SET YOUR ROOTS IN READING

 

Grade Levels 3 –5

Science, Reading, and Technology

Sherri Kain – kain@apr.sprnet.org

Carla McCauley – carla@arp.sprnet/org

Janet Shuttlesworth – janet@arp.sprnet.org

Arp Elementary School

Arp I. S. D.

BACK

 

OVERVIEW

Plants grow almost everywhere on Earth.  Plants come in many sizes.  Each plant has the same basic needs.  These needs must be met in order for the plant to live and grow.  Through out this project the students will learn the basic needs of plants and why they grow in different parts of the United States.

 

INTENDED OUTCOMES

Students will:

1.        Be able to identify the life cycles of a plant.

2.        Learn to care for and respect living things through hands-on activities, observations, and management skills.

3.        Work in groups to care for their plants as it goes through the different stages of the life cycle.

4.        Chart the progress of their plants.

5.        Take photos with digital camera and post to web site.

6.        Create and illustrate a book on the different stages of the life cycle for an indoor plant.

7.        Create and illustrate a book on the different stages of the life cycle for an outdoor plant.

8.        Create and illustrate a book on the different stages of the life cycle for a plant from a seed.

9.        Write a report about their plant of study.  Report must include physical description, and life cycle stages.

10.     Write poetry about plants.

11.     Write a fictional short story about a plant. (flowers, trees)

12.     Students will make a Venn diagram comparing the life cycles of flowers, trees, and vegetables.

13.    Use digital camera to photograph life cycle progress.  Record data sent via the Internet regarding vote for your plant projects.

 

TEKS:  see web site under time line/curriculum calendar and TEKS

TIME LINE: see time line/curriculum calendar on web site

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

The students will be placed in an expert model.   Each student will have a specific task.  The groups will then take all the individual tasks and combine them to make a large group lesson.  The class will then tutor the younger grade on the lesson. 

 

STUDENT GROUPINGS

The students will be grouped in collaborative teams of 4 – 6 students to complete the first part of the project.  The students will then be multiage grouped so that they can peer tutor.

 

TECHNOLOGY

Microsoft Word, MicroSoft PowerPoint, MicroSoft FrontPage, MicroSoft Publisher, Scanner, Digital Camera, Internet Connection

 

 

 

 Web sites:  handout included

See web site for complete list of “My Favorite” under science sites




Videos from region7:


VC2590L                 What Do Seeds Do?

VC2951M What Is A Flower?

VC2951N                 What Is A Leaf?

VC2951L What Is A Plant?

VC2951O What Is A Seed?

VC2951H What Plants Need For Growth

VC2950H Seeds Scatter

VC2950B Seed Germination

VC2376C Seeds

VC2591   Plants Make Food

 

VC2323G Plants and Their Importance

VC2323F Plants Are Different and Alike

VC 2586B                Plants: Green, Growing, Giving Life

VC2592   Learning About Leaves

VC2591A Let Me See (Series) Plants

VC2591M                What Is A Flower

VC2591L                 What Is A Plant

VC2590I  Flowering Plant From Seed To Seed

VC7034M                The Magic School Bus Goes to Seed

 


OTHER RESOURCES

Text books, library books on plants, teacher bought resource books, A&M Resource Center Personnel, County Extension Agent, Plant Farm Manager

 

Books:


The Magic School BusIn A Pickle by Joanna Cole

The Magic School Bus – Inside A Beehive by Joanna Cole

The Magic School BusPlants Seeds by Joanna Cole

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Science Around the Year by Janice VanCleaves

 


PREPARATION/PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES

The teacher needs to purchase seeds, potting soil, and containers; order videos from Region VII, bookmark web site favorites.

The students need to have a basic working knowledge of the different MicroSoft programs required.

See web site for list of non-consumable items and consumable materials.

 

PROCEDURE

See web site for activities and experiments.  Each activity will have procedures to follow.

 

ASSESSMENT

See web site for examples of rubrics for these assessments

Student Multimedia Presentation Assessment:  The student will be graded on rubric and on the process by which the product was done.

Student Publishing Assessment:  The student will be graded on rubric and on the process by which the product was done.

Student Web Page Assessment:  The student will be graded on rubric and on the process by which the product was done.

 

 

MATERIALS

The supplies are listed for each activity posted on the web site under Activities and Experiments. A complete list of consumable and non-consumable materials is on web site.

 

STUDENT WORK / SAMPLES

Digital examples will be given during the presentation and others can be viewed on the web site under Student Samples