Vegetables
Natural Science
Social Science
Technology
Preserving vegetables
Tools used to grow vegetables
Seasonal vegetables in South Africa
Vegetable farming
Parts of a vegetable plant
Growing vegetables
Types of Vegetables
The parts of leafy vegetables that we eat, are their leaves. Examples of leafy vegetables are lettuce, spinach and cabbage (Britannica, 2024).
Legumes are also referred to as seed vegetables. Examples of legumes are peas and beans (Britannica, 2024).
A plants flower produces seeds and fruit (Generation Genius, 2024).
A plants stem hold the plant up and transports water throughout the rest of the plant (Generation Genius, 2024).
A plants leaves soak up the sunlight (Generation Genius, 2024).
A plants roots anchor it down into the soil (Generation Genius, 2024).
Plants need to be regularly watered in order to grow (Thunderbolt Kids, n.d.).
Plants need fresh air (oxygen) in order to grow (Thunderbolt Kids, n.d.).
Plants need to be embedded in fertile soil in order to grow (Thunderbolt Kids, n.d.).
Winter vegetables: spinach, brussel sprouts, brocoli, cabbage (Crush, 2024).
Summer vegetables: butternut, green beans, peppers (Crush, 2024).
Spring vegetables:beetroot, asparagus, cauliflower (Crush, 2024).
Autumn vegetables: aubergine, squash, courgette (Crush, 2024).
Farmers grow a variety of different crops (Kiddle, 2023).
Farmers grow vegetables in order to provide us with food (Kiddle, 2023).
Spades are used to dig and move soil around (Hagen, 2023).
Rakes are used to make soil level, and remove excess gardening debris (Hagen, 2023).
Canning is a method of preservation, vegetables are placed into a can and covered in a liquid or brine in order to make them last longer (Kiddle, 2014).
Pickling is a method of preservation, vegetables are placed in jars, submerged in brine, a mixture of vinegar/ water and spices (Iordache et al, 2017).
The part of the root vegetable that one eats, is it's root. Examples of root vegetables are beetroots, carrots and radishes (Britannica, 2024).
Class activity: The teacher will describe a gardening need and the learners will name the tool that will suit this need. For example, "The soil in my garden is very uneven and lots of dried leaves keep blowing over it- what tool would fix this?" The answer: a rake.
Class activity: Learners will make their own pickle, they will bring in a vegetable of choice. In class they will make brine, adding in vinegar and herbs or spices to pour over the chopped vegetables. After a week or two they will be able to taste their pickle and take the rest home. To compare preserved versus unpreserved vegetables, a baby cucumber will be placed in a jar without brine and we will notice how it changes over the same period.
Class activity: Learners have to name vegetables based on a close up image of a kind of vegetable. Based on the colours, textures and look they must name the vegetable.
Class activity: Using an uprooted baby tomato plant, learners must name the various parts of the plant.
Class activity: Learners will plant two plants, one in optimal conditions and one without. One plant will be planted in cotton wool, not be watered often, and be placed in a cupboard, therefore not receiving sun or fresh air. The other plant will be on a sunny windowsill, be watered regularly, be planted in fertile soil and have fresh air. Learners will monitor the changes in the different plants and compare them.
Class activity: Learners will sort images of vegetables into their seasonal categories.
Class activity: Learners will become vegetable farmers and plant bean sprouts, they will be responsible for caring the the sprouts and watch them grow into edible sprouts. The class will stage a 'farmers market' and they will have the opportunity to sell their produce to family members.