Student Worksheet

My Dream Garden - Activity Instructions

What sort of things do you like to do when you are outside? Some people like to play sport, some like to watch birds. Some might want a garden of flowers, others giant trees to climb. In this activity, you are going to create a birds-eye view map of your ideal garden, using your own garden as inspiration.

Part A: This Is My Place

Step 1.

Spend at least five minutes in your garden, by yourself if possible. Notice the natural features in your garden. Where do you have trees, or flowers? Where is a great place to play, or read a book? Focus on the things you can hear, as well as what you can see.

Step 2.

Find a comfy sport, ideally still outside (but inside is fine if the weather is yuck!). Using your pencils and paper, create a mind-map of what you already have in your garden, as well as all the things you’d love to have. Maybe you would love a space to grow vegetables, or flowers to attract butterflies. Write or draw everything you can think of! This is your dream garden.

Part B: Mapping My Place

Step 1.

On your My Dream Garden Worksheet (or grid paper), draw the outline of your garden. This will be your map. Remember to leave room for a map key, to label the features of your garden.

Step 2.

Maps are drawn from a ‘birds-eye view’. This means it is like we are looking down from the sky. They also use simple 2D shapes to represent the items, instead of a detailed picture. On your worksheet, decide where everything you want in your dream garden will go. You will need to decide on a colour and symbol for each feature, and record these in your key. For example:

Step 3.

Share your garden design with someone in your family!

Step 4.

Use directional language to take someone on an imaginative tour of your garden. Use words such as: walk, step, turn, back, straight, left, right, towards. Write these as steps. For example:

Start at the gate. Walk straight towards the fruit tree. This will have apples, and be a shady place to sit.
Turn left and walk towards the flower garden. This will attract colourful butterflies to watch.

Be as descriptive as you can - this is your chance to make your dream garden come alive!

Taking It Further

Use your dream garden as the inspiration for an imaginative story.
Choose a feature of your dream garden that you really love. Create a persuasive text to convince your parent/caregiver to add it to your real garden!
Put a blindfold on a member of your family and walk them slowly around your real garden, describing the new features you have designed in your map. Make sure to keep an eye on the ground for things they can trip on and don’t let go of their arm!

My Dream Garden (home learning)

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