Curated OER
A First Look at the Garden
For any teacher who is planning a field trip to Missouri's Botanical Garden, this lesson packet is a must-have! In it, young learners engage in pre-visit activities so they will be prepared to get the most out of their trip. There are...
Cornell University
Plant Cell Crime Scene
Use science to solve the mystery of the Poplar murder. Pupils use forensic botany to determine if a suspect could be the killer. By analyzing images from a Transmission Electron Microscope, learners determine if the material found on the...
Curated OER
Floor Sculptures
Young scholars explore visual arts by completing a recycling activity. In this botany science lesson, students examine the natural layout of plants in a garden environment. Young scholars utilize wire, wood and other arts and craft...
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Beautiful Soil
Students discover what are the components of soil. They examine how it is formed and it's importance. They engage in garden activities and processes. They hold a handful of garden soil and describe what they see. They take a...
Curated OER
What Are Heritage Plants?
Pupils listen to a story, plant seeds, and study about heritage seeds. They read seed packages for plant needs and sizes, plant seeds. They read story "How Groundhog's Garden Grew" which covers many activities of planting, growing...
Curated OER
Mini-Ecosystems
Students use plastic bottles to create terrariums and plant Venus Flytraps. They observe the plants and the terrariums for illustrations of the water cycle and species' adaptations to a specific environment.
Curated OER
Habitat is Home
Students complete a picture to show things found in their homes. In this habitat lesson, students discuss and make a class picture of an animal habitat and its four basic needs. Students sing a song. Students create their own habitat...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Albedo, Reflectivity, and Absorption
What is reflectivity, and what does it have to do with the Earth's climate? As reflectivity is measured by albedo, scientists can gather information on Earth's energy balances that relate to global warming or climate change. Budding...
Curated OER
Adopt A Tree
Students list characteristics that make some plants "trees," identify parts of the tree and their basic functions, describe how trees grow, and recognize products we get from trees and the environmental importance of trees.
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Birds, Birds, Birds
Pupils explore one bird a day and eventually put together a book about each of the birds they learn.
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Seed Types
Students dissect seeds. In this seed dissection instructional activity, students discover the anatomy of seeds. After dissecting seeds, students hypothesize and design the perfect seed to survive in a dry forest.
Curated OER
What Plants Need in Order to Survive and Grow: Light
Students conduct an experiment to evaluate whether plants need light to survive and grow. They observe and gather data about plant responses to different growth regimes, analyze the data, and make conclusions about basic plant needs.
Curated OER
What Plants Need in Order to Survive and Grow: Air
Young scholars conduct an experiment to determine whether plants need air in order to survive and grow. They discuss natural resources, analyze slides, and observe and record data from the experiment.
Curated OER
What Plants Need in Order to Survive and Grow: Soil
Students conduct an experiment to evaluate whether plants need soil to survive and grow. They plant two seeds, one with soil and one without, make predictions, and record and analyze the seed germination results on a worksheet.
Curated OER
Plant Classification
Students participate in an experiment that involves plant classification. They identify and are able to employ three methods of classifying leaves. Each student classifies leaves by each of the following methods: K-I 4.b, d, & e;...
Curated OER
Growing Native Plants From Seed
Second graders plant seeds of native plants. They study the concepts of native plants, where they grow, how they grow, and why they are so special. They assess long term care monitoring the seedlings as they grow and write the name...
Curated OER
Learning From Leaves: A Look at Leaf Size
Students measure and analyze leaves from various environments. They discuss the environments, and make inferences about environmental variables that could have contributed to the differences in leaf size and texture.
Curated OER
Learning From Leaves: From Observation to Inference
Students examine the adaptation of plants to their environments. They analyze and observe the structure, shape, and internal structure of various leaves, and make inferences about the structures.
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Learning From Leaves: Adaptations To Differing Light Levels
Students, in groups, examine plants with different light levels. They are given plants from a tropical and desert region. They write a hypothesis at the beginning of the experiment.
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Creating an Experimental Design
Students research the damage to the environment by certain plant species. They create an experimental design which they test how these species take over certain habitats. They share their information with the class.
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Hidden Colors
Students discover presence of different colors hidden in green leaves by performing a chromatography experiment on chopped green leaves.
Curated OER
Seeds of Change
Students recognize, compare and contrast physical characterisics of seeds, identify parts of a peanut seed, and observe and record the growth rate and habits of a variety of seeds.
Curated OER
Educating the Community
Students research the effects of invasive and exotic plants. They create posters, webpages and books to educate the community. They present their material in different forums.
Curated OER
We are where and what we eat
Students explore concepts of plants they eat, where and how they grow and are introduced to genetic diversity. They examine seed characteristics, look at their different sizes, shapes and germination time. They also set up seeds to...