Rocket and Raven each finish a garden design. Rocket's has a tall corn tower. Raven's has cucumbers on a fence.
"Mine is better!" says Rocket.
Raven smiles. "What do you notice when we check both against the criteria?"
Nova hovers between the maps. "Score each one fairly," she says. "Then decide."
Engineers compare designs by checking each one against the criteria.
Give one point for each criterion a design meets.
The design with more points is the stronger choice.
You can also mix the best parts of two designs.
| Criteria | Design A: corn tower on a windowsill | Design B: beans and fence cucumbers on a porch |
|---|---|---|
| 6 or more hours of sun for fruiting plants | yes | yes |
| pots have drainage holes | no | yes |
| fits the space | no, corn grows too tall | yes |
| easy to water | yes | yes |
Your garden design uses everything you learned.
Roots, stems and leaves need water, air and light.
Seeds need warm soil to sprout. Pollinators carry pollen between flowers.
Decomposers feed the soil. Frost dates tell you when to plant.
Give your bean plant a final check. Measure it and count its leaves.
Compare today's numbers with your very first measurement.
Fantastic engineers! Tomorrow is our final Grow It Day. You will present your garden to your family.