Jefferson’s Gardens: A Landscape of Opportunities: Section 2 – An Experimental Vegetable Garden

Duration: Up to 1 month
Overview

Students will study Jefferson’s concept of microclimate and water conservation at Monticello and they are given the opportunity to monitor their observations of  growing their own vegetable (a radish) similar to Jefferson’s detailed recordkeeping of his vegetable garden at Monticello.  Students will also discuss microclimate at Montalto (mountain next to Monticello); comparing and contrasting agricultural…

View and Download
View Lesson Plan     Download
Handouts (PDF Format)
  • A Socratic Discussion of Jeffersons decision to situate Monticello on a mountaintop     View  |  Download
  • The Socratic Circle     View  |  Download
  • Vegetable Growth Chart     View  |  Download
  • An Experimental Vegetable Garden     View  |  Download

Download All Materials
Grade Level

Middle School

Type of Lesson

Hands-on

Interdisciplinary Connections

This unit correlates with English/Language Arts, Science, Social Studies curricula and Humanities curricula.

Author Info

Darla Gerlach, EdD
gerlachd@sasd.k12.pa.us
Shaler Area Middle School
1810 Mt. Royal Boulevard
Glenshaw, PA 15101