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Nature provides many rich opportunities for
exploration, and spring is a particularly good time to head outdoors.
While most preschool students have planted a seed in a paper cup, by early
elementary school, students are ready to take science explorations to
a higher level. In this unit, activities focus on plants and trees —
their life cycles, the elements they need to grow and flourish, and the
impact of the environment on their growth and other characteristics.
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Growing Seeds
In these activities, students will practice their
science skills as they observe, describe, measure, and record plant growth;
recognize elements plants need for growth; compare growth of different
plants; and describe the effects of the environment on plant growth. In
Flowerpots, Zinnias, and Butterflies, they will also express themselves
creatively by decorating flowerpots.
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Life Cycles
Students explore the life cycle of a tree as
well as conduct a simple experiment to discover what happens when plants
die. They will identify and compare seasonal changes that occur in a tree,
as well as recognize that things change over time. They also observe rot
and learn about ways in which it is a useful process.
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Classification
These reproducibles encourage students to practice
classification skills and compare and contrast plants and animals. Students
will also recognize that different kinds of plants and animals belong
to different environments, and older students will use a Venn diagram
for classification.
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What Do Plants Need?
With poems on an outdoor theme and related activities,
students can experience poetry in the form of songs and identify elements
plants need for survival, as well as recognize the impact of human behavior
on the environment. In Spring Is Sprung, the Dirtmeister reminds students
that plants need water for survival, and students make predictions and
observations as they find out how water moves in plants.
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