House 1
Students will attend to a plant clue and communicate same/different, stop, or help.
Lesson 21 • Garden skills & food
Garden Problem Detectives
Use clues to decide whether a plant is healthy, needs care, or needs an adult.
Classroom lesson: Pests, Mold, and Other Garden ProblemsToday I can…
notice a garden problem and choose a safe next step.
Words to know
Our five words
PESTMOLDDAMAGEHEALTHYHELP
Follow along
What we will do
- 1
Look first
Observe the whole plant before touching anything.
- 2
Find a clue
Notice spots, holes, wilt, insects, or fuzzy growth.
- 3
Sort
Choose healthy, needs care, or ask an adult.
- 4
Record
Take a photo or mark the matching clue card.
- 5
Choose action
Pick isolate, water check, clean tool, monitor, or get help.
Speech, sign, point, eye gaze, or AAC
Tell us what you need
HEALTHYPESTMOLDWAITGET HELP
Teacher & para guideMaterials, House objectives, access, and safety
Materials
- Healthy and problem plant photos
- Optional contained demonstration plant
- Magnifier
- Clue sorting cards
- Camera or observation sheet
- Gloves and isolation tray
Safety first
Do not touch mold, unknown insects, animal waste, or pesticide residues. Adults isolate questionable material and choose any treatment.
Follow each student's IEP, health, feeding, allergy, behavior, and mobility plans.
Objectives by House
House 2
Students will sort one example as healthy or problem and choose get help when needed.
House 3
Students will use visual clues to select a safe next step for two examples.
House 4 & 5
Students will document symptoms, distinguish observation from diagnosis, and recommend a low-risk first response.
Access supports
Communication Model five core words; accept speech, AAC, eye gaze, gestures, object choices, signs, and partner-assisted scanning.
Sensory Present one material at a time. Offer tools, gloves, observe-only, a scent-free choice, and a quiet break.
Motor Stabilize containers, pre-loosen parts, use adapted grips, and offer seated, standing, partner, or directing roles.
Learning Show the finished result, model first, use short visual steps, repeat, and record the least support needed.