Lesson Plans for Teaching about Plants

Materials

flowering plants  (small plants 12)
celery
carnation
food coloring
apples
pears
oranges
beans
pea seeds
flowers with pollen

Books
Plants - Science Works for Kids Series
Science Centers - Take it to Your Seat
Teacher's Helper Grade 1 (Sept/Oct 1994)
 

Day 1 Plant Parts

Activity 1 - Flower

• Remove a flowering plant from its pot and brush away dirt from the roots.

• Have students identify the parts. - Draw picture of the flowering plant on board and label each part.

• Students complete page 14 - Parts of a Plant by copying the illustration from the board.

Activity 2 - Trees

• Walk outside and look at trees.

• Identify each part - roots, trunk, branch, leaf, berries, etc.

• Students complete page 15 - Trees

• Students make a booklet - Parts of a Tree  p. 13

Activity 3

• Place beans in damp towels inside plastic bags to grow. Directions page 50.

• Growing Bag Log page 53 (Complete Day 1.)

Activity 4

Experiments

• 2 Plants (water only 1) Record observations in booklet page 60

• 2 Plants (remove all but 2 or 3 leaves from 1) Record observations in booklet page 60

• 2 Plants (cover one with bag) Record observations in booklet page 63

• 3 Plants (plant in sand, clay and soil) Record observations in booklet page 64

Day 2 - Function of Plant Parts (Roots, Stems, & Leaves)

Activity 1 - Roots

• Have 2 identical plants.

• Remove one from soil and cut off the roots.

• Replant the plant.

• Have students predict what will happen to the plant without its roots.

• Students complete page 22 - Roots (Draw plant 1 and plant 2 for first day.)

• Begin a booklet titled Each Plant Part Has a Job (pg. 26-27)  -  On page 1 make a list of jobs of the roots.

  • Roots collect water.

  • Roots hold the plant in the ground.

Activity 2 - Stems

• Experiment - Place celery and carnation in water with food coloring & have students observe the changes. After plants sit overnight cut the stems and find the tubes that carry water up the stem.

• Students complete page 23 - Stems

• Complete the next page for the Each Plant Part Has a Job (pg. 26-27)  booklet -  On page 2 make a list of jobs for the stems.

  • Stems carry water.

  • Stems help hold up the plant.

Activity 3 - Leaves

• Read about photosynthesis.
  
  green leaves (chlorophyll) + air (carbon dioxide) + water + sunlight = plant food (sugar)
   

• Complete the next page for the  Each Plant Part Has a Job (pg. 26-27) booklet -  On page 3 make a list of jobs for the leaves.

  • Green leaves make food for the plant.
     

• Students complete page 24 - Leaves Make Food

Day 3 - Function of Plant Parts (Flower)

Activity 1 - Flower

• Use real flowers to find pollen

• Explain that people, animals, and insects carry pollen between flowers.

• Students complete page 25 - Flowers (Use page 25 for discussion on how flowers make seeds.)

• Complete the next page for the  Each Plant Part Has a Job (pg. 26-27) booklet -  On page 4 make a list of jobs for the flower.

  • Flowers make seeds.

  • The seeds grow into new plants.

Activity 2 - Flowering Plants booklet

• Make booklet pages 28-29. Read and answer questions. (This booklet reviews the information from Days 2-3 on functions of plant parts)

Activity 3 - Seeds

• Use page 32 to predict how many seeds will be inside the apple, pear, and orange. Cut an apple, pear, and orange in half and then record the seed information page 32. Glue seeds on page. (Eat fruit.)

• Students complete page 34 - Which are Fruits?

Day 4 - Function of Plant Parts (Fruits and Seeds)

Activity 1 - Seeds

• Students complete bean-shaped book pages 39-42 while observing bean seeds.

• Compare seed to illustration page 43.

• Growing Bag Log page 53 (Complete Day 4.)

• Make a list of jobs of the seed.

  • A seed has a baby plant inside

  • A seed can grow into a new plant.

Activity 2 - Ways Seeds Travel

• Students discuss pages 46-47 (Cards for discussion)

• Students make Seed Travel booklet pages 48-49

Activity 3 - Plants that Don't Bloom

• Categorize cards -

  • seeds or no seeds

  • divide seeded plants into flowers and cones

  • divide seedless into ferns and mushrooms

• Make booklet - Plants with No Flowers page 79-80

Day 5 - Plants need food, water and light to grow

• Make booklet What Do Plants Need to Grow? pages 65-66

Plant Parts Job 1 (Matching picture with info) pages 74-85

Plant Parts Job 2 Part 1  (Page 87)  -  Label Parts of a Plant Worksheet - Use as quiz grade.