Week 1 - Plants
MondayWhat Do Plants Have & Need?
Plant Journal Day 1 Objectives 1. Students will identify parts of a plant. 2. Students will identify what plants need to survive. 3. Students will apply the needs of a plant to growing seeds. 4. Students will record observations of growing plants. |
The lesson will begin by the teacher introducing the topic of plants. The class will create a chart about plants: 1. Plants are (pretty, small, colorful, tall) 2. Plants have (leaves, stems, roots, flowers) 3. Plants need (water, sun, soil, air, space)." Then the teacher will introduce the activity for the week. The students will be growing bean plants in CD cases. Each student will have his/her own seed in a clear CD case. The teacher will have these cases prepared for the students with their names on them and the seeds planted approximately 3 days prior to this lesson. The class will discuss what their bean plant seeds will need to grow and how they can give them what they need. The students can place their CD cases in the sunlight on the windowsill and water them with eyedroppers through the top of the CD case. The plants will have soil, air, and space in the CD cases. After the CD cases have been distributed, the teacher will introduce the plant journals. The journals are in the shape of a watering can and have pages for daily observations. The students will cut out and glue the handle and spout to their journals before completing their first page. The journal pages consist of drawing and writing components for recording their observations. |
TuesdayThe Parts of a Plant
Plant Journal Day 2 Objectives 1. Students will recall the parts of a plant. 2. Students will describe the roles of each part of a plant. 3. Students will explain why each part of a plant is important for the plant to survive. 4. Students will record observations of growing plants. |
The lesson will begin by the class reviewing the parts of a plant. The students will pick a Popsicle stick out of a cup. On the Popsicle stick will be a part of a plant. The students will sit on the floor as roots, stand together as the stem, put their arms out as leaves, and put their hands together to make a flower. Together the class can learn and sing the "parts of a plant" song. Then the class will begin an activity. The students will make a parts of a plant craft with labels. The students will create flowers with pre-cut parts and labels. They will also fill in the parts of the plant in a mini book. Afterwards, the students will make observations of their growing plants and complete page two of their plant journals. |
WednesdayLife Cycle of a Plant (Bean Plant)
Plant Journal Day 3 Objectives 1. Students will describe how a plant changes and grows. 2. Students will identify the order of the life cycle of a bean plant. 3. Students will explain how plants reproduce through pollination and seeds move in different ways. 4. Students will record observations of growing plants. |
The lesson will begin with an interactive read-aloud of From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons. The book discusses how plants grow from seeds to plants and how plants are pollinated. The class will answer questions throughout the nonfiction book and after it has been read. Then the students will complete an activity. The students' task is to cut out pictures of the life cycle of a plant and order them. The students will conference with a partner about their completed sheets. Afterwards, the students will make observations of their growing plants and complete page three of their journals. At this point, the seeds should be sprouting. The students can make observations of what is seen now and what stage their plants are in. |
ThursdayParts of a Tree
Plant Journal Day 4 Objectives 1. Students will identify the parts of a tree. 2. Students will describe similarities and differences between a flower and a tree. 3. Students will record observations of growing plants. |
The lesson will begin by the teacher asking the students to look outside the window and identify some plants that are not typical flowers. After the students have identified trees as plants without colorful flowers, the lesson will begin. The class will discuss the parts of a tree and compare them to the parts of a flower. What parts are the same? What parts are different? Do some of the parts do the same thing? Do flowers and trees need the same things to live? Then the students will complete a parts of a tree craft. Using pre-cut pieces, the students will create a tree with labels. The students will also use pieces of leaves and twigs that were collected by the teacher prior to the lesson. Afterwards, the students will make observations of their growing plant and complete page four of their journals. |
FridayPlants and the World Around Us
Plant Journal Day 5 Objectives 1. Students will record observations of growing plants. 2. Students will identify the parts of their bean plants. 3. Students will explain that plants live in environments with animals and other living things. |
The lesson will begin by the students making observations and completing the final page of their journals. The students will use a sharpie to label the parts of their plants on the CD cases. Students can share their plants and journals with their classmates on the rug. Then the teacher will read The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward aloud to the class. The teacher will prompt the students to think about plants in the world around us and what else is found where plants are. After a list is created by the class, including animals, bugs, etc., the class will go on a short nature walk around the classroom to identify plants, parts of plants, stages of plant growth, and other living things found around the plants. The students will be able to take their completed plant journals and growing bean plants home to share with their families. The bean plants can be replanted to give the plants more room to grow. By this point the plants will likely have grown out of the top of the CD case but all of the parts of a plant will be easily visible to the students. |