In this engaging engineering challenge, students explore plant needs and the role herbivores play in ecosystems. Learners investigate how animals interact with plants and what strategies gardeners and farmers use to protect vegetation from being eaten. Using this knowledge, students design and build their own garden structures that shield a plant from herbivores while still allowing sunlight, air, and water to reach it. The challenge ties science directly to everyday problem-solving, giving students a meaningful connection between engineering design and environmental stewardship.
1
Introduce the challenge
2
Design & build
3
Test it
4
Improve & share
At a glance
Grades
2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade
Subject
Engineering
Theme
Plants and Animals
Formats
Digital Lesson, Mini Lesson
Standards
NGSS-aligned, cross-curricular STEAM
File type
PDF (print or project)
Student work examples
Student workReal student work from Glorious GardensWhat’s includedA quick tour of the full Digital LessonWhat’s includedShows the full Digital Lesson. The Mini Lesson has the same core pages, shorter.
