Technology Integration Unit Lesson Plan

Lesson:  Life Cycle of a Plant                                             

Technologies incorporated:

YouTube

Turtlediary.com (online video and interactive games) 

Laptop computers

Kidpix

 

Description

Explore the life cycle of a plant and what plants need to grow

Describe and illustrate the life cycle of a plant

 

Instructional Objectives

Science

(2.10) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms resemble their parents and have structures and processes that help them survive within their environments.

(B) observe, record, and compare how the physical characteristics of plants help them meet their basic needs such as stems carry water throughout the plant.

 

Intended Audience

2^nd grade students

 

Learning Theories

Constructivist Learning Theory (hands on)

 

Length of Lesson: 90 minutes for core of lesson.  If you choose to complete the extension activity, it will take 6 weeks for the seeds to germinate.

Activities

1. Display potted plant to class, ask students to complete first two sections of KWL chart listing what they know about the plant life cycle and what they would like to know.

2. Build background knowledge by viewing and listening to Sid the Seed on YouTube, this is a book about a seed’s journey to becoming a tree. (whole group)

3. Student’s will then view an interactive video on turtle.com depicting the stages involved in each phase of the life cycle of a plant. (independent)

4. Using laptop computers, working in groups, students will engage in two interactive games to reinforce knowledge.  (cooperative groups)

5. Students will then complete the last section of the KWL chart, listing any new information they obtained from the lesson. (cooperative groups)

6. As an assessment, using Kidpix software students will create a picture depicting the stages of the life cycle of a plant.  (independent)

 

Extension Activity (6 weeks)

Give children a close-up look at the first stages of an apple tree's life cycle by sprouting apple seeds in the classroom. Ask students to save seeds from apples they eat. Give each child a few apple seeds, a resealable plastic bag (use a permanent marker to write each child's name on the bag), and a paper towel.

 

Demonstrate the following steps as children follow along with their materials.

•Moisten the paper towel with water.

•Fold the paper towel in half and place it inside the plastic bag.

•Place the apple seeds inside the bag on top of the paper towel. Close the bag partway, leaving an opening so that air can circulate inside. Lay the bag on a tray. (Bags may be stacked if necessary.)

 

 

 Place the tray in a refrigerator for six weeks. (The refrigerator time simulates the long, cold winter all apples need to grow.) Bring out the trays at regular intervals and let children use hand lenses to examine the seeds through the plastic bags. (Do not remove the seeds from the bag.) Spritz the paper towels with water to keep the paper towels moist but not soggy. As the seeds begin to germinate, tiny roots and little shoots will appear. Plant the sprouts one-inch deep in paper cups filled with potting soil. Write children's names on their cups and place in a sunny spot. Have children keep the soil in their cups moist. Cover the cups loosely with plastic wrap to retain moisture and help seedlings survive over weekends.