Chicago Botanic Garden
Plant Phenology Data Analysis
Beginning in 1851, Thoreau recorded the dates of the first spring blooms in Concord, and this data is helping scientists analyze climate change! The culminating instructional activity in the series of four has pupils graph and analyze...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Understanding the Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is important, for without it, life on Earth would not exist. An activity that includes modeling the greenhouse effect and acting out the Earth's energy balance makes up the first part in a series of seven...
Curated OER
Native Beauty
Young scholars plant wild flowers and maintain their garden. In this wild flowers lesson plan, students pick and prepare a gardening site, plant wild flowers, and maintain it everyday.
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Six Plant Parts
Students create a harvest burrito out of fruit, flowers, roots, stems, and more. In this plants lesson plan, students go out into the garden and identify the 6 plant parts.
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Butterflies are beautiful
Second graders explore butterflies. They discuss the types of butterflies that are found in Indiana. Students learn what kind of plants are needed to start a butterfly garden. They study the four life stages of a butterfly.
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Know your roots!
Looking at an image of plant systems with their roots in the ground, learners determine which would be the most or least difficult to pull. They write short sentences describing which plant they chose and why. Intended for 3rd or 4th...
Curated OER
Plant Science Activities
Students complete several plant life activities. In this botany lesson, students practice painting images that resemble plants they are familiar with as well as planting seeds outside of class. Students participate in a dramatic...
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Names of Flowers
Take a stroll through a virtual garden with this ESL presentation about flowers. From roses to marigolds to jasmines, your English learners will enjoy seeing the attractive illustrations and proper spelling of each flower's name. You...
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Guess What I Came From
First graders examine items made from plants. In this plant instructional activity, 1st graders read Plants Feed on Sunlight and view a PowerPoint presentation regarding plant growth. Students examine products that are made from plants...
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Explore: 1st Grade Plant Observation
First graders grow seeds in a mini terrarium. They compare the root systems, stems, leaves, and flowers of the different plants. They categorize the plants and discuss the basic functions of plant parts.
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Rosa Parks Community Garden
Ninth graders investigate how we depend on plants as the original source of most food. They investigate the parts of plants, and which parts are edible. Students are explained that the garden is also a classroom and the same rules apply.
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Germination Observations
Students germinate seeds under a variety of conditions. First, students read and discuss the background of gardening. After reviewing germination and the steps to the scientific method, groups of students complete experiments.
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Building a Butterfly Garden
Learners plant a garden which will become the habitat for butterflies as they go through their life cycle. In this life cycle lesson, students grow plants that attract butterflies and feed caterpillars in order to observe the...
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Parts of a Plant
Students identify the parts of a plant and their functions. In this plant biology lesson, students view a PowerPoint presentation on plants and their parts and discuss the functions of each part. Students observe a real plant and...
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Prairie In A Bottle
Second graders observe images of prairie ecosystems and discuss the needs of living things. They create a prairie habitat in a closed jar to observe the water cycle and plant growth.
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Food Chain
Fourth graders explore the concept of food chains. In this food chain lesson, 4th graders discuss what different animals eat and how they are all connected. Students explore a garden and the environment around them to find examples of a...
Outside Education
Plant a Plant in Anything!
Primary graders repurpose items brought from home to create containers for plants. After poking holes in their containers, kids add soil and plant seeds or transplant an item, and then observe and draw conclusions about which items...
Curated OER
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Students create a design for a school garden. For this garden design lesson, 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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The Plastic Bag Greenhouse
Third graders observe plants and record their growth. They describe the parts of plants in detail including the roots, stems and leaves.
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Zen Gardens
Learners study the design elements and symbolism of Japanese gardens through a hands-on lesson in Zen Garden design.
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Looking Upwards: Greenroofing & Rooftop Gardening
Young scholars explore the role of green roofing and rooftop gardening in contemporary architectural design. They then conduct collaborative research to learn about the history, process, science, and environmental impact of green...
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Science: Seeds to Plants
First graders compare and contrast different seeds before planting them. They assess the basic needs to plants and conduct experiments of deprivation of those needs. They write stories and draw pictures of plants which are bound into a...
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Where Food Grows
Students identify how vegetable plants grow. In this plant lesson plan, students brainstorm different fruits and vegetables and read the book Growing Vegetable Soup. Students visit a garden and observe how vegetables grow.
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Special Seeds
Students create their own garden. In this gardening lesson, students get a packet of seeds and plant them in a special part of the garden. They are responsible for watering, weeding, and caring for their plants.