Small Neighbors in the School Garden

The Garden Team's Report

The school garden team compared two places: Shade Bed, beneath leafy shrubs, and Sun Border, beside a sunny brick wall. For four weeks, students checked the ground each school day. They recorded food, damp shelter, and water. They did not move animals or place them in dry spots to test survival.

Shade Bed had many soft, decaying leaves. Its loose leaf covering stayed damp and had plenty of hiding spaces. Sun Border had only a few decaying leaves. Most of its surface was dry and uncovered. One small space beneath a flat stone stayed damp, but it had room for only a few small animals. Neither place had a pond, pool, or other standing fresh water during the study.

Both places had grass. Students counted living grass clumps of about the same size. The graph shows their counts. The animal cards describe three kinds of animals the team wanted to consider. For this comparison, assume temperatures are safe and other needs are met. Compare each animal's food, shelter, and water needs with the garden evidence. A food count alone does not tell how many animals will survive.