GRADE: Kindergarten

CONTENT STANDARD: Life Science

CONTENT TOPIC: Plants

CONCEPT: Plants require air, water, and light.

CONTENT OBJECTIVE: 0F2.00 To understand how plants grow and change

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES: The learner will:

2.01 observe that plants need soil, water, light and air.
2.02 observe the changes in plants from seeds to maturity.

I. What do plants need to grow?
A. Soil
B. Water
C. Light
D. Air

II. Observing changes and growth in a plant

TN COMPONENT OF SCIENCE:Unifying Concepts of Science

TN GOAL:

To enable students to acquire scientific knowledge by applying concepts, theories, principles and laws from life/environmental, physical and earth/space sciences.

2.3 ORGANIZATION - Everything is organized as related systems within systems.

2.3a Natural phenomena display a wide variety of similarities and differences.

BENCHMARK: Offspring may resemble their parents, but individuals within a general population may vary.

TIME REQUIRED:

45 minute session and on-going observations for two weeks

One half-pint milk carton for each child, potting soil, spoon, cup, water, bean seeds, watering can, soaked lima bean seeds for each child, Instamatic camera or paper and markers, and Ziploc bags

How many of you have ever grown plants either in a garden or in your home? (response) Today, we are going to learn many things about plants. We are going to plant seeds and watch them grow over the next two weeks. We are going to experiment to find what plants need in order to grow. We are also going to watch our plants to see how they grow and change.

Think about some things you already know about plants and how they grow. Picture a plant growing in a garden. (Show a picture) Describe the things you see that you think a plant needs to grow. (Record their responses) Plants need soil, water, and light.

(Have on hand for each child, one washed half-pint milk carton with top cut off, soil, spoon, cup and water. Cut the tops off the milk cartons and wash them. Punch four holes in the bottom to allow for drainage. Label the cartons with each child's name, the kind of seed, and the date of planting.) Each of you are going to plant some seeds in the soil. Plants need SOIL to grow. (Help children plant seeds) Now, we are going to take a seed and put it in a carton without soil. What do you think will happen to this seed? (response) We are going to watch this seed carefully and record what happens. (Plant two extra seeds for other experiment.) (Plant two or three seeds in a Ziploc baggie. Students will be able to observe the "underground" happenings as the seed grows.) (After the children have planted their seeds, put out a watering can.) Plants also need WATER in order to live. You will need to water your plant today. Over the next couple of weeks, you will need to feel the soil. If it feels dry, water it. Be careful and do not put too much water on it. (Put an X over rain drops on one of the extra planted seeds.) We are not going to water this seed. What do you think will happen to it? (Record their predictions to compare later.)

(Have the students put their planted seeds in a sunny window.) Why did we put our seeds in the sunlight? (response) That's right! Plants also need SUNLIGHT to grow. (Take an extra planted seed. Put a sun with an X over it on the carton.) We are going to put this plant in our dark closet where the sun doesn't shine. What do you think will happen to it? (record responses.)

A plant is a living thing, just as you and I are. Plants, like us, also need air in order to live. Tell your partner four things a plant needs in order to grow. (response) (Make a chart titled "What Plants Need In Order To Grow". List and illustrate with your students help.)

Over the next two weeks, we will be watching our plants closely to see how they grow and change. Today we started with a seed. We are going to keep a photo journal of the growth of a plant. That means that we are going to take pictures of our plants as they grow. (Take a picture of a seed or draw a picture. Write a sentence or two explaining the picture.) I am giving you each a seed to examine closely. (Give each student a seed that has been soaked in water overnight.) Carefully, slip your seed out of its covering. That covering is called a coat. It helps protect the seed. Now, carefully open your seed. Look closely. Can you see a baby plant? (response) A baby plant is in every seed. The seed sprouts and a little plant begins to grow. (Go around and help each student find the plant.)

(Have your students check on their plants everyday. When an observable change takes place, photograph it or draw a picture of it. Continue this for at least two weeks. At the end of two weeks, read over your photo journal and discuss each picture. For added practice, allow the students to sequence the pictures and explain them in their own words. Then take out the seeds that you did not water, put them in soil or sunlight. Compare these to the other plants. Ask the students to explain why they did not grow. Compare their predictions against what actually happened.)

Who can tell me what they have learned about plants? (response) Yes, we have seen that plants grow and change. (Point to pictures in sequence and have a student explain.) We have also learned what plants need in order to grow. Who can tell me something a plant needs to grow? (response) Very good! Plants need soil, water, sunlight, and air. (Use motion and imagination activity to illustrate.)

(Have students get down on the floor and curl up into a seed.) You are a seed deep underground in rich SOIL. There is darkness all around. But you are safe. Inside of you is a baby plant just waiting to grow. Wiggle one arm to show me your baby plant. You wait a long, long time. Suddenly you feel the warm SUN and a trickle of WATER. The baby plant inside you begins to grow. Bring out your baby plant by slowly raising your arm. Now, let's slowly get up and begin stretching up as your plant grows taller and stronger. Now put out your arms as your leaves begin to grow. Raise your face up to the sun and the fresh air. It is a beautiful flower. Gone now is the seed. But it kept its promise. Here stands a brand new plant. Help me find your parts. Your feet are the ROOTS planted firmly in the soil to hold you tight and suck up water and minerals. Your body is a strong STEM for carrying water and food. Your arms are green LEAVES for making food. Your face is a beautiful FLOWER that makes seeds. Seeds that will drop back to the ground to grow new plants all over again. Ready drop back to the ground little seed. Curl up tight and slowly grow back into a beautiful flowering plant.

1. Put your photographs together in a booklet. Place it in your reading center for students to read.

2. Have students illustrate and write their own stories.

3. Start a seed collection at school. Have students collect seeds from foods at home and bring them to school.)

4. (After plants have begun to grow, ask your students,) "Do you think your plant is hungry? (response) Should I give it a cookie? (No!) A hamburger? (No!) Well then, how does your plant get food? (Allow students to investigate this overnight. Continue the discussion the next day. Take the children's responses, then explain that plants make their own food by using water, light, and some things from the soil called minerals. The plant's leaves are a food factory.)

5. (This is a good time to read and act out "Jack and the Beanstalk."

6. Sing the song, "I'm a Little Bean Sprout" to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot".

I'm a little bean sprout,
green and small.
Soon I'll be growing,
nice and tall.
My roots are in the soil,
the sun shines on me.
I can feel the raindrops,
and I have air to breathe.)

This is the time this file has been accessed since 04/25/97.

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