OBJECTIVE

Students will discuss and connect the realities of colonial life to the types of plants that would be grown in gardens.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

Where role did gardens play in the survival and health of colonial families?

Colonial Garden: Lesson 1

MATERIALS NEEDED

Pictures of garden examples from Plimouth Plantation

Facts of colonial life cards

Fresh or dried herbs

PROCEDURE

Look at slides of garden examples from Plimoth Plantation. Ask students- What do you notice?

Distribute Facts of Colonial Life cards, one to each student or small group:

The colonists had no refrigeration.

Commerce with England was disrupted during the Revolution.

There were no washing machines.

There were no grocery stores, or places to buy seeds.

 Parasites like fleas and lice were common.

There were few doctors and no pharmacies.

 People bathed very little, if at all.

While the small groups are discussing, fresh or dried herbs can be passed around to explore.

Ask how these facts relate to what would be grown in a kitchen garden.

Possible discussion starter questions:

What do we know about where the colonists came from? Daily life?

What herbs do you use at home?

 Do we know of any medicines made from plants?

How did the colonists get these plants?

Read excerpt from Herbitage “Living History: Women at Work”

(Optional: Read and discuss Penn State description.

 Discuss Columbian Exchange, unless this was done before.)

Have discussion to narrow down the top 3 uses of kitchen garden plants. (food, medicine, fragrance. 4th could be dyes)

Colonial Garden: Lesson 2

MATERIALS NEEDED

Slideshow of garden examples from Plimouth Plantation

Herb Exploration Worksheet

What Will Grow in your Garden

What Will Grow in your Garden (herbs)

Facts of colonial life cards

Fresh or dried herbs

PROCEDURE

Each student (or pair) chooses a garden plant to study, using Herb Facts sheet, Internet and Herb Exploration worksheet.

(Local sassafrass, bayberry and tobacco were added by students. Independent kids or pairs that want to go further can study food plants as well)

Look at “Catalogue of Seeds, Plants &c Sold by Will’m Lucas”  (1677)

Notice what was available. (and spelling changes)

If possible, field trip to nursery to purchase plants.

If early in season, order seed and start plants.

Colonial Garden: Lesson 3

MATERIALS NEEDED

Plants

Colonial Garden Grid Worksheet

PROCEDURE

Discuss arrangement (where to place perennials vs. annuals, for example. Have students fill out Colonial Garden Grid Worksheet in groups.

Plant!