Lesson Plan #:AELP-AGR0004

Lettuce Be Different

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Glenda Lazenby, Casady School, Oklahoma City, OK
Endorsed by: These lesson plans are the result of the work of the teachers who have attended the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshop. CEC is a consortium of teacher from 14 western states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States, and particularly the quality of math and science Education. CEC uses Big Sky Telegraph as the hub of their telecommunications network that allows the participating teachers to stay in contact with their trainers and peers that they have met at the Workshops.
Date: May 1994

Grade Level(s): Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Subject(s):

Overview:

Students compare their own similarities and differences. They then grow and compare several varieties of lettuce plants to explore variations within the same type of plant.

Purpose:

A healthy, resilient ecosystem results from the complex web of roles played by a diversity of organisms.

Objective(s):

To recognize that different qualities make each human unique and to appreciate variations within species by growing and comparing different types of lettuce plants.

Resources/Materials:

It will be necessary to acquire three cups or pots for each child, fill the cups with potting soil and purchase three different varieties of lettuce seeds. Most importantly, however, this lesson and many, many more wonderful lessons are available from the National Gardening Association. http://www.garden.org/ Their publication is "Grow Lab: Activities for Growing Minds." Call (802) 863-1308 or write 180 Flynn Avenue Burlington, Vermont 05401.

Activities and Procedures:

Play the game "I Like My Neighbor Who". Sit in a circle with an "it" in the middle. The "it" says, "I like my neighbor who (complete the sentence with a personal characteristic such as has brown eyes or wears white tennies). Everyone who fits that description must quickly change places around the circle. "It" becomes the last person standing. Have students play the "Let Us Be Different Game" as a conclusion to the first game. Have one student share a way s/he is different from the person to her/his right side and continue around the circle. Teacher question: "If humans are alike in many ways but still have many differences, is the same true of plants?" Give students three different types of lettuce seed to plant in separate pots. As the plants grow, have students make and record regular observations in their plant journal. At the end of four weeks the students complete a worksheet titled "Lettuce Be Different". Questions include: What do the seeds look like (color, shape, size)? What color are the leaves? How do the leaves feel? How tall is the plant? How does it taste? What else do you notice about the lettuce? TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: Discuss what the title "Lettuce Be Different" means to you. Count the number of varieties of apples, tomatoes, or other vegetables and fruits might have, using seed catalogs for reference. Conduct a supermarket survey to see what varieties are available locally. Graph results. Make collages highlighting variations of any one particular trait. Write a haiku poem (Five, seven, and five syllables) about each variety of lettuce.