Lesson Plan Format for Science Inquiry

Name: Kayla Picchi

Grade Level: First Grade
Subject: Science
Date: 03/21/2014

School: Babeck Early Childhood Center

Title/Source of lesson: Needs of Plants (Photosynthesis)

Description of learners:
Gender: 13 female, 11 male
Race: 23 Caucasian, 1 Mixed
IEPs: 8
Gifted: 4
ELLS: 0
Grade Band Theme: Life Science
Strand: Energy is observed through movement, heating, cooling and the needs of living
organisms.
Topic: Basic Needs of Living Things
Condensed Content Statement(s): Living things have basic needs, which are met by obtaining
materials from the physical environment.
Science Inquiry and Application:
o Observe and ask questions about the natural environment;
o Plan and conduct simple investigations;
o Communicate about observations, investigations and explanations; and
o Review and ask questions about the observations and explanations of others.
Instructional Objectives*: After observing seeds grow that were given various combinations of
resources (sunlight, water, soil), students should be able to communicate and indicate the
needs of plants on a basic level.
Differentiation(s): Teacher will provide differentiation for students on an individual level. We will
plant the seeds with one student at a time, therefore giving us the ability to add supports that
reach each student on their developmental level. We will reach them by asking them questions
about the specific variables involved in plant growth, scaffolding the support.
Materials/Resources Needed*: Sunflower poster, markers, sunflower seeds, clear plastic cups,
water, soil, Discover the Wonder: Module A Plant Big Book, and cut & paste activity assessment
sheet.

Key (Academic) Vocabulary: needs, wants, energy, photosynthesis

Instructional Strategies/Learning Tasks (including what you AND your students will be
doing):
Day 1: Pre-assessment (Whole group)
Teacher brings large (human size) drawing of a sunflower and pins it on the white board
at the front of the room.
Teacher says: You already learned about the needs and wants of animals. Remember, a
need is something that they have to have to live. Some things you might want, but you
dont actually need them. What are some things that animals need to live?
Student answers will vary.
Teacher says: Plants are living things too, so today were going to talk about the needs
of plants- specifically sunflower seeds.
Teacher asks: What do you think are some of the things that sunflower seeds need to
grow?
Student answers will vary.
Teacher writes down all answers on the sunflower poster.

Teacher says: We are going to test these and see if they are actually needs or if they are
just wants. When we come back each of you will get to plant your own sunflower seed
based off the needs you think it has.
Day 2: Planting activity (Individual instruction)
Teacher brings plastic cups, sunflower seeds, planting soil, and watering can.
Teacher asks: Which resources do you think your flower will need to grow? Only give it
things you think it needs, not what you think it wants. I will write down your name and
which things to give your seed on your cup, then you can help me plant it!
Student answers will vary in any combination of sunlight, soil, and/or water.
Teacher says: Ok! Put your seed in! Now we just have to wait and see if it grows!
Day 6: Observations and Predictions (Whole group)
Teacher shows 4 plants, each with a different missing variable.
Teacher asks: Lets look at our sunflowers! Are any of them growing? Do you see any
sprouting? Which ones? Why do you think they are growing? Do you think yours will
grow? Why?
Student answers will vary.
Teacher will guide students to focus on the needs given to their plants and make the
connection that their seed will/will not grow based off the plant that has similar resources
Day 13: Final observations and lesson (Whole group)
Teacher brings Discover the Wonder: Module A Plant Big Book, and sunflower poster
Teacher shows 4 plants, each with a different missing variable.
Teacher asks: Which of these plants grew? Which resources did they have? Which ones
grew the most? Which things do you think are needs then? Were we right before?
Which of the things we wrote on the sunflower poster are really needs?
Students should discuss and decide that sunlight and water are needs, but soil is not.
Teacher reads page A22-A23 from Discover the Wonder: Module A Plant Big Book
(introducing the concept of photosynthesis).
Teacher asks: Does anyone know the big word that means plants use sunlight to make
food?
Student possibly answers: Photosynthesis.
Teacher says: Photosynthesis means that plants use sunlight, water, and air to make
their food! As long as they have these resources, they should be able to live; they dont
need soil.
Day 13: Post-Assessment Activity (Individual)
Teacher brings post-assessment activity sheet
Teacher says: you are each going to get an activity sheet that shows the different
resources we gave our plants. I want you to cut them out and glue them in the correct
place, sorting them by whether they are a need or a want. Needs go on the left side of
the page, wants go on the right side.
Students work individually, cutting and gluing sunlight, soil, and water in the correct
place based on whether they are a need or a want of plants.

Assessment plan*:
Pre-assessment Discussion (Whole group)
Teacher brings large (human size) drawing of a sunflower and pins it on the white board
at the front of the room.
Teacher says: You already learned about the needs and wants of animals. Remember, a
need is something that they have to have to live. Some things you might want, but you
dont actually need them. What are some things that animals need to live?
Student answers will vary.
Teacher says: Plants are living things too, so today were going to talk about the needs
of plants- specifically sunflower seeds.
Teacher asks: What do you think are some of the things that sunflower seeds need to
grow?
Student answers will vary.
Teacher writes down all answers on the sunflower poster.
Teacher says: We are going to test these and see if they are actually needs or if they are
just wants. When we come back each of you will get to plant your own sunflower seed
based off the needs you think it has.
Post-Assessment Activity (Individual)
Teacher brings post-assessment activity sheet
Teacher says: you are each going to get an activity sheet that shows the different
resources we gave our plants. I want you to cut them out and glue them in the correct
place, sorting them by whether they are a need or a want. Needs go on the left side of
the page, wants go on the right side.
Students work individually, cutting and gluing sunlight, soil, and water in the correct
place based on whether they are a need or a want of plants.