House 1
Students will attend to warm and cold sensory cues and communicate a preference or recognition.
Lesson 03 • Plants & seasons
When Can Plants Grow?
Use seasons and weather clues to decide when plants can grow outside.
Classroom lesson: Zone 8a HardinessToday I can…
match a plant with a growing season.
Words to know
Our five words
ZONESEASONCOLDWARMGROW
Follow along
What we will do
- 1
Find our zone
Locate Zone 8a on the classroom map.
- 2
Feel cold
Choose a cold-weather picture or object.
- 3
Feel warm
Choose a warm-weather picture or object.
- 4
Sort plants
Match plants to cool or warm seasons.
- 5
Plan
Put one planting card on the class calendar.
Speech, sign, point, eye gaze, or AAC
Tell us what you need
COLDWARMNOWLATERINSIDE
Teacher & para guideMaterials, House objectives, access, and safety
Materials
- Zone 8a map
- Season picture cards
- Plant or seed picture cards
- Monthly calendar
- Warm/cool labels
- Frost-cover sample
Safety first
Weather and frost dates change. Adults check the current forecast before outdoor planting and follow heat, cold, and health plans.
Follow each student's IEP, health, feeding, allergy, behavior, and mobility plans.
Objectives by House
House 2
Students will match one plant or weather picture to warm or cool with two choices.
House 3
Students will sort plants by season and place one task on a visual calendar.
House 4 & 5
Students will use Zone 8a and frost information to plan or explain two seasonal garden tasks.
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.