Garden TOOLS Project

Garden vegetables
Project Summary

Garden TOOLS (Technology Opportunities in Outdoor Learning Spaces) is designed to support students in grades 3-5 to make data-informed decisions in school gardens or other outdoor growing spaces by using and programming BBC micro:bit microcontrollers.
The program offers resources to support you and your students as they...

learn to code environmental sensors to take measurements in the garden
gather, analyze, and interpret data to make informed decisions
develop critical thinking and problem solving skills
engineer technology solutions to real-world challenges

Elementary
Classroom Instruction
After-School Instruction
At-Home Instruction
Life Sciences
Technology
Engineering
Lesson
Video
Socio-Scientific Issue
Systems Thinking
Informed Decision Making
Food
Water
Science Standard:
Use this Resource with...

BBC micro:bit FAQ

The Garden TOOLS program supports students in grades 3-5 to use and program the BBC micro:bit microcontroller to gather data on environmental conditions and create technology-rich solutions to a variety of garden challenges. This FAQ will provide some basic information about the most common questions regarding the BBC micro:bit.

Garden TOOLS - How-To Coding Guides

The Garden TOOLS how-to coding guides provide step-by-step instructions on how to program the BBC micro:bit in various ways to gather data in a school garden or other outdoor learning space.

Garden TOOLS - Video Tutorials

The Garden TOOLS video tutorials provide a guided introduction to getting started with the BBC micro:bit microcontroller including introducing the MakeCode for micro:bit coding platform and how to hook up the battery pack.

Garden TOOLS - Lesson Set

The Garden TOOLS lesson set is an agricultural technology and engineering curriculum designed for use with students in grades 3-5.

Garden TOOLS - Project Cards

The Garden TOOLS project cards provide guided instructions for BBC micro:bit coding projects that can be used to extend student learning. Project cards include will guide students to... design a soil moisture sensor to match different plant root depths, design a button to count garden visitors, and design an animated scarecrow to scare away pests.

Garden TOOLS - Professional Development

Our online professional development modules are intended to provide participants with on-demand and easy-to-understand training to help you get started with the Garden TOOLS resources.