Grade level: 4th Grade

Content Area: Science

Colorado Academic Standard:

1. All living things share similar characteristics, but they also have differences that can be
described and classified
a. Use evidence to develop a scientific explanation of what plants and animals need to
survive (DOK 1-3)

WIDA Can Do Descriptor:

English language learners communicate information, ideas, and concepts necessary for academic
success in the content area of Science

Vocabulary words:

 Water- Tier 1
 Sun- Tier 1
 Roots- Tier 2
 Carbon Dioxide (CO2)- Tier 3
 Oxygen- Tier 3
 Plants- Tier 1
 Energy- Tier 2
 Atmosphere- Tier 2
 Glucose/ Sugar- Tier 3

Activity:

Students will be grouped into three or four. I will ask students if they ever notice that plants need
the sun to help them live (photosynthesis). Students will then discuss, for 2 minutes, what they
know about the relationship between the sun and plants. I will start the lesson off by drawing
clouds (symbolizing the atmosphere), the sun (giving the plant energy), then a plant (talking
about how it takes in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (from animals and humans) and
releasing oxygen), water that the roots absorb from rain, and how glucose/ sugar is made. The
point of the drawing is that as I draw, I am talking about the process of photosynthesis and
placing on the vocabulary words (sun, atmosphere, energy, carbon dioxide, water, oxygen, and
glucose/ sugar) and the importance of them for the plant. After drawing and talking, I will go
over the process of photosynthesis while pointing at each step. I will ask students to discuss will
their group and come up with their own definition of photosynthesis and what is the process of it
by defining and stating the importance each vocabulary word has during the process, and plan a
role play for about 6 minutes. They will have cut out necklaces of the sun, flower, water, oxygen,
carbon dioxide, and glucose and the students will demonstrate a little role play to describe
photosynthesis process (a student may have 2 roles).
Justification:

This activity supports students’ vocabulary development because the teacher will start the lesson
off by drawing the pictures, while describing the process of photosynthesis to them. Visual
images are great for students to build on vocabulary because they are able to see how a word
looks like. The teacher is uses repetition of the vocabulary words and the describing the process.
Teacher uses kid friendly explanations to the students by using everyday language to help
students develop comprehension of the vocabulary words (Wright, 2010). To help students
comprehend vocabulary words, they must have the “ability to define a word, the ability to
recognize when to use that word, knowledge of its multiple meanings, and the ability to decode
and spell that word” (Colorin Colorado, 2009). The students are learning Tier 3 words, words
that are within the science content. After the teacher explaining her diagram, students are able to
come together in groups to define in their own words what photosynthesis is and the key
vocabulary words within the process. Students are able to comprehend the vocabulary words by
defining it in their own words and being able to set up a role play to the class that demonstrates
their comprehension of the vocabulary words. This supports emergent bilinguals because they
are able to prepare the role play and discuss vocabulary words with their groups and being able
to showcase to the class. Wright also mentions the importance of direct instruction of word
meaning that is followed by “interactive, thought provoking, and entertaining activities to
reinforce these meanings” (2010) which can be seen as the role play activity students are doing
to develop comprehension. Having the students to act out a role play of the vocabulary words
makes the learning meaningful and engaging for the students’ comprehension.
Materials:

 White paper/ board

 Colored markers
 Tape (to tape vocabulary words)
 Cut out necklaces of vocabulary words (string & colored construction paper)

Activity taken from: http://5thandfabulous.blogspot.com/2013/05/photosynthesis-activity.html