SITUATION

Mrs. Jones is a teacher at the elementary school. She lives near the school. She enjoys walking to work whenever the weather allows her. As she walks to work, Mrs. Jones admires the beautiful gardens in her neighborhood.

She passes many types of gardens. There are small flower gardens in little boxes on porches. There are big flower gardens in front of houses and along the sidewalks.

Some people plant vegetable gardens in their side yards. They grow tomatoes and beans and corn and other vegetables.

There is even a grape arbor in her neighborhood. Grape arbors are wooden structures that support grape vines. In the late summer Mrs. Jones loves to walk past the ripe, sweet-smelling grapes.

One day Mrs. Jones announces to her class, "I am thinking about planting a small garden at my home."

She asks her students for advice. "What do you think? Should I plant a garden? If so, how do I do it?"

Challenge
Pretend you are in Mrs. Jones class. Do you think she should plant a garden? Why or why not? If you think she should plant one, how do you suggest she should do it? As you try to solve her problem, answer the following questions:

What do you know?

What do you need to know?

How will you find out?

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