Mai Lesson

The Three Sisters Garden

Science · 30 min · Any age · You and your child together

Discover the Three Sisters Garden, where corn, beans and squash grow together as a team. This Spark opens with the comic "Who Are the Wampanoag?" and explores how the three plants help each other, a way of farming the Wampanoag have used for generations. Then it connects the garden to the Thanksgiving harvest.

What your child gets out of it

• Explain the symbiotic relationship between corn, beans and squash.
• Identify the specific benefits each 'sister' plant provides to the others.
• Create a model or planted 'Three Sisters' garden.
• Connect the Three Sisters Garden concept to the Thanksgiving harvest.

What you need

• Dried corn kernels (or Popcorn kernels, Dried field corn)
• Dried beans — Any dried bean that will sprout, or just for sorting. (or Kidney beans, Pinto beans, Navy beans)
• Squash seeds — Save seeds from a pumpkin or squash, or use edible roasted ones for sorting. (or Dried pumpkin seeds, Acorn squash seeds)
• Small cup or pot — Optional, only if you plant real seeds. About 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) tall and wide. (or Reusable yogurt cup, Cardboard tube)
• Potting soil — Optional, only if you plant real seeds. Enough to fill your cup. (or Garden soil (make sure it's loose))
• Small tray or plate — For your model hill. This is the main activity. (or Shallow bowl, Cutting board)
• Large paper cutouts of the three plants — For little kids, who place cutouts on the model hill instead of small seeds. (or Drawings of corn, beans and squash on scrap paper)
• Worksheet — A diagram of a Three Sisters hill to label. Or draw your own on plain paper. (or Plain paper, Notebook)
• Pencils or markers — For labeling the worksheet. (or Crayons)
• Watering can or cup — Optional, only if you plant real seeds.

How it runs

1. Introduction · 5 min
2. Explore & Plan · 8 min
3. Discussion · 6 min
4. Planting the Garden · 9 min
5. Harvesting Connections · 2 min