The Three Sisters Garden
Discover the ancient wisdom of the Three Sisters Garden, where corn, beans, and squash grow together in a beautiful partnership. This lesson explores how these plants support each other, a practice cherished by Indigenous peoples like the Wampanoag, and connects it to the Thanksgiving harvest.
The lesson goal is learners will understand how corn, beans, and squash work together in a symbiotic relationship, identifying the unique benefits each plant provides. They will be able to create their own model garden and connect this ancient gardening method to the Thanksgiving harvest.
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Learning Guide
Step-by-step guidance. No preparation required.
- 1
Introduction5 Min
- Ask the big question: "Why did the Wampanoag plant corn, beans and squash together in the same small hill?"
- Move on when Child offers an initial theory or hypothesis about why the three plants might be grown together.
Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels - 2
Explore & Plan8 Min
- Place the three types of 'seeds' on the table for observation.
- Discuss what each plant needs: "What does a tall corn stalk need to grow upright?"
- Ask for predictions: "If you plant them all together, what do you predict will happen?"
- Move on when Child describes basic needs for each plant type and makes a prediction about their interaction when planted together.
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels - 3
Discussion6 Min
- Explain symbiosis: "Symbiosis means living together for mutual benefit, like a team!"
- Describe each plant's role: "The corn is a pole, the beans feed the soil, and the squash keeps weeds away."
- Ask for deeper understanding: "Can you think of other ways nature shows teamwork?"
- Move on when Child can explain the role of each 'sister' plant and understand the concept of symbiosis.
- 4
Planting the Garden9 Min
- Prepare your cup with soil, or lay out your plate for a model hill.
- Plant or arrange corn in the center, beans around it, and squash around the edge.
- Water planted seeds gently, if applicable.
- Label the worksheet: "Draw or write what each plant gives and gets."
- Move on when Seeds are planted/arranged correctly (corn in center, beans climbing, squash spreading), and the worksheet is labeled showing each plant's contribution.
Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels - 5
Harvesting Connections2 Min
- Ask for a takeaway: "What was the most surprising thing you learned today?"
- Connect to Thanksgiving: "Which Three Sisters foods might we see on our Thanksgiving table?"
- Move on when Child can identify one key learning point and can name at least one Thanksgiving food related to the Three Sisters.
Photo by Monstera Production on Pexels
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