Garden Lessons: Cabbage Worms in the Garden (2nd Grade)

 
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Grade(s): 2nd

Lesson Objective(s): Students learn how cabbage worms impact in the garden.

Ohio Curriculum Standard: Living things cause changes in it’s environment

Supplies Needed

  • Book: “the very impatient caterpillar” by Ross Burach

  • A clear, close-able container for trapping cabbage worms

    • little Ramekin with water

    • Cabbage leaves

    • a paper taped on that reads “Ms. _____’s Class Cabbage Worm Habitat”

  • Cabbage Worm coloring sheet & Garden teacher example

  • Tables in high tunnel & markers or coloring pencils for coloring sheet

  • Watering cans (in high tunnel, filled)

  • Hand sanitizer

  • Cabbage cole slaw & serving spoon (for snack)

  • Spit bucket by high tunnel door

  • Ramekin containers, & soapy water bin (for serving snack)

  • Harmonica

Introduction (if in garden):

  • Start in Grape Arbor. Welcome everyone to garden: introduce self & grown-up helpers again

  • We really need everyone’s help! Our cabbage worms have taken over our cabbage.

  • Line up on East wall of High Tunnel & Explain instructions:

    • in high tunnel, pick one cabbage worm and put in “Ms. _____’s class cabbage worms" jar/container.

    • Once you pick one cabbage worm and put it in your class jar, you can water the crops inside the high tunnel

Activity (15 mins)

  • Find 1 cabbage worm to put in your class jar

  • Use a watering can on the north end of High tunnel to water garden. Once everyone’s had a chance to water, line watering cans back up where you found them, and gather at table.

  • Once at tables: Everyone gets a cabbage leaf sheet. Instructions: Draw/color What the cabbage worm did to the leaf. Show teacher example.

  • Ask class about what they drew

  • Clean up

Transition: Everyone line up on East end of high tunnel

Wrap up & Planting (10 Mins):

  • Teacher gets container with cabbage worms

  • Ask group: What did you notice about our leaves? What do you think will happen to the cabbage worms in your classroom?

  • Line up at back door of high tunnel, get hand sanitizer and cabbage cole slaw snack

Rain plan:

  • Read “The Very impatient Caterpillar”

  • Show class jar with cabbage worms

  • pass out coloring sheets & ask students to draw/color what they think the cabbage worms will do to the cabbage leaf

  • Gather back on rug with coloring sheets ask students to share what they drew

  • Everyone gets cabbage coleslaw snack

  • Leave cabbage worm container with classroom teacher to observe

Classroom Extensions:

Before: Read “The Very Impatient Caterpillar” or watch the Youtube reading here (it’s a super fun one!)

After: Do a daily observation with students of the cabbage worm home. What do you notice? Has anything changed since yesterday?

Garden LessonsTeresa Woodard