Unit - Nature

Tuesday 4/18 - Day 2 - Planting A Seed

Student Name: Britney Boyajian School Name: Hopewell Elementary

Grade Level: Preschool Host Teachers Name: Sharon Cohen

Guiding and/or Essential Questions:

What do plants need to grow? How do we grow our own plant? What materials do we need to
plant seeds?

Pre-lesson Assignments and/or Student Prior Knowledge:

Through a pre assessment I was able to come to the conclusion that there are 2-3 students that are
able to confidently tell me one thing that a plant needs to grow. Students do not understand that
plants need more than water and sunlight to grow.

Standards:
Standard 5.1: Children develop inquiry skills
5.1.1 Display curiosity about science objects, materials, activities, and longer-term
investigations in progress (e.g., ask who, what, when, where, why, and how questions
during sensory explorations, experimentation, and focused inquiry).
5.1.2 Observe, question, predict, and investigate materials, objects, and phenomena
during classroom activities indoors and outdoors and during any longer-term
investigations in progress. Seek answers to questions and test predictions using simple
experiments or research media.
5.1.4 Communicate with other children and adults to share observations, pursue
questions, make predictions, and/or conclusions.
Standard 5.3: Children observe and investigate living things.
5.3.3 Observe and describe how natural habitats provide for the basic needs of plants and
animals with respect to shelter, food, water, air, and light.
5.3.4 Observe change over time and cycles of change that affect living things.

Learning Objectives and Assessments:

Learning Objectives Assessment

Students will verbally identify what plants
need to grow and live.
During the group center, while students are
decorating their plant cups, teacher will ask
students what these plants need to grow.
Teacher will then assess students for correct
answers.

Materials/Resources:
Small clear cups (10)
Stickers
Soil
 Seeds
Water
Video The Needs Of A Plant- https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=dUBIQ1fTRzI

Plan for set-up/distribution/cleanup of materials:

Once students are seated on the carpet, I will give them a clear cup with the name already written
on the bottom. They will be given stickers and markers to decorate their cups and when
instructed will give their art materials back to a teacher. When stickers and markers are collected.
Throughout the lesson I will be giving the students dirt, seeds and water for their plant then
collecting it as soon as they are done. When the students have successfully planted their seeds,
students will walk over to the window sill and place their plant down.

Step by Step plan:

1. Introduction: To begin this lesson, I will show the YouTube video,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUBIQ1fTRzI. During this interactive video about what
a plant needs to grow, students will sing along learning that a plant needs water, soil, space,
sun, and air. After the video has ended, I will inform the students that at my center during
work groups, they will be planting seeds to make their very own plant.
2. Once students have given me 5 on the carpet, I will explain to them the process
of what they will be doing. Today we are planting a plant. You will decorate a cup at the
table with stickers. Once you have finished decorating your cup, you will raise your hand and
wait quietly at your seat for a teacher to come bring you dirt and seeds. The teacher helping
you will tell you what to do next. Then, I will dismiss them to the tables and instruct them to
find the cup with their name on it. The tables will have stickers for decorating.
3. After students have raised their hands and completed their decorations, teachers
will come around with dirt and seeds. With teacher assistance, students will then take turns
scooping dirt into the cup until it is about full. After all students have the correct amount of
dirt in their cup, the teacher will give them some seeds to place in their cup. Once seeds are
in the dirt,the teacher will give students turns scooping more dirt into their cup until it is
about halfway full.
4. Closure: Once all students have finished planting, they will gather with their cups
on the carpet. I will ask students, What else does our plant need to grow? reminding them
of the video we saw during morning circle. Once students tell me that the plants need water,
sunlight, and space to grow I will walk them over to the window sill where they will place
their plants for the next two weeks watering them and observing their growth daily.

Key Questions:
What does our plant need to grow?
Why are we placing them on the window sill?

Logistics:

Timing: 20 minutes

Introduction - 5 minutes
Decoration - 4 minutes
Planting activity- 8 minutes
Closure- 3 minutes

Transitions:
Once students are done with snack, they will meet me on the carpet giving me 5 so I know
they are ready.

Classroom Management:
Students will likely struggle to focus and not get over excited while on the carpet and while
waiting to plant their seeds.

Differentiation:
Ella will have a teacher/para with her during my center to keep her on task and in her seat for the
entire center. Erich will be given the opportunity to hold an object to keep his hands busy when
he is not putting soil in his cup or placing his seeds in his cup. Students who are struggling while
at this center will be redirected to the task at hand and since I will be working with small groups,
I will be able to individually scaffold students that need extra attention.