Floating Garden Challenge

A STEM Challenge that addresses how food can be grown on land that is flooded in Bangladesh

Food

Years: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Duration: 120mins

Curriculum Objectives: 6

Subject: Science

Resource Overview

The problem: as a result of climate change there is more rain in Bangladesh than ever before. Land where farmers used to grow their crops is now flooded on a regular basis. The result is families go hungry.

The challenge: to design and build a model structure that will enable farmers to grow crops even in an area that may become flooded.

Thank you Practical Action for allowing us to share this resource.

Resource Assets

pdf

Teachers Notes

A guideline to support teachers to run the challenge with a group of pupils.

pdf

PowerPoint Notes

Notes for teacher's to help make the most of the presentation to introduce and run the Floating garden challenge.

pptx

PowerPoint

Visuals to introduce the challenge

pdf

Starter Activity Image Sheets

Images of flooding and drought in the UK and Bangladesh to prompt discussion around global changing weather patterns.

pdf

Pupil Activity Sheets

Worksheets that enable pupils to record their research, design ideas and evaluation activities.

pdf

Student congratulations certificates

Certificates awarded to the group of pupils whose floating garden has supported the most weight.

pdf

Student well done certificates

Certificates awarded to pupils who've completed the Floating Garden challenge.

pdf

Challenge Poster

Floating garden challenge English poster with EC logo

Curriculum Objectives

Science

Key Stage 1 (Age 5-7)

Year 2 (aged 6-7)
- Identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses
- Identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds if animals and plants, and how they depend on each other

Key Stage 2 (Age 7-11)

Year 3 (Age 7-8)
- Explore the requirements of plants for life and growth (air, light, water, nutrients from soil, and room to grow) and how they vary from plant to plant.
Year 5 (Age 9-10)
- Give reasons, based on evidence from comparative and fair tests, for the particular uses of everyday materials, including metals, wood and plastic.
Year 6 (Age 10-11)
- Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution.
- Recognise that living things have changed over time and that fossils provide information about living things that inhabited the Earth millions of years ago.

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