TurfMutt Lesson Plan: How Grass Grows

The TurfMutt Foundation offers free lesson plans aligned to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) standards for grades K-8. The program has reached more than 70 million kids, teachers and families with its youth education materials.

The lesson plan How Grass Grows is intended for kids in grades K-2. The lesson helps students learn how to grow heartier, healthier grass and plants. As described in the lesson, all plants need water to grow, and the roots of the plants soak up water from the ground. And plants need a lot of roots to get enough water to survive. In fact, a single grass plant’s roots combined can be more than 300 feet long!

As part of the lesson, students conduct an experiment to learn more about the roots of grass plants. They also learn about the concept, “Right Plants, Right Place” that is the “Golden Rule” of backyarding. Additionally, the lesson covers the dos and don’ts of watering. You know, even though grass turns brown sometimes, it’s not dead. It’s simply dormant – a natural part of the plant’s life cycle. Brown grass will spring back to life when more water becomes available.

Download the TurfMutt Lesson Plan, How Grass Grows here. Visit TurfMutt.com to learn more about how to create a dream yard – and outdoor classroom – in your own lawn. Sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with backyarding tips and all the news from the TurfMutt Foundation here. Look for Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Lucky Dog television show on Saturday mornings.