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 Don't start until you have a plan!

You and your students might be keen to get started, but before you pick up a spade or start choosing your plants you need to make a plan. It sounds dull, but without it you won't know what will and won't fit in your garden. Your garden will be better organised and easier to manage as a result of preparing a clear plan.

 Method

Students should measure the outer boundaries of the plot.

1. Work out a scale so that students can draw the plan onto paper (figure 1). The best scale to use is 1:50 or if you have a huge space then 1:100.

1:50     means     2cm = 1m

1:100     means     1cm = 1m

2. Students can now mark on to their plans existing features in the garden such as trees and ponds. This can be done by drawing a grid onto the plan outline. Square metres are an ideal grid size (figure 2).

Figure 1 (Click for a larger image)

Figure 2 (Click for a larger image)

3. Students can now measure the distances to the existing features from the boundary. Once they have done this they can convert the measurements using the scale and draw a plan of the outer edge of the garden area and the existing features.

4. On copies of the plan or tracing overlays students can now draw on what they would like to go in the garden. Once again the same scale needs to be used.

 Students need to be reminded to:

•	always mark which direction is north.
•	include the full spread of tree canopies, as the shade they cast will affect planting decisions. It is surprising how far the branches spread across the garden. Areas under tree canopies are always dry, as well as shady.
•	include any problems, such as a waterlogged area.
•	be realistic about what will fit into the garden.

 What activities and investigations can students undertake?

•	Measuring the boundary and distances.
	Maths - Real life measurements, distances, and calculations.
	National Curriculum  Maths • Ma3: 1a, 4a, 4b  -  Ma4: 1c, 1d, 1e
	English - Group work and discussion.
	National Curriculum  English • En1: 2b, 2e, 3a
•	Drawing the plan.
	Maths - collecting information.
	National Curriculum  Maths • Ma2: 4a, 4b, 4c  -  Ma3: 1a, 1e, 4a, 4b  -  Ma4: 1c, 1d, 1e
	Geography - Using scale, drawing maps and plans.
	National Curriculum  Geog • 2a, 2b, 2c, 2e
	Information Communication Technology - Research, collecting and entering data to use a computer program for the plan.
	National Curriculum  ICT • 1b
•	Planning the garden layout.
	Art and Design - Exploring and developing ideas.
	National Curriculum  Art & Design • 1a, 1c
	Maths - Real life measurements and distances.
	National Curriculum  Maths • Ma2: 4a, 4b, 4c  -  Ma3: 1a, 1e, 4a, 4b  -  Ma4: 1c, 1d, 1e
	English - Research, reading and discussion.
	National Curriculum  English • En1: 3a-f  -  En2: 3a-d
	Geography - Using scale.

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