This lesson is intended to make students more aware of the world around them, the living things that surround us within our environment and to become aware of the changes that occur in living things. Throughout the school year, the students take walks, visit parks and go on field trips where they encounter fruits, vegetables and flowers. This lesson is the first stage of the life cycle process that the students will observe. Using plants to describe the needs and changes of living things is a basic way to teach students about life so they can take this knowledge to have a better understanding of humans and other mammals. The unit provides hands-on learning and real-life observations that allow for engaging learning for three and four-year old children.

Seed, Soil, Water, Pot, Flower, Plant

The learners will follow the steps of planting a flower.

The learners will draw a picture of the process of planting a flower.

15 minutes of Circle Time, 10 minutes of Small Group

Dirt, seeds, pots, water, journals

1. Introduction: The teacher will begin the lesson during whole group (Circle Time). The teacher will fist ask the students if anyone has flowers at their home. If they do have a garden, they will give a “thumbs up”; if they do not they will give a “thumbs down”. If they do have a garden, the students will have the opportunity to tell a little bit about it. The teacher will then introduce the read aloud for the day, “Garden.”

Extension: Students who have difficulties staying still will be given a fidget toy for the read aloud.

1. During: The students will then begin Small Group/Center time that will consist of four ten minute intervals with four students in each group. The students will be asked to first look at the materials which will consist of seeds, dirt, water and pots. They will also be asked what they see. The teacher will explain to the students that flowers start off as seeds and that they must plant the seeds in order for them to see their flowers grow. The teacher will also explain to the students that flowers need dirt, water and sunlight to grow and that they will be planting their seed in the dirt. The students will then fill up their pots with dirt, put their seeds in the dirt, and water their seeds.

Extension: The younger students will be given a measured amount of dirt and water; older students will measure their own dirt and pour their own water into the pots.

 

1. Closure: The teacher will then show the students their journals and explain to them that they will be drawing pictures of their flowers as they grow. The students will then be asked to work independently in their journals on drawing the different materials that they used to plant their seeds. To assess the students’ individual mastery, the teacher will have a checklist of the materials that the students should have drawn in their journals.  Finally, the teacher will show the students that the seeds will be put on the windowsill in order to get the sunlight that they need.

Extension: The older students will be given word cards of the different materials and will be asked to attempt to label their drawings.

To assess the students’ prior knowledge, they will be asked to give thumbs up, thumbs down responses during whole group time. The students will be asked if they have flowers at their houses. They are to give thumbs up if they do and thumbs down if they do not. During small groups, the students will be asked to list the materials that they have drawn in their journals and the teacher will check off what they have on her check list.

Seed journals, Checklist of materials (dirt, seed, pot, water)

 

 What is Needed to Plant a Seed Checklist

	Yes	No
soil
pot
water
seed

 

plant, life cycle, grow

Amanda Welsh

January 18, 2013