Lesson 1: Seed Scavenger Hunt
In this lesson, students will go on a scavenger hunt around the garden to harvest different types of seeds. Students will examine the seeds they find and discuss similarities and differences. Time permitting, we will read a short story about seeds: “Seed School: Growing Up Amazing,” or “The First Blade of Sweetgrass: A Native American Story.”
1- LS3- 1: Heredity: Use information from observations (first-hand and from media) to
identify similarities and differences among individual plants or animals of the same kind.
1- LS1- 1: Use evidence to explain that (a) different animals use their body parts and
senses in different ways to see, hear, grasp objects, protect themselves, move from
place to place, and seek, find, and take in food, water, and air, and (b) plants have roots,
stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits that are used to take in water, air, and other nutrients,
and produce food for the plant.
Lesson 2: What Do Roots Do?
Students will explore the question: what do roots do for a plant? Students will recall plant part names, examine roots and root structure, and identify primary root functions (anchoring the plant and absorbing water) by dissecting tap roots to observe water content and testing the difficulty of pulling various types of roots out of the ground.
1-LS1-1. Use evidence to explain that (a) different animals use their body parts and senses in different ways to see, hear, grasp objects, protect themselves, move from place to place, and seek, find, and take in food, water, and air, and (b) plants have roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits that are used to take in water, air, and other nutrients, and produce food for the plant.
Lesson 3: Stem Exploration
Students will explore the question: what do stems do for a plant? Students will generate ideas about the functions of stems and then conduct an investigation to observe one of the primary functions of a stem to transport water from the roots to the leaves by observing colored water traveling up celery stems. Students will draw and compare plants with tall/wide stems and short/narrow stems and discuss how these factors may affect a plants access to water, light, and air. Students will read “Stems” by Vijaya Khisti Bodach.
1-LS1-1. Use evidence to explain that (a) different animals use their body parts and senses in different ways to see, hear, grasp objects, protect themselves, move from place to place, and seek, find, and take in food, water, and air, and (b) plants have roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits that are used to take in water, air, and other nutrients, and produce food for the plant.
Lesson 4: Spring Planting
Students will mix their own potting soil and start seeds for the school gardens which will be taken back to the Brookfield Farm greenhouse. Students will review the 3 main plant parts and functions as well as the 5 things that plants need to grow.
2-LS2-3(MA). Develop and use models to compare how plants and animals depend on their surroundings and other living things to meet their needs in the places they live.
1- LS1- 1: Use evidence to explain that (a) different animals use their body parts and senses in different ways to see, hear, grasp objects, protect themselves, move from place to place, and seek, find, and take in food, water, and air, and (b) plants have roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits that are used to take in water, air, and other nutrients, and produce food for the plant.
Lesson 5: Leaf Exploration
Students will explore the question: what do leaves do for a plant? Students will collect spring leaves from around the garden, examine leaves and discuss similarities and differences in color, shape, size and texture, and use chlorophyll inside leaves (and other plant parts such as flowers) to color on pieces of paper.
1- LS1- 1: Use evidence to explain that (a) different animals use their body parts and senses in different ways to see, hear, grasp objects, protect themselves, move from place to place, and seek, find, and take in food, water, and air, and (b) plants have roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits that are used to take in water, air, and other nutrients, and produce food for the plant.