Illustrative Mathematics
Growing Bean Plants (Grade 2)
After planting a bean seed in a jar, young scientists observe the growth patterns over several days. As the bean becomes a sprout, and the sprout becomes a plant, partners measure and plot the data. They notice patterns, practice...
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I Wonder How Fast Manduca Grows Compared To Me
Students study the Manduca bug and its growth data. They look for patterns and compare their own growth rate to that of the Manduca.
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Repeating Patterns
Young scholars explore growth patterns by using manipulatives such as pattern blocks, investigate growth pattern of pattern, record growth in T-chart, describe how pattern is growing, and predict number of blocks needed to extend pattern.
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I'm a Weather Watcher Watching plants grow by......my,my,my
Students investigate how weather affects how plants grow. They collect data on weather and plant growth for a week and display the data on a graph. For a culminating experience they design a movie using software that shows plant growth...
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We’ve Bean Growing: Anatomy of Germination
Students identify the main parts of a seed. In this biology lesson, students explain the factors needed for the seed to grow. They record observations everyday and report findings to class.
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Graphing the Population Explosion of Weeds
Students are introduced to the seed cycle and draw the specific steps. In groups, they identify the human barriers to the spreading of weeds. After calculating the rate of spreading of the Yellowstar Thistle, they create graphs to see a...
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How Does Your Garden Grow?
Students create a design for a school garden. In this garden design lesson plan, students analyze what plants grow best in their school's climate and work in teams to design a garden. Students measure the existing space, determine the...
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Estimation and Pattern Discovery
Students collect sunflower heads from their community garden. They estimate its seed count using different strategies. They graph their estimations on a graph and use calculators to find the actual total.
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Growing Rock Candy
Students observe the growth of rock candy. In this crystal growth lesson plan, students make rock candy and measure the crystal growth over five days.
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Growing and Graphing
Students visit a 2nd and a 4th grade class to measure the heights of older students using large building blocks as a non-standard unit of measure. They can also measure adults in the school community. Results are displayed in...
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Bliss Butterflies Activity Sheet
In this life science worksheet, students examine the 4 stages of the butterfly's life cycle and color in the black line pictures. They read the difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical objects before they complete symmetrical...
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Plant Diversity and Distribution
Students construct a defined plot on school grounds and observed patterns in plant life. They count trees, shrubs, cacti and record on a data sheet. They compare data and generate a plant diversity overlook for their school.
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Animals Finding Rice Paddies
Fourth graders examine the animals who live in rice paddies and create a chart. In this rice lesson, 4th graders link the types of animals living in each ecosystem with a bar graph. Students use colored bars to show animals that live in...
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Spring Potted Plants
Students identify and interpret plant growth as well as gain graphing skills and other important knowledge related to potting plants. They take a regular milk jug and cut off the top, leaving the handle and the rest intact. Then,...
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Time and Cycles - Dendrochronology
Students investigate the lives of trees by examining ring cycles. In this plant life lesson, students identify the field of study known as dendrochronology and discover its history. Students investigate a simulated tree ring and...
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Logs of Straw: Dendocronology
Students investigate the age of trees by analyzing tree rings. For this dendocronology lesson, students examine sample images of tree rings and identify their age by the amount of rings. Students complete a chart identifying the age,...
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Coral Reefs: Gardens Under the Sea
Students discover the wonders of coral reefs while listening to a book about them. In a Reading Rainbow video activity, they simulate a dive, check equipment and explore a reef. Role-playing as marine biologists, students uncover...
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It's All in the Rings
Students examine how the environment influences tree growth. In this tree lesson, students analyze the growth of rings to see how plants adjust to adverse conditions in order to survive.
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Christmas Tree Farming in Ontario
Young scholars realize that Christmas trees produced in Ontario are a field crop that is harvested annually. They find out that Christmas tree farming is important to the economy and the environment of our province.
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Eggs'ceptional Experiments
Students see evidence of chemical reaction and follow the scientific method to hypothesize, observe, and reach conclusions. They conduct a series of egg based experiments such as forming crystals and complete journal activities as a...
Rainforest Alliance
Investments in Forest Carbon
One hundred metric tons of CO2 can accumulate in one acre of forest over time—that's a lot of carbon! In the activity, groups of middle school learners determine what makes forests important. They then solidify the concept by using a...
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All About Me: My Senses
Students describe the basic senses and then use their senses to describe what they learned.
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How Trees Contribute to the Water Cycle
In this water cycle instructional activity, 3rd graders conduct an experiment where they observe and calculate how water transpires in different types of trees. Students engage in a class discussion and use Venn Diagrams to compare...
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All About Me: My Senses
Students explore the world around them and identify their five senses and the parts of their bodies that are associated with each sense.