Age Recommendation: Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Subject Area: Botany
Objective
Students will be able to identify the parts of a plant.
Students will learn the functions of the parts of the plant.
Students will learn the best conditions for a seed to grow.
Materials List
egg carton
re-closable sandwich bag (not zipper lock baggies)
lima bean seeds
sharp knife (like an X-Acto)
terracotta pot
acrylic paints and paintbrushes
flower seeds of choice
planting soil (enough for the terracotta pot)
several different seed packets (flower, herb, and vegetable)
colored pencils or markers
blue, yellow, white, and brown index cards, cardstock or construction paper cut down to index card size
construction paper
glue
worksheets (linked in the appropriate lesson or activity)
Vocabulary List
seed coat
water
roots
stem
leaves
Flower
photosynthesis
petal
filament
seed
fruit
soil
Lessons and Activities
Parts of a Plant: With your child, look up images of various fruits and vegetables. Explain the parts of the plants through these items. For instance, celery for stems, peas from a peapod for seeds, broccoli is the flower, tomatoes for the fruit, carrots are roots, and lettuce for leaves. Then provide your child with the “Plants We Eat” worksheet to complete.
Print out the diagram that shows parts of the plant. Discuss the different parts of the plant as described on the diagram. You can use the blank diagram to test your child’s ability to name the parts of the plant. Go ahead and allow your child to color the diagram if he wishes.
Each Part has a Task: Each part of the plant performs a different function essential to the plant’s growth. Explain each part and its function to your child.
Functions of the Parts of the Plant
Seed Exploration: You will need a variety of seed packets. Open up the packets to show your child the different sizes, shapes, and colors of the seeds. Ask your child if he can guess what will grow from each seed. On construction paper, have your child glue the seeds and mark the type of seed by writing it or gluing the seed packet near the seed.
Seed Scavenger Hunt: Head outside, with the egg carton in hand, and try to find and identify seeds. Tell your child that seeds need forms of transportation to spread. Ask your child if he can think of methods a seed can travel. Explain that seeds can be transported by wind, get a ride on an animal, float on water, or be excreted from an animal.
Seed Dissection: Fill a re-closable sandwich bag with lima bean seeds. Then, add as much water as possible to the bag. Place the bag in the sun and allow the seeds to absorb the water. The seeds will swell up as water is absorbed. The bag may burst so consider placing it on a plate or in a bowl shallow enough for the sun to shine on the bag. Inform your child that the seeds need to absorb water before they can grow. After the seeds have soaked up the water take a few out of the bag to dissect.
With a sharp knife slice the seed open lengthwise. As you slice the seed instruct your child that you are cutting through the seed coat. The “little plant” on the inside of the seed is called an embryo. The rest of the seed is a source of food for the embryo.
What a Plant Needs to Grow: Prepare in advance by having your index cards ready. Write “air” on the white card, “water” on the blue card, “soil” on the brown card, and “sun” on the yellow card. Let your child know that seeds need four basic things to grow. Ask your child if he can name all four. Show him the cards and have him repeat the word on the card.
Explain that soil holds nutrients that plant needs. We also need nutrients to grow. Ask your child if we also need sun, water, and air to grow as well.
Define Photosynthesis for your child. It is the process by which plants produce food. For an in-depth explanation you may want to read “What is Photosynthesis?”
Terracotta Pot Craft: Time to shine and show off creativity with this simple craft. Gather up acrylic paints, paintbrushes, and something to protect your table. Allow your child’s originality to come through as he paints the flower pot. Once the flower pot dries completely, your child can fill it 2/3rds full with potting soil. Then, pick out a flower seed and place in the pot. Cover with more soil and water gently. Place in the sun and watch how excited your child will be as the seed grows into a flower.
Conclusion
Discuss how a plant grows compared with animals or humans.
Ask your child if he can remember the parts of the plants and each function.
Go over the vocabulary words and see what your child remembers.
Suggested Reading
The Tiny Seed, by Eric Carle
How a Seed Grows, by Helene J. Jordan
Jack’s Garden, by Henry Cole
One Bean, by Anne Rockwell
A Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds, by Jean Richards