Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Seed Dispersal in Tropical Forests
How do seeds get around? It's not like plants can control seed dispersal—or can they? Dig deeper into the amazing mechanisms of seed dispersal observed in tropical plants through interactives, a video, and plenty of hands-on data...
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Aboriginal Plant Use in South-Eastern Australia
The Aboriginal people of Australia survived for over 40,000 years by using the plants that grow in the bush for food, medicine, tools, and utensils. Introduce young botanists to the wonders of the Outback with a 25-page packet that...
Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: "Putting in the Seed" by Robert Frost
Young botanists dig into a lesson that has them planting lima bean seeds and observing their growth. They compare their experience to that of the speaker in Robert Frost's poem, "Putting in the Seed."
Curated OER
Power to the Peanut
Students locate information about the life and research of African American botanist George Washington Carver. They identify how Carver's knowledge of botany contributed to improvement of farming practices and introduction of new...
Curated OER
The Purpose of Each Part of a Plant
Beginning botanists can sketch the parts of a plant in individual boxes, or better yet, they can tape or glue actual plant parts in them. Beside each box are a few sentences with selected words left out. From the word bank at the bottom...
AAAS
Wildflower Garden
Take your blooming botanists on a spring walk without activating any allergies with a wildflower WebQuest. The link to the "Spring Wildflower Walk" is broken, but the correct link is attached here. You could also try the activity in the...
Curated OER
Plants
One slide reviews the main plant parts and most of the remaining slides address seven plant processes of life. This is a different approach to introducing the life of a plant. Three tasks are assigned to viewers on the last slide, making...
Curated OER
Tree Cookies!
"Tree Cookies!" is a delicious little presentation designed to introduce upper elementary or middle school botanists to the anatomy of a tree trunk. The cambium, phloem, xylem, and other vital structures are identified and defined. Two...
Curated OER
Introduction to Plant Reproduction
Eight objectives pertaining to plant reproduction are stated and addressed in this presentation. Objectives include defining sexual and asexual reproduction, comparing monocots to dicots, explaining flower types, and more. Some of the...
Curated OER
Seeds - What are Seeds?
At minimum, beginning botanists learn the terminology used when discussion seed germination. This set of slides lists basic seed parts, requirements for germination, steps of the process, and then it differentiates between monocot and...
Curated OER
Basic Parts of the Plant
Beginning botanists learn basic plant structure by viewing this presentation. It is somewhat lifeless because there are no photos, so you will want to display actual plants as you work through the slides. The information, however, is...
Curated OER
Plants Scavenger Hunt Activity
The hunt is on! Provide young botanists with a list of eighteen plant-related questions and let them loose as they search for answers on corresponding fact cards. Perform this activity in the classroom or use it as an opportunity to take...
Cmassengale
Photosynthesis Diagrams Worksheet
Help young botanists get to the root of photosynthesis with this series of worksheets. By completing these diagrams, students demonstrate their understanding of the biological structures and chemical reactions that make this amazing...
Curated OER
George Washington Carver
Learners learn and research the life of George Washington Carver. In this historical figures lesson, students read a book on George Washington Carver, discuss his character and the challenges he faced in becoming a botanist. Learners...
Curated OER
Carnivorous Plants: A Bugs Nightmare!
Learners research carnivorous plants and how they trap insects. They role play as botanists to write a research field guide about a newly discovered imaginary carnivorous plant.
Curated OER
THE PEANUT WIZARD
Students read information about George Washington Carver and outline the information. They are given peanuts in the shell, students examine them and eat them. Students discuss the following questions: Why did George Washington Carver...
Curated OER
A Hidden Beauty
Expose the beautiful mystery of bulbs as young botanists learn all about these fascinating plants. They glean information from a short text before observing actual bulbs (consider an onion), and comparing their findings with predictions....
Curated OER
Green Plants
Beginning botanists are introduced to the world of plants with this PowerPoint. Some of the information is most appropriate for primary learners, such as the needs of a plant. Some of the information, however, is more directed at...
WeTransfer BV
Paper by FiftyThree
There is no such thing as someone who is not artistic when using this app. In fact, this is the type of app that makes you want to go out and buy a tablet computer. Whether you have a creative lesson planned, or just need a place to take...
Curated OER
Rainforest Vocabulary Words: Week 1
In these rainforest vocabulary worksheets, read the definitions and the matching terms for the following rainforest vocabulary terms: decomposers, deforestation, epiphytes, extinct, environment, pollute, vegetation, ecology, climate,...
Curated OER
Sowing Seeds of the Future
Pupils explore how to preserve native wild plants and garden crops. For this science lesson, students play the role of botanists and research North American plants. Pupils create a presentation about their findings.
Teach Engineering
Bees: The Invaluable Master Pollinators
There is nothing in the world quite like a bee. Here is a video that explains the importance of bees to pollination. Scholars consider possible solutions to the declining population of bees in the ninth and final installment in the series.
PBS
Season Seeking
It's a time of change. A hands-on activity engages young scientists in a lesson highlighting the change of seasons. They brainstorm indicators of season changes in nature and then look for them. Next, they record observations in a field...
Curated OER
A Botanists View
Students explore plant and seed structure. They dissect a seed and identify its parts. In addition, they explain the function and compare and contrast monocotyledon and dicotlyledons.