Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Growing Patterns and Sequences

For Teachers 6th - 7th Standards
Learners explore, discover, compare, and contrast arithmetic and geometric sequences in this collaborative, hands-on activity. They build and analyze growing patterns to distinguish which kind of sequence is represented by a set of data...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Repeating Patterns

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students 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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life Cycle of Trees

For Teachers 2nd - 8th Standards
Turn your students into young tree-tectives with this fun science investigation into the life of trees. To begin, a class volunteer gets dressed up in a tree costume as the different parts of trees are introduced. Then, the class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We’ve Bean Growing: Anatomy of Germination

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I'm a Weather Watcher Watching plants grow by......my,my,my

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growing Circles

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the equation to represent a circle. In this algebra lesson, students review properties of conics and how they are related. they use a robot to create a visual of circles and their application to the real world.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Does Your Garden Grow?

For Teachers K - 6th
Students construct and maintain a school garden. In this gardening lesson, students plan the construction of the garden by writing letters to local businesses asking for supplies and materials; students build the garden using their math...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dream! (Part One)

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students share with the class what they want to be when they grow up. As a class, they identify what they want to be for Halloween as well. They are videotaped stating their dream and photographed with their mask. Using the masks, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spring Potted Plants

For Teachers K - 5th
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,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watch Me Grow

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students observe that plants need air, food, light, and water to survive.  In this plant biology lesson, students observe the growth and development of two plants, one is the control plant and the other is denied either air, water,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tree Cookies

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners identify heartwood, sapwood, and a tree's annual rings, infer from a tree's rings what damage or stress might have occurred in its life, and make a time-line of human history that coincides with a tree's rings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant Diversity and Distribution

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Temperature and the Tomato

For Teachers 9th - 12th
You will need a photovoltaic system and monitor at your school in order to obtain all of the data required to thoroughly implement this lesson. Your class monitors daily temperature and insolation amounts over a two week span of time....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphing the Population Explosion of Weeds

For Teachers 4th - 6th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Area of Similar Figures

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore the concept of finding area of similar figures. In this finding area of similar figures lesson, students use pattern blocks to construct similar figures. Students trace their construction and find the area. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Himalayan Herds: Fractional Exponential Growth

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Young scholars solve problems by identifying exponential growth and decay and differentiating between patterns, relation and functions. For this algebra lesson, students apply concepts of exponential growth to solve problems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Color Is Your Apple?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders spend time identifying the characteristics they have and ones they would like to develop for their own personal growth. As a class, they brainstorm ways they can tell they are growing up or being mature. Individually, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trees: Are They Thriving or Surviving?

For Teachers 8th
In this trees survival lesson plan, 8th graders discuss what trees need to grow, brainstorm things that could adversely affect tree growth, and compare characteristics of thriving trees vs. surviving trees. Students learn about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Logs of Straw: Dendocronology

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students investigate the age of trees by analyzing tree rings.  In this dendocronology lesson plan, students examine sample images of tree rings and identify their age by the amount of rings.  Students complete a chart...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Leaf Identification

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students identify different leaf types. They examine their patterns, shapes and colors. They complete a worksheet to end the lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time and Cycles - Dendrochronology

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the lives of trees by examining ring cycles.  For this plant life lesson, students identify the field of study known as dendrochronology and discover its history.  Students investigate a simulated tree ring...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Miracle Fish: Learning to Design an Experiment

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop procedures to explore the behavior of fish.  For this scientific experiment lesson students from a hypothesis, write a question, identify different variables and controls in their experiment. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Hard" Data from Space

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students use satellite images to analyze development patterns within Baltimore City. They prepare a land cover map for Baltimore indicating the prevalence of impervious surfaces and explore how these patterns affect water pollution.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All About Me: My Senses

For Teachers K
Students explore the world around them and identify their five senses and the parts of their bodies that are associated with each sense.