We Love Flowers!
Kindergarten
by Amy Roman
INTRODUCTION

Lesson Topic: Plant (Flower) Growth

Estimated Lesson Length: Approximately 30-45 minutes

Virgina Standards of Learning Addressed:

Earth Patterns, Cycles, and Change

K.8 The student will investigate and understand simple patterns in his/her daily life. Key concepts include
c) animal and plant growth.

Visual Communication and Production

K.10 The student will use motor skills (e.g., pinching…) to create two-dimensional and three dimensional works of art. (A real potted flower in this case.)

English/Reading

K.5 The student will understand how print is organized and read.
c) Follow words from left to right..
d) Match voice with print: syllables, words, and phrases.

English/Oral Language

K.2 The student will use listening and speaking vocabularies.
b) Use words to describe/name people, places, and things.
f) Follow one-step and two-step directions.

English/Writing

K.12 The student will explore the uses of available technology for reading and writing.

COGNITIVE OBJECTIVES

The students will be able to identify the basic needs of plants (flowers) to grow verbally (and physically).

The students will be able to identity the basic needs of plants in the correct sequence verbally (and physically).

The students will read (guided by teacher) the text on the video.

The students will be introduced to technology through a computer-based video.

MATERIALS/TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANCED PREPARATION

Smartboard, screen, or white dry-erase board for projection
Computer and computer hook-up capability (internet if viewing through site, no internet if downloaded or burned to DVD)
Pointing device for teacher
One potted plant with no flower (green varietal), and one potted flower in bloom (gerber daisy) for demonstration
Small plastic or clay flower pots with dish (or plastic cup with hole at bottom with plastic dish) for each student
Potting soil (already put in pots)
Plant/flower seeds (teacher’s choice, already put on dish next to pot) 1-3 each student
Water can (device) with small spout (one for each table, or one for teacher only)
Instructions for parent/guardians for growth at home.

TEACHING AND LEARNING SEQUENCE

Introduction/Anticipatory Set

The students will sit in their seats or other area facing the video screen.
The teacher will talk to the students about plants and flowers: showing a potted plant and a potted flower.
The teacher will explain to the students that Some plants have flowers and some do not.
The teacher will explain to the students that Some plants/flowers grow inside in pots and some grow outside in the ground (or pots).
The teacher will ask the students Do you have plants and flowers inside your house and outside of your house? (Let as many students as possible comment.).
The teacher will ask the students What did this plant/flower grow from? (call on one student).
ANSWER: A seed. (Teacher may hint.)
The teacher will ask the students What does the plant/flower grow in? (call on one student).
ANSWER: Dirt. (Teacher may hint.)
The teacher will ask the students What does the plant/flower need to grow? (call on one student).
ANSWER: Water and sun. (Teacher may hint.)

Lesson Development

The teacher will play the We Love Flowers! video.
The teacher will read the sentences on the video aloud while pointing to each word on the screen.
The teacher will ask the same questions to the class (call on one student for each question) from the anticipatory set of questions above (expecting correct answers).
The teacher will play the video one more time.
The teacher will tell the students to repeat the words on the screen with him/her as he/she points to them.
The teacher will ask the same question to the class again (call on different students, expecting correct answers).

Closure:

The teacher will give each student a soil-filled pot on a dish with 1-3 seeds.
The teacher will model pushing the seed(s) into the soil.
The teacher will model watering the dirt.
The teacher will tell students to put their seed into the dirt as he/she has done (walk around and monitor).
The teacher will monitor children watering the dirt, or choose to water for the student his/herself.
The teacher will ask the students Now what else does the plant/flower need to grow? (call on one student).
ANSWER: Sun.
The teacher will explain to the class that he/she is sending a set of directions home for their parents/guardians to help them make the plant/flower grow at home.
The teacher will send the students home with the pot, dish and instructions for growth.
The teacher and students will shout (at appropriate “indoor” level) We love flowers!

HOMEWORK

Take care of plant/flower.

ASSESSMENT

Formative:

During the repeating portion of this lesson students will be evaluated on how much they participate with the class.

The teacher will monitor the students during this lesson by walking around and guiding them during the planting portion of this lesson. If mistakes are being made, the students will be assisted in corrections.

The students will be expected to stay on task as part of the assessment expectations.

Summative:

The students will be evaluated on completing the in-class task of planting the seed and watering the dirt.
If they do this, they will receive a check.

The students will report back (informally) about the progress of their flower/plant during class discussion.

If the students bring in a picture of the plant/flower (alive or not) they will receive an additional reward (to be determined by the individual teacher).

The students may also choose to “journal” about their plant/flower growth through text and/or drawings for additional rewards as well.

REFERENCES:

None.