Children's Books
Seeds. By Ken Robbins. Illus. by author. (2005). 32p. Atheneum Books for Young Readers Publishing Company. (978-0689850417). Gr. 1-2.
This book introduces students to a variety of different types, shapes, and sizes of seeds. Readers are taught that seeds produce all plants and are given numerous examples of fruits, flowers, and trees that grow from seeds.
This book introduces students to a variety of different types, shapes, and sizes of seeds. Readers are taught that seeds produce all plants and are given numerous examples of fruits, flowers, and trees that grow from seeds.
Pick, Pull, Snap! By Lola M. Schaefer. Illus. by Lindsay Barrett George. (2003). 32p. Greenwillow Books Publishing Company. (978-0688178345). Gr. K-4.
Students are introduced to the stages of plant growth in this vivid, colorful story. The tri-fold pages fold out to expose a variety of flowers and fruits from pollination through maturation.
Students are introduced to the stages of plant growth in this vivid, colorful story. The tri-fold pages fold out to expose a variety of flowers and fruits from pollination through maturation.
Leaf Man. By Lois Ehlert. Illus. by author. (2005). 40p. Harcourt Children's Books Publishing Company. (978-0152053042). Gr. K-2.
In this book, actual fall leaves are illustrated as they float and move with the wind to form figures on each page. The author also included a leaf-identification section of the book to demonstrate from which tree each type of leaf originates.
In this book, actual fall leaves are illustrated as they float and move with the wind to form figures on each page. The author also included a leaf-identification section of the book to demonstrate from which tree each type of leaf originates.
One Bean. By Anne Rockwell. Illus. by Megan Halsey. (1999). 32p. Walker Childrens Publishing Company. (978-0802775726). Gr. Pre K-2.
Students are exposed to the life cycle of a plant and plant parts throughout this story. In addition, the book discusses what a plant needs to grow.
Students are exposed to the life cycle of a plant and plant parts throughout this story. In addition, the book discusses what a plant needs to grow.
Jack's Garden. By Henry Cole. Illus. by author. (1997). 32p. Greenwillow Books Publishing Company. (978-0688152833). Gr. K-2.
This book follows the growth and development of multiple types of plants in a garden. Readers are introduced to plants interdependency with the living and nonliving things around them.
This book follows the growth and development of multiple types of plants in a garden. Readers are introduced to plants interdependency with the living and nonliving things around them.
Web Sites for Kids
Growing Plants - Interactive Game
In this game, students get to re-build a plant by clicking and dragging the parts of the plant: roots, stem, leaves, and flower.
In this game, students get to re-build a plant by clicking and dragging the parts of the plant: roots, stem, leaves, and flower.
Helping Plants Grow Well - Interactive Experiment
In this experiment, students attempt to grow a plant as tall as possible. Students are able to manipulate one or more variables while growing the plant to see the effects on the plants growth, including water and sunlight.
In this experiment, students attempt to grow a plant as tall as possible. Students are able to manipulate one or more variables while growing the plant to see the effects on the plants growth, including water and sunlight.
New Plants - Interactive Game
Students are able to choose a variety of plants that they would like to grow in their garden, such as carrots, onions, beans, tomatoes, and potatoes. Students can see the difference in the appearance of each plant and then observe roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds.
Students are able to choose a variety of plants that they would like to grow in their garden, such as carrots, onions, beans, tomatoes, and potatoes. Students can see the difference in the appearance of each plant and then observe roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds.
Dottie's Garden - Interactive Story
Students are prompted through an interactive story in which plants progress from seeds to flowers. The story depicts how plants need water and sun to grow.
Students are prompted through an interactive story in which plants progress from seeds to flowers. The story depicts how plants need water and sun to grow.
Teacher Resources - Lessons/Activities
Parts of a Plant - Anchor Chart
This free anchor chart labels the roots, flower, stem, and leaves on a plant and describes the function of each.
This free anchor chart labels the roots, flower, stem, and leaves on a plant and describes the function of each.
Classifying Plants - Lesson Plan
In this lesson, students learn to classify plants as flowering/nonflowering, evergreen/deciduous, edible/inedible. Students are given photographs of plants and sort them into the previous categories as a class while discussing the differences in each.
In this lesson, students learn to classify plants as flowering/nonflowering, evergreen/deciduous, edible/inedible. Students are given photographs of plants and sort them into the previous categories as a class while discussing the differences in each.
Plant Parts and Functions - Lesson Plan
In this lesson, students learn about the different parts of plants and the functions of each part. This lesson includes plant part review cards and covers a wide variety of activities including observing real plant parts, recording in science journals, and acting out the parts of the plant. There is also a strategy for differentiation in which students create a foldable to portray plant parts and functions.
In this lesson, students learn about the different parts of plants and the functions of each part. This lesson includes plant part review cards and covers a wide variety of activities including observing real plant parts, recording in science journals, and acting out the parts of the plant. There is also a strategy for differentiation in which students create a foldable to portray plant parts and functions.
Seeds, Plants, Flowers, Gardens, and More - Songs and Poems
This link provides many songs and poems to use during instruction about plants. Specifically, there is a poem called "A Seed Needs" that describes what a plant needs to grow.
This link provides many songs and poems to use during instruction about plants. Specifically, there is a poem called "A Seed Needs" that describes what a plant needs to grow.
Plant Needs - Lesson Plan
Students grow their own plants in plastic baggies throughout this lesson plan. They are exposed to the fact that plants need soil and nutrients, space, air, water, and sunlight to grow. This lesson also comes with a set of Plant Needs Review Cards and a Plant Growth worksheet to track students' plants as they grow.
Students grow their own plants in plastic baggies throughout this lesson plan. They are exposed to the fact that plants need soil and nutrients, space, air, water, and sunlight to grow. This lesson also comes with a set of Plant Needs Review Cards and a Plant Growth worksheet to track students' plants as they grow.
Teacher Resources - Assessment
What a Plant Needs to Grow - Worksheet
This worksheet asks students to illustrate a plant and all of the things that it needs to grow. Then, students are to cut and paste the words soil, air, sun, and water from the bottom of the page to label their drawing. To make this more challenging, students can also label the parts of their plant drawing, such as leaves, roots, stem, and flower.
This worksheet asks students to illustrate a plant and all of the things that it needs to grow. Then, students are to cut and paste the words soil, air, sun, and water from the bottom of the page to label their drawing. To make this more challenging, students can also label the parts of their plant drawing, such as leaves, roots, stem, and flower.
Plant Journal - Student Log
Students are able to track the progress of a plant through this journal. Each time they observe their planted seeds, students will write a sentence and draw a picture about what they see. This would be great for a unit project!
Students are able to track the progress of a plant through this journal. Each time they observe their planted seeds, students will write a sentence and draw a picture about what they see. This would be great for a unit project!
Label the Flower - Worksheet
In this free download, there is a worksheet in which students label the parts of a plant on a picture with a word bank.
In this free download, there is a worksheet in which students label the parts of a plant on a picture with a word bank.