what do plants need lesson plan? - lasclex.org

QUESTIONS TO ASK

BEFORE AND AFTER THE

VIDEO

WHAT ISINSIDE

VOCABULARY

LESSON PLAN GUIDE FOR

TEACHERS AND HOME

SCHOOL INSTRUCTORS

Plants are a group of incredibly diverse living things!Botany is the scientific study of plants. It is a branch ofbiology. Scientists who work in the field of botany arecalled botanists. Botany is important because peopleand animals depend on plants in many ways.

Plants are found on all seven continents on Earth, evenAntarctica! Although there aren’t any trees or shrubsfound on the continent, two species of floweringplants, various lichens, mosses, and more have evolvedto live on the harsh continent.

Plants are even found in space on the InternationalSpace Station. NASA is studying how plants growin microgravity and to also supply astronauts with freshfood.

But why are they so important? Plants take in carbondioxide, what humans breathe out when they exhale,and release oxygen. Plants also provide food andhomes for animals and help keep water clean byacting as a filter. Also, plants simply make peoplehappy.

But what do all these plants have in common? Plantsneed the same basic things to survive: sunlight, air,water, nutrients, appropriate temperature ranges, andspace. All these are resources that all plants dependon to grow and survive.

Let’s talk about these plant needs...

WHAT DO PLANTS NEED?

GRADES 3-5

DO-IT-YOURSELF

PROJECT


What are the things that plants need to grow?

ANSWER: Plants need air, water and sunlight.

What are some ways that plants are important in our lives?

ANSWER:They provide food for humans and animals. They produce theoxygen we need to breathe. They stop soil erosion. They provide materialsfor our homes and clothes. They are enjoyable to look at.

What might happen if a plant does not get water?

ANSWER: It would dry up and die.

What might happen if a plant does not get light?

ANSWER:It would not grow. It would turn yellow or brown and die.

Can a plant grow without sunlight? Why or why not?

ANSWER: Plants need sunlight to make nutrients they need to grow. Theycannot live a long time without sunlight.

Can a plant grow without water? Why or why not?

ANSWER: No, all living things need water. Plants use water in a processcalled photosynthesis to make nutrients.

BEFORE THE VIDEO QUESTIONS

G R A D E S 3 - 5W H A T D O P L A N T S N E E D ?

T H E L I V I N G T H I N K

How does water affect plant growth?

ANSWER: Plants need just the right amount of water. Too much or too littlewill cause the plant not to grow as well or wilt. Some plants need morewater than others.

How does sunlight affect plant growth?

ANSWER: Plants use sunlight to make the food they need to grow in aprocess called photosynthesis. If a plant does not have any sunlight, theywill lose their color and eventually die. Some plants need more light thanothers.

Is sunlight essential to help plants grow?

ANSWER: The plant’s leaves collect energy from sunlight to turn carbondioxide from the air and water into sugar. Plants need light energy toperform photosynthesis. Without sunlight, a plant cannot survive.

Do plants need people to survive?

ANSWER: While it is true that people do care for plants, especially thoseliving indoors, plants as a whole do not rely on people for their needs. Mostplants meet their needs of water, air, sunlight, nutrients and space from theenvironment.

Is soil is food for plants?

ANSWER: The soil itself is not food. The main purpose of soil is to holdwater and nutrients that the plants take up. Soil provides an anchor forplants to take root, but there are many plants that grow without soil.


AFTER THE VIDEO QUESTIONS



Soil - the upper layer of Earth where plants grow

Clay - stiff, sticky material found on the Earth’s surface.

Sand - very small grains of rock

Loam - combination of sand, clay, minerals and dead or decaying plantmaterial

Observe - to notice something using your senses

Growth - the process of increasing in size

Sunlight - light that comes from the sun

Seeds - the part of a plant that can grow into more plants

Botany - the study of plants. It is a branch of biology. Scientists whowork in the field of botany are called botanists

Lichen - a plantlike organism made up of an alga and a fungus growingtogether

Microgravity - when things seem to be weightless. "Micro-" means "verysmall." Microgravity is when the pull of gravity is not very strong.

Autotrophs - living things that make their own food for energy fromnon-living substances in their environment.


VOCABULARY



WHAT DO PLANTS NEED?LESSON PLAN AND GUIDE

WHAT will students learn? Students will identify that plants need specific things to grow into a healthy plant.

•Plants need specific things to grow•Plants need L.A.W.N.S.: light, air, water, nutrients, and space to grow•Air and water serve a vital role in the growth process

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

3-LS4-3 Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat someorganisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot surviveat all. Examples of evidence could include needs and characteristics of theorganisms and habitats involved. The organisms and their habitat make up a systemin which the parts depend on each other.

