Dr. Jane Montero

One of the most magical moments of the school year is the emergence of spring. Chirping birds, blossoming flowers, and newly formed green leaves fill our days with joy and our evenings with delight. Integrating science into art and design curricula enriches student learning. Using Google Drawings, students can create their own unique secret gardens—imagined places filled with insects, garden animals, flowers, and foliage. This is a perfect lesson to usher in the spring and engage our students in cross-curricular learning.

To start this lesson, I share a variety of spring images in a slide presentation. Students brainstorm different plants and animals typical of springtime environments. I demonstrate how to use Google Drawings to the class using a photo of a monarch butterfly. Students learn how to select an object and use the “Arrange” tool to move it in front or to the back of their drawing.

Once students understand the process, I ask them to create three different critters (insects, birds, or other small animals) and three different flowers or plants. They will download each Google Drawing as a PNG file so the image does not have a white background. After files are downloaded, students use Google Slides to create a background for their gardens.

We discuss colors that represent nature for the background—cool blues, greens, and earth tones. Google Slides and Google Drawings have a custom paint bucket feature that allows students to create their own color palette. It is helpful to have them group all their background shapes so that when they upload their animals and flowers, the background is set as one non-moving shape.

Now the stage is set for students to add their creations and duplicate each object two or three times to create a garden filled with excitement. I show students how to use the “Format Options” feature in the tool section to flip or rotate their objects. There is also a Recolor option that students might enjoy using. Sometimes students make a copy of their insect while in Google Drawings so they can change the colors and create a variety of butterflies, for example.

Students love building their digital secret gardens, and the overall results are phenomenal. Once the gardens are complete, students download the file as a JPEG or PNG and submit it for assessment.

I use a six-point rubric scoring system that includes points for the following: use of the Curved Line tool (+1), creation of three different critters and three different plants (+2), designing the garden in Google Slides (+1), final garden construction including duplication of items (+2).

After projects have been submitted, we have a Garden Show Gallery Walk when students wander around the art room and see what their classmates created. A writing extension could include writing poems about their garden or creating a story from the perspective of one of their animals. Combining science and art is an effective way for students to make deeper connections between subject areas. As artists, nature inspires all of us to be creative, thoughtful, and appreciative of our amazing natural world.

Dr. Jane B. Montero teaches Art Education at Eastern Michigan University. She is a frequent contributor to SchoolArts and co-edited the January/February 2024 and 2026 issues. jmontero@emich.edu

Fantastical Secret Gardens: Integrating Science into Art and Design