Week of 3/9/26

Science Update:

Alhamdulilah, we have completed Unit 4: Changes to Earth’s Surface in science!

This week, students will participate in a sorting activity to review and summarize what they have learned about slow and fast changes to Earth’s surface. This will help reinforce key concepts and ensure they are confident in identifying different types of changes.

After our Eid break, we will begin our final science unit of the year, Unit 5: Environment for Living Things. Please see the information below for details about what students will be learning in this upcoming unit.

Upcoming Project:

Students will participate in a Habitat Diorama Project as part of our upcoming Unit 5 in science. Each student will choose a habitat and create a diorama that showcases what they have learned. More details about the project requirements, expectations, and due dates will be shared after the Eid break. In the meantime, if you have a shoebox readily available at home, please send it in with your child. This will be used as the base for their diorama.

Lesson 1: Plant Needs

What We’re Doing

Where do plants grow? They grow where their needs are met. By the end of this lesson, your child will

·        determine if plants need sunlight and water to grow

·        determine if plants need space to grow

At-Home Activity

To prepare your child for this lesson, try this short activity:

·        Observe plants in your home, backyard, or neighborhood.

·        Discuss how the plants get what they need.

Engage your child by asking these questions:

·        What do plants need to grow?

·        How do the plants get water? How do the plants get sunlight?

·        Do you think the plants are getting enough water and sunlight?

Science Summary

·        Plants are living things.

·        Plants depend on water and light to grow.

Vocabulary for this lesson includes nutrient.

Preconception Alert!

If your child has one of these preconceptions about plant needs, here’s how you can help.

·        Preconception 1: The leaves of a plant take in water.

To address this, examine the leaves of a plant. Tell your child that they may have seen water droplets gather on the leaves, but that water is taken in through the plant’s roots. Examine a plant’s root structure or look at pictures of a root structure.

·        Preconception 2: Sunlight helps plants grow by keeping them warm.

To address this, explain that plants need sunlight in order to make their own food. Plants are affected by temperature, but they do not necessarily need sunlight to keep them warm.