Plant Life Cycle
Target Population:
Description:
Plan To Introduce The Learning Experience:
- Kindergarten - Science
Description:
- Before playing the clips, I will ask students to take a few moments to think about what they might know about plants. This brainstorming activity will get their minds working by allowing them to draw upon past experiences, It will also allow me to determine which areas might need additional reinforcement. I will ask guided questions such as, "what kind of plants have you seen?" "do you remember what they need to grow?", "what happens when they begins to grow?". I will then play the first video clip, which is a short story that follows the process of "Peep" planting a seed for the first time. After the short story I will provide two time lapsed clips of seedlings growing so students can see a realistic view and understand the change is gradual. Lastly I have included a song the reinforces the needs of a plant, as well as, the different changes occuring.
- K.7 The student will investigate and understand basic needs and life processes of plants and animals. Key concepts include:
- b) plants need nutrients, water, air, light, and a place to grow to survive;
- c) plants and animals change as they grow, have varied life cycles, and eventually die.
- K.9 The student will investigate and understand that there are simple repeating patterns in his/her daily life. Key concepts include:
- c) animal and plant growth.
Plan To Introduce The Learning Experience:
This animated short story follows "Peep" as he plants a seed for the first time. The blue bird gives Peep a seed from a sunflower and tells him that if he plants it then it will grow into a sunflower, except Peep has no idea what do with it after it is given to him. Peep assumed there was a flower inside of the seed. The bluebird explains he must first plant the seed and he proceeds to dig a hole. After digging Peep and his friends sit and wait until his friend tells him it won't grow without water. Peep proceeds to water the plant and continue to wait. They grow impatient and his friends decide to leave Peep all alone. Peep decided not to give up and continued to water and wait for days. Finally one day his friend notices the seedling beginning to sprout and they continue to water and wait for a long time and the flower slowly got taller and like a sunflower. This clip introduces the concept in a friendly format that will engage students.
Next, I will provide two time lapsed clips which allow students to see the growth from different perspectives. These are also more realistic then the animated short story. I will draw students to focus on the various things that they see changing/new parts. I will also point out that in the corner there are days changing. A plant does not grow over the course of one day as showed in Peeps story. This will allow students to further comprehend that change gradually occurs and plants have a life cycle similar to their own.
This short song can be taught to students whom might have trouble remembering needs of the plant. It could also be used as a transitonal between activities.
Introduction Instructional Strategies
- meaningful, purposeful, mindful instructional contexts are established.
- informing learners of intended outcomes.
- efforts are made to gain attention.