What do you notice? What do you wonder?

For each situation, draw a diagram and write an equation or expression.

1. A strawberry patch has 56 strawberry plants in rows. There are 8 strawberry plants in each row.

   1. How many rows of strawberry plants are in the patch?

      

   2. In the strawberry patch, the rows are 4 feet apart. The plants in each row are 2 feet apart. How long and wide is the strawberry patch?

   3. A gardener harvests 12 strawberries from each plant. How many strawberries does the gardener harvest from each row?  

2. With your partner, take turns explaining where in your diagram you see the numbers you wrote in your expression or equation.

1. Read the information about some plants you could grow in a garden. Then circle 2 plants to grow in your part of the school garden.

   1. strawberries
   2. cantaloupe
   3. zucchini
   4. tomatoes
   5. pinto beans
   6. potatoes

2. Plan your garden. Both of your plants should each harvest between 50–100 fruits or vegetables.

   1. How many of each plant will you grow? Explain or show your reasoning.

   2. Predict how many fruits or vegetables you will harvest. Explain or show your reasoning.

3. Make a diagram that shows how the plants are arranged and how much space is needed.

Growing Requirements

strawberries

• Grow in patches.
• Space rows: 4 feet apart
• Space plants: 2 feet apart
• Each plant produces about 12 strawberries.

cantaloupes

• Grow on vines.
• Space rows: 4 feet apart
• Space plants: 1 foot apart
• Each plant produces about 8 cantaloupes.

zucchini

• Grow on vines.
• Space rows: 5 feet apart
• Space plants: 1 foot apart
• Each plant produces about 8 zucchini.

tomatoes

• Grow on vines.
• Space rows: 4 feet apart
• Space plants: 2 feet apart
• Each plant produces about 20 tomatoes.

pinto beans

• Grow on bushes in pods.
• Space rows: 2 feet apart
• Space plants: 1 foot apart
• Each plant produces 20–25 pods, and each pod produces about 5 beans. 

potatoes

• Grow in rows.
• Space rows: 2–3 feet apart
• Space plants: 1 foot apart
• Each plant produces 5–10 potatoes.