Curated OER
What Do Plants Need to Grow?
Fourth graders control variables to determine the effect on plant growth. They collect information by observing and measuring and construct simple graphs, tables, maps and charts to organize, examine and evaluate information.
National Wildlife Federation
Citizen Science to the Rescue!
You don't have to be a scientist or even out of high school to contribute to scientific research. In the 12th lesson in the series of 21, scholars use this opportunity to add to the growing body of scientific knowledge and consider the...
Science 4 Inquiry
Maintaining Mass
Can you disprove the law of conservation of mass? Pupils observe the teacher weigh each part of a reaction. Then, the teacher weighs the result of the reaction and everyone sees that the products do not equal the reactants. Then they...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan: Plant Life Cycles
Young scientists view videos to watch the changes through the life cycle of a plant. Then they will germinate seeds on a sock and in a plastic bag. Finally, they answer questions about the sequence of plant growth and record changes in...
Beyond Benign
SLS Toxicology Test
Ingredients in your shampoo are toxic enough to kill plants. The 16th installment of the series of 24 tests the toxicity level of various concentrations of SLS, a chemical found in nearly all shampoo. Learners prepare percent solutions...
NOAA
Climate, Corals and Change
Global warming isn't just an issue on land; deep ocean waters are also showing troubling signs. Young scientists learn more about deep water corals and the many recent discoveries researchers have made. Then they examine data related to...
Curated OER
Grow Your Own Grub
Students study plant needs and growth by completing a gardening activity. In this plant study lesson, students watch a video and discuss plant growth needs. Students plant seeds in containers and water the plants. Students take photos of...
Curated OER
Germinating Seeds on Gelatin
Students germinate seeds in unflavored gelatin to which liquid house plant food has been added. Students observe and record plant growth in this medium with a variety of variables in a number of experiments.
Curated OER
Planting Parts
Each student plants two lima beans in a plastic cup with a paper towel so they can be observed growing. The beans are misted with a spray bottle, and placed in a warm sunny area. Students view the beans each day for the next two weeks,...
Curated OER
School Yard Park/ Ecosystem
Fifth graders examine ecosystems in their schoolyard. In this nature and ecosystem lesson, 5th graders map their schoolyard into workable plots. They classify plants and animals found in the plot. They revisit their site every two weeks...
Curated OER
From Seeds to Plants
Second graders review the process of plant reproduction and the role of seeds in that process. The students dissect a seed, analyze their finds, collect and record data, and make predictions about seed germination and plant growth.
G. Turrell
Science Activity 1: Light & Sound
Are you looking for lab sheets to go with your class experiment on plant response to light? You are no longer in the dark! This is a lesson that was written for a unit on light, but could easily be used to demonstrate plant behaviors in...
Scholastic
Spring Is Sprung: Water Movement in Plants
Young scientists use food coloring and celery stalks to determine how water travels through plants.
Museum of Science
Worm Farm
It is not a barrel of monkeys—it's a jar of worms! Scholars create a worm farm in a spaghetti sauce jar. Pupils layer moist soil, sand, and oatmeal to create a habitat for worms. Individuals place worms into the habitat, cover it with...
Curated OER
Following The Sun
Students investigate botany by conducting a plant growth experience. In this sunlight lesson, students utilize two potted flowers, depriving one of direct sunlight, and recording their growth process in science journals. Students discuss...
Curated OER
Milkweed Plants
Second graders view milkweed plants (or pictures). The describe the plant and discuss ways some butterflies use it as a food source. Students view four pictures of different phases of a milkweed plant's life cycle. They discuss the...
Curated OER
Plant Seeds
The concepts of a year, and the changing of the seasons are very important concepts to reinforce with young learners. Here, pre-kindergartners and kindergartners begin to understand the concept of one year, the passing of time, and the...
Curated OER
Dating a Volcanic Eruption
Students discover how to "read" tree rings to determine the date of a volcanic eruption and the effects an eruption has on plant growth. After a lecture/demo, students utilize a worksheet imbedded in this plan to date an eruption.
Curated OER
Growing Plants
Pupils explore plants and recognize that they are living things that require light and water to grow. For this online plant biology lesson, students identify, name and match the parts of plants. Extension activities and suggested...
Curated OER
Dark Days
Fourth graders investigate the impacts of erosion. In this Science lesson plan, 4th graders determine connections between plants and soil erosion. Students examine the historical implications of erosion.
Curated OER
Down to the Root of the Plant
Second graders identify types of roots and their purposes and observe and document root growth. students observe their roots once a week and measure them to see if there has been any change. Each student keeps a written log of the...
Curated OER
Botany: Rice Plant Development
Learners determine what occurs in the final stages of the development of a rice plant. In this rice plant development instructional activity, students use the associated study guide to list the three stages in the ripening phase of rice...
Curated OER
Growing Shamrocks!
Students discover Irish heritage by planting seeds. In this botany lesson, students utilize a shamrock cookie cutter to create a form which they can grow alfalfa inside. Students observe the plant growing over the next few weeks.
Curated OER
Forest Succession
Students research environmental change and why forests cannot stay the same for long. In this environmental growth lesson, students discuss the life cycle of a tree and examine tree cookies to discover the age of these specimens....