What Do Plants Need

To Grow?

Bag-It Activity Information

Hello Parents,
My name is Miss Bolin and I am your childs student teacher this year.
Your child was selected to bring home a science bag-it activity. A bag-it
activity is an extension activity related to a current topic being taught in the
classroom. This year our school began using the Next Generation Science
Standards for our science curriculum. Currently, we are working towards
meeting the following standard; 2-LS2-1: Plan and conduct an investigation to
determine if plants need sunlight and water to grow. For the past two weeks
your child has been learning about what plants need to grow and completing
an investigation related to plants.
The purpose of this bag-it is to help your child develop a deeper
understanding of plants. The book will help your child understand the parts of
a plant and also how seeds grow into plants. The activity will allow your child
to see the growth of a plant from a seed and also learn what plants need to
grow.
For the bag-it activity your child will be reading a book about plants
and completing an activity called Garden in a Bag. Everything you will need
to complete the activity is provided for you in the bag. Inside the bag you will
find a book, directions, activity materials, possible discussion prompts, and a
parent feedback form.
If you have any questions and/or concerns about the activity please
feel free to contact Mrs. Stanton (stantona@myunit5.org).
Please return the bag-it activity by October 21 st . Thank you
for taking time to complete this activity with your child. I hope you and your
child enjoy the activity and learn something new!
Thank you,
Miss Bolin

Discussion Prompts
These prompts are just possible discussions you can have with your
child related to what is happening at school; the book Plants Seeds by
Joanna Cole; and the activity Garden in a Bag.

Ask your child to list and explain the steps of the scientific process.
Ask your child to describe the investigation about plants completed at school.
What have they learned? What was their hypothesis?
In the book Plants Seeds, what does Carlos believe plants need to grow?
o Add some soil, sunshine, water, and some tender, loving care, and
youve got this great garden.
In the book Plants Seeds, where are Ms. Frizzle and her class going? Why are
they going there?
o To Phoebes old school to see the plant she grew in her class garden.
In the book, Plants Seeds, what parts of a plant did Ms. Frizzle and her class
come across?
o Petal, nectar, anther, pollen, stigma, pollen tubes, and seed.
In the book, Plants Seeds, Dorothy Ann described the function of the anther.
What does the anther do?
o The anther is the part of the flower that makes pollen.
Ask your child to try and summarize Plants Seeds.
At the beginning of the Garden in a Bag activity, ask your child if they think the
beans will begin to grow without soil. Ask them to explain why.
After the beans have begun to sprout discuss with your child what germination
is.
o Germination is the process of a seed becoming a plant.
Discuss with your child the parts of the bean sprout.

Garden in a Bag
In class we have been learning about plants and what plants need to
grow. Through our investigation we have learned plants need water and
sunlight to grow. However, do plants need soil to grow? You and your
child will sprout a bean to answer that question.

Materials:

Clear zip lock bag

Lima beans
Paper Towel
Tape
Water

Directions
1. Place the lima beans in water to soak over night.
2. The next day, dampen a paper towel and place the folded towel in the bag. The
paper towel should be damp enough to provide moisture for the beans, but not
dripping (which could cause mold).
3. Place the lima beans between the damp paper towel and the bag and seal the
bag.
4. Tape the bag to a window that gets sunlight.
5. Record your observations on the first day and then every other day in the
Garden in a Bag Observations packet.
6. If after a few days the paper towel begins to dry out, the paper towel can be
moistened.

Source: http://madincrafts.com/gardening-with-preschoolersgerminating/

Materials List
Included in the bag-it:
Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living Things Grow by Joanna Cole
(The Magic School Bus)
Bag-It Activity Information
Garden in a Bag Activity Directions
Garden in a Bag Observations Packet
Parent Feedback Form
Materials Bag
o Small zip lock bag, dry beans, paper towel, tape
Discussion Prompts
Additional Resources
Materials List
Return Checklist

Return Checklist
____ Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living Things Grow by Joanna
Cole (Magic School Bus)
____ Garden in a Bag Activity Directions
____ Completed Garden in a Bag Observations Packet
**Every row does not need to be filled out. **
____ Completed Parent Feedback Form
____ Discussion Prompts
____ Materials List
____ Return Checklist

Garden in a Bag Observations

Every other day record your observations by writing the date, describing what you see,
and drawing a picture of what you see.

Date

Observations

Picture

Additional Resources
Books:

From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston
The Poppy Seeds by Clyde Robert Bulla
A Seed is a Promise by Claire Merrill
Seeds and Seedlings by Elaine Pascoe
The Reason for a Flower by Ruth Heller
How a Plant Grows by Bobbie Kalman

Websites:
Germination and Reproduction of Plants
o http://easyscienceforkids.com/all-about-germination/
Groovy Garden (Game)
o http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/groovygarden/index.html
From Seed to Plant
o http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/book_buddy/seed_pl
ant/building.html
The Great Plant Escape
o http://extension.illinois.edu/gpe/index.cfm
Plants
o http://www.neok12.com/Plants.htm
Tips for Reading:
Ask for your child to make connections to the text. Connections
can be text-to-text connections or text-to-self connections.
Ask open-ended questions. Try to stay away from yes/no
questions.
Ask your child to look at the illustrations/pictures to aid in
comprehension
Have your child read slowly- slow and steady wins the race.
Ask for your child to make predictions- What do you think will
happen next?

Parent Feedback Form

Please answer the following questions as best as you can. I would
appreciate any feedback on your experience with the bag-it activity.
Your feedback will be used to make the experience even better for
students in the future. Thank you!
1. What was your childs favorite part of the bag-it?

2. What did you enjoy about the bag-it experience? What did you not enjoy?

3. Do you feel you and your child learned something new about plants and/or
seeds? If so, what did you and your child learn?

4. Were the directions in the bag-it activity easy to follow? Why or why not?

5. Was your child engaged or interested in the activity?

6. Do you have any suggestions to make the bag-it better?

7. Additional comments/concerns (positive or negative)

Resources
Brioso, G. (2013, August 16). Tips for Reading Non-Fiction. Retrieved September 25,
2016, from Press4Kids Blog: http://press4kids.com/blog/2013/08/tips-forreading-non-fiction/
Cole, J. (1995). The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living Things
Grow. New York: Scholastic .
Hill, J. (2011, May 11). Gardening with Preschoolers: Germinating Bean Seeds.
Retrieved September 25, 2016, from Mad in Crafts:
http://madincrafts.com/gardening-with-preschoolers-germinating/
Stewart, D. J. (2011, September 18). Planting and Growing Beans in Our Preschool
Window. Retrieved September 25, 2016, from Teach Preschool:
http://www.teachpreschool.org/2011/09/planting-and-growing-beans-in-ourpreschool-window/