Lesson Plan: Gardening (A2)
🟥 Attendance & Warmer
Discussion Question: Do you like gardening? Why or why not?
Example Answers:
- Yes, I like gardening because I enjoy flowers and vegetables.
- No, I don’t like gardening because it’s hard work.
- I garden on weekends or when the weather is nice.
🟧 Reading and Vocabulary
1. Choral read (as a class)
Gardening is a popular hobby in New Zealand. People grow flowers, vegetables, and herbs in their backyards or in pots on balconies. Gardening can help you relax, enjoy fresh air, and grow your own food. Some people plant tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, and strawberries. It is important to water plants and give them sunlight. You can buy seeds, plants, and tools at garden centres or hardware stores like Bunnings.
Garden
Stone path
Grass
Weeds
Plant
Moss
Flower bed
Flower
Lawn
Hedge
Soil
Rake
Pruning shears
Hedge trimmers
Hoe
Garden hose
Lawn mower
Shovel
Trowel
Watering can
Wheel Barrow
Pot
Bucket
Rubber boots (Gumboots)
Broom
Fertilizer
Gloves
Seed packet
Sunlight
Shade
Lantern
Fence new
Gate
Gazebo
Picnic
Bench
Swing
Hammock
Practice pronounciation of above words with the class
🟨Speaking in Pairs
(Just speaking, do NOT write down the answers)
Comprehension Questions:
- What can people grow in a garden?
- Why do people enjoy gardening?
- Where can you buy seeds and tools?
Follow-up Questions:
- What do you grow in your garden (or balcony)?
- What gardening tools do you know?
- Do you like flowers or vegetables more?
- How often do you garden?
- Do you have a favourite plant?
Pronunciation Practice (Tongue Twister):
“Peter plants pretty pink petunias in the pot.”
🤸♂️Exercise
🟩 Grammar: Quantifiers- Gardening Theme
What are Quantifiers?
Quantifiers are words we use before nouns to show how much or how many.
There are two kinds of nouns:
- Countable nouns – things we can count (e.g., flowers, tools)
- Uncountable nouns – things we cannot count (e.g., soil, water)
Common Quantifiers
Countable Nouns:
- many – "He has many garden tools."
- a few – "She planted a few flowers."
- several – "There are several weeds in the flower bed."
- a number of – "A number of seeds were planted today."
Uncountable Nouns:
- much – "There isn’t much sunlight in that corner."
- a little – "Add a little fertilizer to the soil."
- a bit of – "Can I borrow a bit of compost?"
Both Countable & Uncountable:
- some – "We need some gloves." / "We need some water."
- any – "Do you have any pruning shears?" / "Is there any shade in the garden?"
- no – "There are no flowers in the bed." / "There is no soil in this pot."
- lots of / a lot of – "There are a lot of plants." / "She used a lot of water."
Examples
- "We saw a few butterflies near the flowers." (countable)
- "I only have a little potting mix left." (uncountable)
- "Some bushes need trimming." (positive)
- "I don’t have any seeds left." (negative)
- "Do you have any hose connectors?" (question)
Using Quantifiers in Negative Sentences and Questions
1. Use “any” in questions and negative sentences
-
Negative:
- "I don’t have any gloves."
- "She doesn’t need any garden tools."
-
Question:
- "Do you have any watering cans?"
- "Is there any compost in the shed?"
2. Use “some” in positive sentences, offers, and polite requests
-
Positive:
- "We planted some vegetables."
- "There is some moss growing by the rocks."
-
Polite offer/request:
- "Would you like some help with the weeding?"
- "Could I have some more seeds?"
3. “Much” and “Many” are mostly used in negatives and questions
-
Negative:
- "There isn’t much shade here."
- "He doesn’t have many plant pots."
-
Question:
- "How much soil do we need?"
- "How many flowers did you plant?"
-
Positive (spoken English):
- We usually say “a lot of” instead:
- "A lot of leaves fell overnight."
- "We used a lot of mulch."
- We usually say “a lot of” instead:
4. “No” means “not any”
- "There are no weeds in the vegetable bed." = "There aren’t any weeds."
- "She has no garden hose." = "She doesn’t have any garden hose.
Harder Listening for you to do at home if you wish or we can do in class if there is time
Words studied in this listening are:
Tranquility
Nurture
Vibrant
Weeds
Rustle
Reflect
Prune
Texture
Miracle
Sanctuary
1. Asking for Help
A: Excuse me, do you sell flower seeds?
B: Yes, they’re over here. What kind are you looking for?
A: Something easy to grow.
B: Try these marigolds. They’re great for beginners.
2. Looking for Tools
A: I need a small shovel.
B: For digging holes or moving soil?
A: For digging small holes.
B: Try the trowels on that shelf.
3. Buying Plants
A: Are these tomato plants ready to go in the garden?
B: Yes, you can plant them now.
A: How much are they?
B: $4.50 each.
4. Comparing Options
A: Should I get roses or sunflowers?
B: Roses need more care. Sunflowers are easier.
A: I’ll take the sunflowers.
B: Good choice—they grow fast too!
5. Asking About Fertilizer
A: Do I need fertilizer for my vegetables?
B: Yes, it helps them grow strong.
A: Which one should I use?
B: This one is great for vegetables. It’s organic.
6. Talking About Weather
A: It’s been raining a lot.
B: Yes, I don’t need to water my garden!
A: Me too. The plants are happy.
B: But the weeds are growing fast!
7. Looking for Pots
A: Do you have plastic pots?
B: Yes, what size do you need?
A: Medium ones, for herbs.
B: They’re over there, next to the watering cans.
8. Choosing Gloves
A: These gloves are too big.
B: Try the small size.
A: Much better!
B: They come in green, pink, or black.
9. Asking for Advice
A: My plant is dying. The leaves are brown.
B: Is it getting enough sunlight?
A: Maybe not.
B: Try moving it near a window.
10. At the Checkout
A: I’ll take this trowel and two seed packets.
B: That’s $12. Would you like a bag?
A: Yes, please.
B: Here you go. Have a nice day!