Planting a Garden for ESOL Students

By Susan Lester

Basic plant and garden words are usually welcome in ESOL classes in the spring. This classroom activity is ideal for developing dictation and listening skills. For my beginners, I begin with a drawing of a plant on the board and I let them help me label the petals, leaves, stems, and roots. This is also a good time to talk about trees: trunks, branches, logs, twigs, bark, etc. Once basic vocabulary is known, I read the script for this Cloze activity, and let the students try to fill in the words. Depending on the level of the group, the script may have to be read one or two times more.

After everyone has completed the following Cloze activity, I give them time to tell or write "garden stories." I find that during these communications we reach into other levels of thought and feeling to which growing things seem to be connected.

Cloze Activity:

Today is April 17. I just _________ flowers in my garden. They were very small seedlings that I started in February from seed. February sixth was the day I put the __________ into soil in little pots. The seeds _____________ and grew. Now they are ____________, and they are big enough to plant in the garden.

I always plant impatiens ________ ______ __________ of my ______________. They have strong ____________, short ______________, and a lot of pretty __________. The flower's _____________ are white or pink or red or lavender. Impatiens like ____________, so I plant them in the ___________________ of a tree. In the _______________, I _______________marigolds or cornflowers. The cornflowers have stiff ____________ that feel like ______________. Their roots prefer well-_____________ ____________, and their ____________ like ____________.

My _____________ is long and thin. It lies ____________ the grass of my front _________ and the _____________. During the day, if someone walks down the sidewalk, the marigolds and cornflowers look __________ and _____________ , and the impatiens look cool and pretty. At night, the white impatiens seem to _________ in the moonlight.

Answers

Today is April 17. I just planted flowers in my garden. They were very small seedlings that I started in February from seed. February sixth was the day I put the seeds into soil in little pots. The seeds sprouted and grew. Now they are seedlings, and they are big enough to plant in the garden.

I always plant impatiens on the side of my sidewalk. They have strong leaves, short stems, and a lot of pretty flowers. The flower's petals are white or pink or red or lavender. Impatiens like shade, so I plant them in the shadow of a tree. In the sunlight, I plant marigolds or cornflowers. The cornflowers have stiff petals that feel like paper. Their roots prefer well-drained soil, and their flowers like sunshine.

My garden is long and thin. It lies between the grass of my front yard and the sidewalk. During the day, if someone walks down the sidewalk, the marigolds and cornflowers look bright and cheerful, and the impatiens look cool and pretty. At night, the white impatiens seem to glow in the moonlight.