Grandpa Farouk’s Garden

Grandfather and child working together in a garden filled with plants and flowers

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PARENT-TEACHER GUIDE

Grandpa Farouk’s Garden

Average Rating: 0.0

Country: South Africa

Ages: 5–8

Author: Jenny Hatton

Publisher: Book Dash

Illustrator: Jess Jardim-Wedepohl

Story Source:

About The Story

Amir loves helping his grandfather care for their rooftop garden. When Grandpa’s pear tree stops bearing fruit, they discover pests eating the plants. Grandpa explains that ladybirds are natural pest controllers. Determined, Amir collects ladybirds from various places. They release ten into the garden, and soon the garden flourishes again, full of healthy fruits and flowers.

Themes

Environment & Conservation

Family & Friends

Social & Emotional Learning

Sub Themes

Homelessness

Displacement

Empathy and kindness

Hope in adversity

Parent-Teacher Guide

Lesson Plan

Introduce children to rooftop gardens and ask how plants grow in cities.
Discuss how insects can help or harm plants.

Activities

Observe Amir and Grandpa’s teamwork.
Set up a seed jar and track growth.
Make a simple compost bin for class/home.

Story Discussion Guide

Before reading

Show pictures of rooftop gardens. Ask: “Have you ever planted something?”
Introduce vocabulary: pests, compost, ladybird, blossom.

During reading

Pause when Amir searches for ladybirds. Ask: “What would you do to help the garden?”
Observe Amir and Grandpa’s teamwork.

After reading

Discuss how natural helpers can support gardening.
Draw a “garden hero” poster: ladybird, bee, or worm.

Applicable Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Highlights rooftop gardening as a green urban solution.

SDG 13: Climate Action.

Introduces eco-friendly pest control through ladybirds.

SDG 15: Life on Land.

Emphasizes the role of biodiversity and balanced ecosystems.

Curriculum Alignment

The Mess That We Made – A poetic tale about ocean waste and action.
My Little Garden
A Very Important Tree

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