Lesson Plan #:AELP-BOT0001

Plant Systems

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

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.

Author: Allen Schauerhamer, New Ruth School

Date: May 1994

GRADE LEVEL: 1, 2, 3

SUBJECT(S):

OBJECTIVES: The learner will be able to:

  1. Identify root and leaf systems (as well as measure length and width).

  2. Trace these systems on grid graph paper.

  3. Integrate other curriculum areas such as music, art, P.E., social studies and math.

  4. Build a Terrarium and integrate math concepts by measuring, comparing, graphing, recording data and observing plant growth.

  5. Discuss and explain uses of plants such as food, shelter, clothing, fuel, and medicines.

  6. With the use of various seeds integrate math concepts such as estimating, counting, sorting, graphing, etc.

  7. Be able to identify seed parts.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS: Graph paper, colored construction paper, crayons, scissors, scotch tape, glue, baggies, seeds of all sorts, ruler in cm, sponge, mustard seeds, 2 liter plastic bottle, potting soil, and pebbles.

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

DAY #1. Skill: Root System Study

1. Students will collect leaf and root systems from outside.
2. Students will find out an worksheet on identifying root systems and measuring their lengths and widths.
3. Each student will draw their own root system.

DAY #2. Skill: Leaf System Study

1. Identify leaf and where it was found.
2. Measure length and width and trace on graph paper.
3. For music integration students will sing the songs: "It's Spring Again" and "Plant a Little Tree."

DAY #3. Skill: Making a Terrarium

1. Handout sheet on building instructions for the terrarium.
2. Explain procedures for measuring, comparing, recording date and observing what takes place (cause and effect relationships).
3. If time, read the poem "The Little Brown Seed."
4. Compile pages for the "Little Brown Seed" booklet also paste on brown seed.

DAY #4. Skill: Learn of Plant Uses

1. Discuss and explain from handout, the uses of plants - oxygen, food, shelter, fuel, and medicine.
2. Have students graph their favorite plant and then make a costume of it and put on a verbal play telling the audience how they grow as well as what oppositions if any they encountered.

DAY #5. Skill: Awareness of locations where seed get planted geographically

1. With the use of different colored construction paper, the student will make a booklet on geographical locations where seeds get planted.
2. Each student will get a baggie and tape on various seeds and a paper wetted towel to show rate of seed growth.
3. For experimentation the learner will plant mustard seeds in a sponge place it within a baggie, wet it down and place by a lighted window to observe plant growth.