LESSON PLAN I - Andra Lucas

Title: Landscape Design for the Vocational Agricultural or Industrial
Technology Class

Grade: 7th - 12th grades

Time: 6 - 45-50 minute class periods (approximately two weeks)

Assumptions: Students will be comfortable operating a PC and will already
have the basic knowledge of Windows 98.  The majority of the students
enrolling in this course are "kinesthetic" learners or hands-on learners.
The lesson plan and class overall has been tailored to accommodate these type
of learners.

Objectives: Students will recognize the importance and value of PCs in a
small business.  Students will use their already obtained knowledge about
various plants, shrubs, and greenery to design a computerized landscape plan.
 Students will be responsible for using the "Shopping List" (which is in the
software package) to keep track of the cost of their actual landscape plan.
Students will present their plans to a visiting contractor, a visiting
designer, and to the teacher.  The designs/plans will be evaluated to see if
they can be used in the real world of landscape design.

Materials: PCs, electronic blackboard/presentation board, and the software
program Sierra Complete Land Designer Version 5.0.

Procedure: The students will first be introduced to the Land Designer 3D and
will view the introductory video with the teacher's assistance and
explanation.  They will then have to each participate in an "interview".  The
interview asks questions about their gardening conditions, their objectives,
and the site they would like to landscape.  It will also ask some basic
questions about the house that is on the lot (the teacher will instruct the
students to use her own house and her lot for this purpose).

The students will then begin adding and manipulating the Designer.  They will
be using the "Plant Finder", which is an extensive database of trees, shrubs,
and greenery.  This will be a useful tool if the students are not certain
about a plant, what it looks like, or how to spell it correctly.  It will
also reassure them of what plants would be appropriate to use in the
Northeast Region.

Students will also be aware of how much this landscape design will cost.
They will be reminded to use the automatic "Shopping List" which is within
the software package.  At the completion of the project, they will have to
know how much the total project will cost.

Modifications: Students with learning disabilities will be assisted by the
teacher and/or their assigned paraprofessional.  Students who are gifted
and/or talented in this area, will be encouraged to add other objects to
their designs (i.e. fences, outbuildings, additional gardens, etc.).

Assessment: Students are assessed on the completion and presentation of the
project to the visiting contractor, the visiting designer, and to the
teacher.  A great deal of emphasis will also be placed on the students'
interest and overall participation in the entire project.  The students will
be allowed to printout and/or save on a disk their project.  They will be
encouraged to add this project to their portfolio.