EDUC 2220- Educational Technology Lesson Plan Template

Planting a Tree
Ayan Abdi
First Grade/Science

Common Core Standards:

Initiative and Curiosity
Standard Statements:
-Select challenging activities in which students
are motivated to learn, even ones that may be
too challenging.
-Begin to practice skills purposefully in order to
improve performance or for enjoyment.
-Offers explanations about topics of interest.
Motor development
Standard statements:

Lesson Summary:
I will be teaching my students what trees are, where they come from, and how to plant them. On the first day
of this lesson plan I will read a book about trees and show pictures about trees online.
Estimated Duration:
This lesson will take about two hours. I plan on dividing the lesson into two days, with each class period
lasting 50-60 minutes,
Commentary:
I would approach this lesson plan by asking the students who would want to plan something that would grow
with you and even after a long time, you can come back and it will still be there?.... Does anyone know what I
am talking about? After a few guesses from the students, if none of them guess the answer, I will tell them
Its a TREE!! We will be planting a tree and it will grow, grow, and grow! After a long time, when each and
every one of grows up, if you all come back, the trees will still be standing there tall I will then read them a
book. After, I will show them pictures and video of children planting trees online and give them an idea of
what it looks like and what they will be doing. I anticipate digging the ground to be a challenge for the
students since it will need some muscle to get a good hole to plant the trees.

Instructional Procedures:
Day 1:
First 10 minutes: Students will gather around in a circle and listen to me introduce the book Curious George
Plants a Tree by Hans Augusto Rey.
20 minutes: I will explain to the students about our upcoming activity, I will read the book to them and ask
questions such as where do trees come from How many different trees can you think of? Who would like to
plant their own tree?
Last 30 minutes: I will show the students different pictures of trees online and a Youtube video that shows
how to plant a tree.
Day 2:
First 10 minutes: I will give each child their gloves, and I will ask some of the students help carry the seeds. I
will carry the shovels, water buckets, and a camera to take pictures of the students as they engage in the
activity. I will put the students into groups of 2 to 3.
Next 15 minutes: I will ask the children to line up and follow me as I guide them to the area we will be
planting our trees. I will station each group to their designated area to plant their tree.
Next 30 minutes: I will explain the instructions again, the children will begin. One child will dig the hole with
my help or another group member, Another student will put the seed in the hole and the last student will water
the seed. Each group will also come up with a name and name their tree. While the children are engaged in the
activity I will take pictures of them.
Next five minutes: We will take our gloves off, dust our clothes from any dirt, and take the materials back to
our classroom.

Pre-Assessment:
Prior to the activity I will ask the students who can name for me how many different types of trees they know
of? I will also ask them Who can tell me how to plant a tree? Before I begin to read, I will ask the students to
remember everything they have learned from the book I will read. After reading, I will ask the students who
can tell me what they have learned from this book? The answers the students give will give me an idea of how
well they understand the concept and where trees come from. After the activity I will see which students
demonstrated self-direction while participating in a range of routines.
Scoring Guidelines:
Teacher will use her judgement to see how well students retell how to plant a tree and show
comprehension through explaining.

On Day 2, I do a checklist and check mark if each group has met the standards for the activity. I will
also ask questions such as how can we keep trees to grow taller and healthier?..etc and when each
groups answer it will give me an idea of how well each group understands the activity.
Post-Assessment:
Students will complete a small 5 questions quiz online to help me understand if they understood the lesson and
print it. The questions will be based on the book we have read, the activity we did, and the video we have
watched.
Scoring Guidelines:
Students who score 90% or higher will have assessed to have mastered the content. Students who
missed more than two questions will meet with me one on one to go over the wrong questions and
correct it so they are able to understand better.

Differentiated Instructional Support

In my instructions I would add pictures so that those students who are gifted or accelerated students can
understand better, I would also have them watch a video before doing the activity and have them repeat it as
many times as they want.
Additional activities I would do for those students who are struggling with the materials are I would have them
watch more videos about planting trees, I would also have them do a fill in the blank they can read over and
follow as instructions when planting trees.

Extension
This is a great website that helps students learn more about Initiative and Curiosity:
http://www.teacherquicksource.com/headstart/outcomes.aspx?OutcomeID=1
This is a great website that helps us understand more about motor development:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/itf09percmotdev.asp

Homework Options and Home Connections

I would encourage parents to plant a tree or flower at home with their child.
I would also have students research at home about their favorite tree and write three interesting facts with the
help of a parent.

Interdisciplinary Connections

ART!
During the lesson, Students will have a curiosity about how their tree will look like therefore, can use their
artistic skills to draw a picture of how they want their tree to look like after it grows tall.
Social Science!
Students will be collaborating together, listening, and helping each other plant a tree.

Materials and Resources:

For teachers

Seeds, Shovels, water, buckets, gardening gloves, camera, book, Computer

For students

Desk top computer and printer

Key Vocabulary
Trees, Plants, teamwork, soil, seeds, tall

Additional Notes
Any additional information about your lesson- or notes for me- go here!