Plant Unit Week 1
Unit of Study: Plants Week 1
Essential Question: How do plants grow and why are they important?
Focus Question: What are plants?
Monday
Story Time
From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
Scroll down for the Books of the Week. After reading the books/watching the videos, go on a nature walk or take your child to the window to look at plants outside. Talk about the colors that they see! Talk about the parts of a plant.
Literacy Activity
From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
Once finished with the book, go through it again and PAUSE video to get a better look at pictures; assist your child to identify pictures (focus on verbs, colors, quantity and all the types of plants and animals you can find).
Engage your child in an art activity (be creative: use paint, finger-paint, crayons, markers) to have them fill in the attached puzzle or create their own. Assist them to cut the picture into 2 or more pieces.. mix up the pieces and have them complete their homemade puzzle!
Math:
Peas in the pod counting
No printer? No problem! Draw some pea pods and write a numeral next to the pod; have your child roll play-dough to make the peas and "put in the pod" OR children can use their finger tips to make the peas with green paint.......
No play-dough? No problem! You can make your own or use paint! Check out the "Resources" tab for a bunch of recipes!
Remember to HAVE FUN and POST PICTURES!Science/STEAM:
Have your child explore the parts of a plant (petals, leaves, stem, seeds, roots). You may use real or fake plants OR look at pictures in a book or on-line. With assistance, have your child create their plant and identify the different parts.
Use this as an opportunity to build language! Have your child identify colors (by pointing or labeling), work on turn taking and waiting, or record their reactions (ie Wow, flower, pink, green, dirt)
Tuesday
Story Time
We Plant a Seed
Scroll down for the Books of the Week. After reading the books/watching the videos, go on a nature walk or take your child to the window to look at plants outside. Talk about the colors that they see! Talk about the parts of a plant.
Literacy Activity
Once finished with the book, go through it again and PAUSE video to get a better look at pictures; assist your child to identify pictures (focus on verbs, colors, quantity and all the types of plants and animals you can find).
Engage your child in scavenger hunt and have them locate fruits and vegetables to sort by color. Another idea is to check out this printable to have your child sort. Check out our inspiration below or by clicking HERE
Math: Flower Shape Sort
No printer? No problem! Draw some flower vases and "flowers" and draw corresponding shapes onto flowers and vases; have your child either match paper cut outs OR roll play-dough to make shapes and match to vase.
No play-dough? No problem! You can make your own or use paint! Check out the "Resources" tab for a bunch of recipes!
Remember to HAVE FUN and POST PICTURES
Science/STEAM with Ms. Nicole
Have your child explore parts of a plant using BEANS! Assist your child to "plant" beans using a ziplock bag, paper towel and water.
Wet a paper towel and place at the bottom of a ziplock bag, assist your child to place 2-4 beans in between the paper towel and watch them grow!
Use this as an opportunity to build language! Have your child count beans, label materials (by pointing or using "want"); work on turn taking and waiting, and record their reactions (ie Wow, wet, bean, towel
Wednesday
Story Time
Plant the Tiny Seed
Scroll down for the Books of the Week. After reading the books/watching the videos, go on a nature walk or take your child to the window to look at plants outside. Talk about the colors that they see! Talk about the parts of a plant.
Literacy Activity
Have your child use seeds or beans to create/trace the letters in their name. You can even work on counting, more/ less, size and colors.
No printer? No problem! Draw letters out on a piece of paper OR create letters using play-dough and have your child press seeds/ beans into dough.
Math:
Flower Patterns
click here for activity inspiration AND printout
No printer? No problem! Draw some flowers using different colors and shapes OR create flowers using play-dough. Create simple patterns and have your child either place next flower in pattern or create their own (using play-dough). You can present choices for your child too (ie "which comes next?" and hold up two flowers for hem to choose from)
No play-dough? No problem! You can make your own or use paint! Check out the "Resources" tab for a bunch of recipes!
Science/STEAM
with Ms. Nicole (continued throughout the month)
TAKE PICTURES AND COMPARE!
Have your child explore parts of a plant using BEANS! Assist your child to "plant" beans using a ziplock bag, paper towel and water.
