No Child Left Inside (NCLI)

Science Lesson Plan

Date: 10-22-14
Lesson Title: Plant Characteristics
Big Ideas:
1. Plants have a variety of different characteristics.
2. Plants do not always share the same characteristics as their parents.

Rationale: It is important for students to learn that all plants have different characteristics and
that, like humans, plants get their traits passed down from parents. This is important because
plants are a significant form of life. Being able to practice the skill of observation and
documentation is also beneficial for the students and their future. The students will be able to
discuss the flowers that they observed and thus, they learn the importance of communicating
information to their peers.

Goals/Objectives:
Content Objective: Students will be able to understand and describe the different characteristics
of plants that are passed on from parents to young.

Developmental Objective: Students will be able to share and discuss their findings with the class
in a scientific way.
Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCEs):
L.HE.02.13 Identify characteristics of plants (for example: leaf shape, flower type, color, size)
that are passed on from parents to young.

ISTE-T Standards:

1. Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments
c. Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and
peers using a variety of digital age media and formats

Materials & Supplies Needed:

Access outside
One Computer
One Projector
Paper
Crayons
Activity
Element
& Time (in
minutes)
Procedures and management
Step-by step procedures including questions and main
points: visualize what you are going to say to the students.
Select at least three high-leverage practices you will focus
on. It might be helpful to script out what you are going to
say, although during the lesson you do not need to use this
language verbatim.
Academic, social &
linguistic adaptations,
resources, and support
How will you support
ALL students?
Introduction
5 minutes
How many of you have ever noticed how many different
types of flowers there are?
Do plants have parents?
How do plants get their characteristics?
We are going to go outside and investigate flowers. I need
you to pay attention to the size and shape of the leaves, the
type of flower, the color, and the size of the plant. Draw a
picture of one of the flowers and list its characteristics.
Arranging the classroom
so it is open so students
with physical disabilities
can easily navigate to
both sides of the room.
Activity 1
20 minutes
Spend the time outside observing flowers, drawing and
describing them.
The students will work in
groups of 5 so that they
can work with one
another and so that I can
easily implement our
classroom management
outdoors.
Transition
2 minutes
Regroup inside. Have the students remain in their groups.
Activity 2
20 minutes
PowerPoint slides:
Explain and show pictures of the different types of plants in
the schoolyard. Bring back up the idea of how plants get
their traits.
Just like humans, plants get their traits from their parents.
But do we all look like our parents? Just like us, plants can
have different traits from their parents.
Provide text on the slides
to support our instruction.
Transition
10 minutes
Tell students they will be sharing their plant findings and
observations


Assessment:
The assessment will be the drawing of the flower that the students investigated with a list of the
different characteristics that they noticed. I will be paying attention to the inclusion of details
(for example: leaf shape, flower type, color, size).