Make real-world math meaningful with this Design a Garden on a Budget activity! This engaging project-based math resource helps students practice price comparison, budgeting, money math, and decision-making through a fun garden planning task.

Students will compare prices at two garden shops, choose the cheaper options, calculate how much money they save, and plan their purchases while staying within a $35 budget. Then, they will use what they bought to design their own garden. This resource combines critical thinking, financial literacy, and creativity in a way that feels hands-on and purposeful.

This pack is a great fit for Grade 3 and can also work well for strong Grade 2 students with support. It is ideal for math lessons, financial literacy units, spring themes, centers, small groups, enrichment, or project-based learning activities.

What’s included:

• Project introduction page
• Garden shop price list page
• Compare Prices & Save Money worksheet
• Plan Your Garden Shopping worksheet
• Design Your Garden page
• Color garden pieces
• Black-and-white version
• Prices with 50 cents version for added challenge

Skills students will practice:

• Comparing prices
• Choosing the cheaper option
• Finding money saved
• Budgeting within a set amount
• Recording quantities, prices, and totals
• Making real-world math decisions
• Designing and planning creatively

This resource is easy to use, classroom-friendly, and designed to help students connect math skills to a meaningful real-life task.