegetables to (theoretically) plant out their garden beds.

Australian National Curriculum:

Mathematics Year 5:

Calculate the perimeter and area of rectangles using familiar metric units (ACMMG109)
Estimate, measure and compare angles using degrees. Construct angles using a protractor (ACMMG112)
Choose appropriate units of measurement for length, area, volume, capacity and mass (ACMMG108)

Mathematics Year 6:

Calculate the areas of rectangles using familiar metric units (ACMMG109)
Convert between common metric units of length, mass and capacity (ACMMG136)
Solve problems involving the comparison of lengths and areas using appropriate units (ACMMG137)
Connect volume and capacity and their units of measurement (ACMMG138)

Syllabus Outcomes: MA3-10MG, MA3-11MG, MA3-12MG, MA3-16MG, MA3-9MG, MA3‑1WM, MA3‑2WM, MA3‑3WM.

Topic: Sustainability

Time required: 40 – 60 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium- teacher will need to demonstrate basic geometry on the board.

Resources required: Student Worksheet, rulers, graph paper.

Homework and extension opportunities: Students can create a garden bed and plant it out with vegetables. They can also price soil and wood and find out the amount and cost of materials required for the vegetable patch they have created.

Key words: Mathematics, garden, garden bed, perimeter, area, volume, geometry.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher preparation

Overarching learning goal

Students use the creation of garden beds and the growing of vegetables to explore the perimeter and area of shapes. Students are asked to explore a range of garden bed shapes, and how these shapes affect the materials required for creating the garden beds and the number of vegetables that can be planted.

Teacher content information

Food and water is essential to our survival. 50,000 years ago, when we were dashing about the savannahs and forests, humans hunted and gathered their food. Now things have changed. We don’t catch our food anymore; it comes to us in nice-looking processed packages. We are told that this packaging and processing makes it easier for us to eat and that it is better for us. Who are we kidding? It usually just means that it’s got stuff in it that’s bad for us, and that it’s wrapped in something that’s bad for our environment.

Food is best for you when you know the ingredients and it is grown locally. Most proces

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: What would you need to do to grow your own vegetables at home?

Food and water is essential to our survival. 50,000 years ago, when we were dashing about the savannahs and forests, humans hunted and gathered their food. Now things have changed. We don’t catch our food anymore; it comes to us in nice-looking processed packages. Food is best for you when you know the ingredients and it is grown locally. Most processed food (stuff that comes in a wrapper, bottle, package or box) contains things that no one can pronounce let alone knows the origins of. This is why growing your own vegetables is such a great idea!

1. Jack, Sean and Emma are building a vegetable patch each (see diagrams below) in their backyard.

Jack	Sean	Emma

Calculate the amount of wood that would be required to surround each person's vegetable patch (show your workings).

i) Jack

ii) Sean

iii) Emma

2. Jack, Sean an

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Activity: Area of my garden bed

Activity Introduction