Teacher friends, we are so excited to share the book, The Gardener with you! This book is great for spring and could easily be tied into a social studies or history lesson. This book takes place during the Great Depression and is told entirely through the characters written letters to her family. We love this sweet story about a little girl whose passion is gardening. - Jodi and the Starts With a Story Team
SUMMARY
Sarah Stewart’s book, The Gardener, takes place during the Great Depression. The story follows a young girl named Lydia Grace, whose parents have both lost their jobs. It is decided that she will move to the city to live with her Uncle Jim who owns a bakery. The book is told through the letters she writes home to her family.
Lydia Grace loves gardening and works hard to neaten up the bakery and plant flowers. She also discovers a secret place on the buildings rooftop and plans a surprise for her Uncle Jim, who never smiles. Lydia Grace and new friend Emma work to create a beautiful garden on the rooftop and plan to surprise Uncle Jim. When Lydia Grace reveals the garden to Uncle Jim she learns he has a surprise for her too cake as well as a letter announcing her father’s new job and that she will return home!
USE THIS BOOK TO TEACH:
The Garden is a read aloud that lends itself to teaching SO many reading comprehension wells. It can also be used to teach grammar and get your students writing. Here are our favorite ways to use this book:
- Discuss the setting of this story. Ask students to consider more than where the story took place, but look at the year it takes place.
- Teach students to analyze the illustrations and gather meaning from the pictures.
- Integrate how-to writing by asking students to write about planting.
- Ask students to write about their own opinions of gardening.
- Teach students about multiple meaning words.
- Teach a mini lesson on antonyms.
- Explore how to handle transitions and discuss kindness.
NO-PREP PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES:
If you are looking for “ready to go” activities for the first day of school, be sure to check out the book companion. With it you’ll receive all of the following resources to align with this specific book:
- comprehension questions
- 30 writing prompts with themed paper
- vocabulary activities
- word study print & go activities
- ideas for grammar lessons with focus sentence printables
- social emotional learning discussion topics
- graphic organizers to target specific comprehension skills and strategies
This book will make a great addition to units on spring, planting, and history. Teachers love how much time these lessons and activities are saving them! Try them out for yourself today!
GET THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITIES
ADDITIONAL BOOK SUGGESTIONS
You and your students will also love these similar books:
- The Empty Pot by Demi
- Apples to Oregon by Deborah Hopkinson
- Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran
- The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
TRY OUT A SAMPLE COMPANION
It's hard to explain how amazing the Starts with a Story book companions are because there is just so much goodness included in each one. It's best if you experience using one for yourself. Sign up below & we'll send you an entire book companion to try out for FREE!
