Story Activities and Visuals for

Jayden's Impossible Garden by Melinda Mangal

Jayden, a young boy who loves nature, dreams of finding beauty in his urban neighborhood, but others tell him that real nature doesn't exist there. When he meets an elderly man named Mr. Curtis, they work together to create a hidden garden filled with plants and wildlife. Their friendship grows as they prove that nature can thrive anywhere with care and imagination. In the end, Jayden’s “impossible” garden inspires others to appreciate the green spaces around them.

Check out activities and visuals to use with this beautiful story. 

Story Vocabulary

This story is rich with lots of great vocabulary. Consider new vocabulary that relates to the unit of study. Focus on friendship, recycling, or nature. 

Comprehension Question

Have students work in groups to ask open-ended questions about the story.

Writing

Look around where you live. What forms of nature do you see? 

Alphabet Knowledge

Drive on J Street

Play with letters in the story such as scavenger hunt or wikisticks.

Try an ABC Garden Book

Prepositions

This book is full of prepositions. What are prepositions? Can you find any? 

Make activities to practice prepositions. 

Science

This book ties into so many aspects of science instruction: nature, recycling, gardening, types of scientists, etc. Here are some activities to use within a science center or lesson. 

• Go togethers

• Seed Sorting

• Go on a nature scavenger hunt

• Recycling (For more on recycling, visit here)

• Gardening (For more on Plants, visit here)

• Dissect Plants

Impossible!

Can you do it? Is it even possible? 

Can you identify what is possible? Sometimes we need to ask questions to see if it is possible. 

Art

Put together a garden coloring book.

Make a flower arrangement using silk flowers and an up-side down collander. 

Cooking

Make yummy dirt cups.

Sensory

Make a flower sensory box with dirt, mulch, or beans. 

Make dirt play-dough!