OBJECTIVE

Students will understand the connection between the lunar cycle and the plants in the school garden.

Students will be able to identify the different moon phases and plan their garden tasks accordingly.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

How does the moon affect the plants in our garden?

MATERIALS NEEDED

Prepped garden beds

Seeds (any leaf crops – kale, lettuce, spinach; or root crops – radish)

Moon calendars

Moon calendar experiment log

PROCEDURE

Introduction:

Now that we have our moon calendars, let’s find out how much the moon affects our garden! It is time for a science experiment. 

Review the steps of the scientific process: (Invite students to write down these steps in their journals)

Question: Our BIG question is, “How does the moon affect the plants in our garden?” During this experiment we will be asking, “Do plants grow better when they are started during their ideal moon phase?”

Hypothesis: This is your guess! What do you think? 

Experiment: For the next few weeks we are going to compare the growth of the same plant – one crop that we plant during its ideal moon phase, and one that we plant during a different moon phase 

Using a special scientific log sheet, you will be making observations of your plants and writing them down. 

• What are some of the ways we could compare these plants? What are the things we will be looking for? (germination time, height, appearance, time it takes to grow, etc.) 

Analyze Results: After 4 weeks, we will look over our observations and analyze our results. All together as a class, we will find out what the differences were in the plants that we grew.

Conclusion: So….how does the moon affect the plants in our garden?? Do they grow better during their ideal moon phase? 

Activity: 

After students have completed writing down the steps of the scientific process in their journals, including writing down their own hypothesis, they may start the experiment. 

Each student begins by filling out the first part of their Moon Calendar Experiment Log. They write the name of the crop they are planting, the date, and the moon phase.

If inside:

Each student will be given one pot and two seeds. Students label the pot “Crop #1” and write their initials. Invite each student to fill the pot with soil. Make two small holes and plant the seeds. Cover them up and water carefully. Place all the pots in a place that gets equal sunlight! 

If outside:

Mark one row of the garden bed “Crop #1”. Each student gets two seeds, and makes two small holes along the row. After planting the seeds, the students water the plants equally. 

The following week, repeat the steps above for “Crop #2”, and complete the first observation for “Crop #1”. Continue for 2-3 more weeks. 

Wrap up/ Assessment:

Students document their experiment in their journals. Students present their findings at the end of the experiment.