Wet a paper towel and place at the bottom of a ziplock bag, assist your child to place 2-4 beans in between the paper towel and watch them grow!
Use this as an opportunity to build language! Have your child count beans, label materials (by pointing or using "want"); work on turn taking and waiting, and record their reactions (ie Wow, wet, bean, towel)
Thursday
Story Time
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Scroll down for the Books of the Week. After reading the books/watching the videos, go on a nature walk or take your child to the window to look at plants outside. Talk about the colors that they see! Talk about the parts of a plant.
Literacy Activity *Adult Supervision*
Create a sensory bin with your child using dried seeds or dried beans, fake flowers, toy rakes, shovels or cups; you may also add other materials from your nature walk (like leaves and pebbles). Assist your child to explore the materials and work on pointing, labeling, counting, colors, turn taking and waiting. You can even work on quantity (more/ less), size (big/ little), and temperatures (place some beans in the freezer or microwave *test the temperature before giving to child*)
Science/STEAM
with Ms. Nicole (continued throughout the month): Check out the video below
Have your child explore parts of a plant using BEANS! Assist your child to "plant" beans using a ziplock bag, paper towel and water.
Wet a paper towel and place at the bottom of a ziplock bag, assist your child to place 2-4 beans in between the paper towel and watch them grow!
Use this as an opportunity to build language! Have your child count beans, label materials (by pointing or using "want"); work on turn taking and waiting, and record their reactions (ie Wow, wet, bean, towel)
Cooking with Ms. Lule
Let's get cooking with Ms. Lule! While engaged in this activity, have your child point to or label ingredients, follow simple directions and practice fine motor skills by scooping and peeling bananas. Send us some pictures of your little ones helping out or tasting their creations!
Friday
Plants Review and Intro to Spring Break Family Fun with the Arts
Story Time
Book Review
Scroll down for the Books of the Week. After reading the books/watching the videos, Talk about the parts of a plant and go on a nature walk or take your child to the window to look at plants outside. Talk about the colors that they see and look for rainbows in your neighbor's windows!
Literacy Activity and Sing Along
Watch video/ listen to I Can Sing a Rainbow.
Rainbows in the Window: Assist your child as needed to create a rainbow to decorate the windows at home to express gratitude to front line workers. Hang the rainbows where people can see them to pass along support and happiness.
Play-dough Art: Engage your child in molding and sculpting things that make them happy (ie flowers, cars, happy face, etc)
Assist your child to explore the materials and work on pointing, labeling, counting, colors, turn taking and waiting. You can even work on quantity (more/ less), size (big/ little).
Math:
Plant a Number Line
No cardboard roll? No problem! Roll some paper into a tube and tape it closed.
No popsicle sticks? No problem! Cut the tips off of toothpicks.
No cupcake holders? No problem! Use painted paper or construction paper.
Science/STEAM
with Ms. Nicole (continued throughout the month): Check out the video below
Send us pictures of your bean plants!
Cooking with Ms. Lule
Let's get cooking with Ms. Lule! While engaged in this activity, have your child point to or label ingredients, follow simple directions and practice fine motor skills by scooping and peeling bananas. Send us some pictures of your little ones helping out or tasting their creations!
Books of the Week
Once finished with the book, go through it again and PAUSE video to get a better look at pictures; assist your child to identify pictures (focus on verbs, colors, quantity and all the types of plants and animals you can find).
Use this as an opportunity to talk about different foods (fruits and vegetables), colors, textures and temperatures. If you have any of these items at home, assist your child to explore foods using their five senses. Afterwards, you can engage your child in an art activity to recreate the foods or plants OR have them identify by labeling or pointing
Videos of the Week
When exploring these videos, use this as an opportunity to talk with your child about what plants need to grow and the parts of plants. See if your child can locate flowers, sun, plants, dirt, water in the house or while outside (you can have them point or label).
Afterwards, you can engage your child in an art activity to recreate the plants OR have them identify plants and their parts by labeling or pointing.
The goal here is to HAVE FUN! Messes are okay, it's all part of the learning process!
PBS Learning Resources:
What are plants video: Click Here
Peep plants a seed: Click Here
Dinosaur train: Planting a garden: Click Here
From Seed to Plant: Click Here