4-LS1- 1 Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal andexternal structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, andreproduction. Examples of structures could include thorns, stems, roots, coloredpetals, heart, stomach, lung, brain, and skin.

5-LS1-1 Support an argument that plants get the materials they need forgrowth chiefly from air and water. Emphasis is on the idea that plant matter comesmostly from air and water, not from the soil.

For more on Next Generation Science Standards, please go to:https://www.nextgenscience.org



Duration: One 50 minute class period andadditional 5 minutes for 2 weeks

Materials needed per student:Notebook Pencil Markers

Materials needed forinstruction:White board or chart paper4 healthy plant startsSmall amount of grass and dirtSheet of plastic wrap, enough tocover large bowlBig rubber bandA few coinsA sunny window


CONT. Get students THINKING:

Watch The Living Think WHAT DO PLANTS NEED? video.Tell the class that they are going to become botanists!



Each team will be given one plant. Teams will label the pot with a group number(using tape and markers.)

Students will set up a four column and 4 row table in a science notebook.

Teachers can model this setup with the class. Columns should be labeled height,condition, observations and plant number. Rows can be labeled 1-4.

Students begin by brainstorming about what plants are, have, and need. Then,compile the ideas on a whiteboard and review them as a whole class.

Analyze the chart to determine what things the class believes help plants growand develop. With a guided discussion, it will be determined that air, sunlight,water, and soil are all needed for a plant to grow, develop, and survive.

Students can use the scientific method to plan and investigate whether or notthese things impact the growth and development of a plant.

Plant 1 will be put into a clear plastic bag to eliminate air from getting to the plant.It will have soil, water, and light. Have Team 1 hypothesize what will occur to theplant.

Get students DOING:

This will be a whole group experiment where the students discuss thecomponents and set it up as a class. Teachers could choose to do this as pairs orteams of three but will need a more space and materials. The experiment will run fortwo weeks and the students will conduct observations and tasks related to theconditions that each plant is exposed to (every 3-4 days).

Tell students: "Today we are going to start an experiment. In front of us wehave 4 healthy plants. As a group, we are going to expose the plants to 4different living conditions."

.


CONT.

Plant 2 will be put into a cardboard box to eliminate light. It will have soil, water, andair. Have Team 2 hypothesize what will occur to the plant.

Plant 3 will be left out on a surface near a window but will not be given water. It willhave soil, air, and light. Have Team 3 hypothesize what will occur to the plant.

Plant 4 will be left out on aw surface near a window and will have soil, air, light, andwater. Have Team 4 hypothesize what will occur to the plant.

Students will water the plants (that get water) everyday with a water bottle and observe the plants. Students will review the data table that will be used through theinvestigation to draw conclusions at the end.

Get students DOING (cont.):



Get students REFLECTING:

The teacher will check to be sure that the student is keeping correct records of data ofplant health in their science journal. Have them write down observations and use thechart to display measured growth in metric units, observations and condition. Recordplant observations for two weeks.

Alignment to the Dimensions of the NGSS: This activity provides opportunities tosupport three dimensional learning for students to make sense of a phenomena.Students are engaged in observation and argumentation as they investigate what ismost essential to plant growth. They are asked to create graphs and support claims with relevant evidence as they make sense of plants' needs.

WHAT DO PLANTS NEED?DIY PROJECT: HOW DO PLANTS BREATHE

Gather a selection of leaves from trees flowers and/or bushesoutside.Fill your containers with about a cup of water .Submerge one leaf in your container. Let sit for one hour.Observe which leaves have the biggest bubbles, which leaves havethe most and which have the least. WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS?

INSTRUCTIONS:1.

2.3.4.5.

Materials needed :Small clear containersof similar size ( masonjars work well)

Several types ofleaves (your choice)

Timer

WHAT DO PLANTS NEED?LESSON PLAN AND GUIDE,

CONT.

G R A D E S 3 - 5W H A T I S T H E W A T E R C Y C L E ?


Duration: 35 MinutesCost: 0 to $5 Sink a leaf in water to watch how it produces oxygen. When

a leaf is submerged, you can see the oxygen it produces in theform of bubbles clinging to the leaves. The plant consumessugar through photosynthesis and releases the oxygen back intothe air through the leaves. You can see this visulized in waterbecause the oxygen gets trapped under the water and makesbubbles.

what do plants need lesson plan? - lasclex.org

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