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The Community Garden

A complete A2 classroom lesson built around an engaging topic. Use it as a 45–60 minute lesson, or choose individual sections for a shorter class.

A250–60 minutesCommunity & environmentPrintable
Teacher lesson: Look at the picture and title. What do you already know about this topic? Write two ideas, then compare with a partner. Work through the nine panels in order, or choose the sections that suit your class. Teacher answers and the listening script are stored separately.
Teacher AnswersOpen related EnglishDrills reading
1 Lesson Goals
People working in a community garden

By the end of this lesson, I will be able to:

  • understand the main ideas and key details in The Community Garden.
  • learn and use important vocabulary from the lesson.
  • use the lesson language in speaking or writing.
Start here: What do you already know about this topic? Tell a partner one idea.
2 Reading
Before you read:

Look at the picture and title. What do you already know about this topic? Write two ideas, then compare with a partner.

A community garden is a shared place where local people grow vegetables, herbs, flowers and sometimes fruit. People may have their own small garden beds, or they may work together in one larger area. Community gardens can provide fresh food and give neighbours a chance to meet one another. They can also turn empty land into a useful green space. Gardeners need to share jobs such as watering, weeding and caring for tools. Some gardens run workshops for children or new gardeners. A successful community garden needs clear rules, regular care and people who are willing to cooperate.
3 Vocabulary
Words: shared · garden bed · weeding · workshop · cooperate

Write a short meaning or synonym for each word.

shared –

garden bed –

weeding –

workshop –

cooperate –

4 Check Your Understanding

1. What can people grow in a community garden?

2. How can gardens help neighbours?

3. What can happen to empty land?

4. Name two jobs gardeners need to share.

5. What does a successful garden need?

5 Language Focus

Complete with should or can.

1. Gardeners share jobs fairly.

2. A garden provide fresh food.

3. People look after shared tools.

4. Children learn how plants grow.

6 Listen & Speak

Listen

Listen to your teacher. You will hear the text twice. Answer the questions.

1. When does the garden group meet?

2. Name two jobs volunteers do.

3. Can beginners join?

4. Who helps new members?

Speak

Discuss with a partner or small group.

• Would you join a community garden?
• What could a community grow in your area?
• What rules would help a shared garden work well?

The Community Garden — Continued
7 Use Your English

Something New

In pairs, design a small community garden. You may choose only four features, so negotiate and agree on the best plan.

Write

Write 80–100 words giving advice for starting a successful community garden. Use should at least three times.

8 Puzzle or Game
Draw, Mime or Describe

Choose a useful word from this lesson. Do not say the word. Draw it, mime it, or describe it. Your partner has three guesses.

Swap roles and play again with a different word.

9 Success Criteria ✓

Tick each statement when you can do it.

  • I can explain the main idea of the lesson.
  • I can use at least three new words correctly.
  • I can complete the language task.
  • I can share an idea in spoken or written English.

One thing I am proud of today:

10 Show What You Can Do
My final challenge: The Community Garden

Plan: Write 5 useful words or ideas from the lesson, or make a quick labelled sketch.

Write: Write 5–7 sentences that show what you learned. Try to use at least 3 words from the Vocabulary panel.

Share: Explain your work to a partner for about 30 seconds.