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Plant Growth

Subjects

• Arts & Humanities
  --Language Arts
• Educational Technology
• Science
  --Life Sciences
  ----Botany
  --Process Skills

Grade

• 3-5

Brief Description

Students learn about the parts of a plant and a seed, as they plant seeds and observe and record their growth.

Objectives

• Identify parts of a seed.
• Identify parts of a plant.
• Recognize / list basic needs of a plant.

Keywords

plant, seed, spring

Materials Needed

• Leaves
• Seeds to plant
• Clear plastic cups (1 per student)
• Cotton balls (1 per student)
• Computer(s) with Internet access
• AppleWorks Graphing or Graph Club software
• Inspiration software (optional)

Lesson Plan

Go outdoors and have each student find a leaf. Have students cover their leaves with a piece of white paper, and color over the leaf on the paper. Tell students to observe what happens, and then describe the colored pictures in writing in their science journals. Encourage students to share their observations with a peer or with the class as well.

On Day 2, provide each student with a seed, a cotton ball, and a plastic cup. Have students soak their cotton balls in water, place one in a clear plastic cup, and then place the seed on top of the cotton ball. Tell students to illustrate in their journals what they've done, and to label the parts of the seed.

On Day 3, remind students to check their seeds and record the seed's appearance. Take a few minutes to visit Growing Plants Indoors to discuss with students what plants need to grow. Have students record those needs in their journals.

On Day 4, remind students to illustrate results of plant growth. Review with students the key words for parts of plants and seeds; add any new terms to the wall chart or concept map.

Assessment

• What is the job of the seed coat?
• Why do plants need roots?
• What is the purpose of the stem of a plant?
• What is needed for a seed to grow into a plant?
• Why do we need plants?

Submitted By

Renee B. Benoit

National Standards

LANGUAGE ARTS: English
GRADES K - 12
NL-ENG.K-12.2 Reading for Understanding
NL-ENG.K-12.3 Evaluation Strategies
NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communication Skills
NL-ENG.K-12.5 Communication Strategies
NL-ENG.K-12.6 Applying Knowledge
NL-ENG.K-12.7 Evaluating Data
NL-ENG.K-12.8 Developing Research Skills

SCIENCE
GRADES K - 4
NS.K-4.1 Science as Inquiry
NS.K-4.3 Life Science
GRADES 5 - 8
NS.5-8.1 Science as Inquiry
NS.5-8.3 Life Science

TECHNOLOGY
GRADES K - 12
NT.K-12.5 Technology Research tools
NT.K-12.6 Technology Problem-Solving and Decision-Making tools

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