Lesson Plan

Let's Learn About Plants!

Overview

In this lesson, students learn that there are different kinds of plants and a plant has different parts.

Objective

Students Will:

  1. Observe plants.
  2. Recognize different parts of a plant.
  3. Write about plants.

Materials

  1. Large paper plant for brainstorming words
  2. Digital camera (optional)
  3. Computer (optional)
  4. Large screen TV or projector (optional)
  5. Printer (optional)
  6. Plants
  7. Magnifying glasses or pretend paper magnifying glasses
  8. Observation notebook for each students
  9. From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
  10. Let's Find Out's Big Box of Science

Set Up and Prepare

  1. Cut out a large paper flower or plant.
  2. Plan a walk either inside the school or outside. Number stations on your own map for the walk. Make sure there are a variety of plants to observe.
  3. Make observation notebooks for each student.

Directions

Day 1
Step 1: Read From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons

Step 2: Brainstorm words students may want to use when writing about plants. These could be written on a large paper flower or plant.

Step 3: Have the students pretend they are "Plant Hunters." Take a guided walk around the school. Stop at your stations and announce the number of the station. Have students record the number and make notes. The Plant Hunters' mission is to record what they notice about plants in their observation notebook. They may write or draw. Some of the students may use a digital camera to photograph the plant, especially the different parts of the plants. Some students may want to use the magnifying glasses to help them search for plant parts.

Step 4: When you return to the classroom, discuss the student's findings. The numbered stations and notes will help everyone talk about the same plants. Add additional words to the brainstorming word chart.

Step 5: Students write about their plant hunting adventure and the different kinds of plants they found. Add the digital photos to their stories. Bind these writings into a book.

Day 2
Step 1: Use the plant information from the Let's Find Out's Big Box of Science to help students learn about the parts of a plant.

Step 2: Discuss types of plants and parts of a plant.

Step 3: Have the students draw a diagram of a plant in their observation notebook.

Lesson Extensions

Learn more about plants and play plant games with these fun Web sites.

Assignments

Tell three facts about plants.

Evaluation

  1. Was there enough time?
  2. Were the students successful or frustrated creating a diagram?
  3. Were the students able to write about plants without a lot of help?
  4. Could the students tell me about plants?

Assess Students

Teacher Observation:

  1. Were students able to differentiate plants from other things?
  2. How many students were also able to identify the parts of a plant?

Copies of students' writing about plants and their diagram drawings will be saved for their assessment portfolios.

  • Everything You Need:
    Plants: Everything You Need
  • Subjects:
    Arts and Crafts, Content Area Reading, Literature, Reading Response, Literature Appreciation, Listening Comprehension, Research Skills, Vocabulary, Early Science, Early Writing, Science Experiments and Projects, Plants, Plant Structure, Science through Literature, Classification, Observation, Teacher Tips and Strategies, Communication and the Internet
  • Skills:
    Science, Listening Comprehension, Research Skills, Vocabulary
  • Duration:
    2 Days
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