Life Sciences: 4.E.6 Seeds Part 3 of 3 Grade Level 4 Sessions Seasonality Instructional Mode(s) Team Size WPS Benchmarks MA Frameworks Key Words 45-60 min. N/A Whole class N/A 04.SC.LS.06 04.SC.LS.07 04.SC.LS.08 04.SC.IS.01 04.SC.IS.03 3-5.LS.2 3-5.LS.3 3-5.LS.6 3-5.LS.9 3-5.IS.1 3-5.IS.3 3-5.ES.5 Seed, Soil, Root, Plant, Stem, Leaf, Dicot, Monocot Summary From the information they gathered from Seeds Part 1, the students will draw conclusions about plant adaptation. The students will then be challenged to adapt a seed to a given environment. Learning Objectives 2002 Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Benchmarks for Grade 4 04.SC.LS.06 Compare and contrast the physical characteristics of plant or animals from widely different environments (desert vs. tropical plants; aquatic vs. terrestrial animals). Explore how each is adapted to its habitat. 04.SC.LS.07 Give examples of how changes in the environment (drought, cold) have caused some plants and animals to die or move to new locations (migration). 04.SC.LS.08 Investigate how invasive species out compete native plants (e.g., phragmites and purple loose-strife). Discuss how some native plants die as a result. 04.SC.IS.01 Ask questions and make predictions that can be tested. 04.SC.IS.03 Keep accurate records while conducting simple investigations or experiments. 1 of 7
Additional Learning Objectives 1. 3-5.LS.2 Identify the structures in plants (leaves, roots, flowers, stem, bark, wood) that are responsible for food production, support, water transport, reproduction, growth, and protection. 2. 3-5.LS.3 Recognize that plants and animals go through predictable life cycles that include birth, growth, development, reproduction, and death. 3. 3-5.LS.6 Give examples of how inherited characteristics may change over time as adaptations to changes in the environment that enable organisms to survive, e.g., shape of beak or feet, placement of eyes on head, length of neck, shape of teeth, color. 4. 3-5.LS.9 Recognize plant behaviors, such as the way seedlings stems grow toward light and their roots grow downward in response to gravity. Recognize that many plants and animals can survive harsh environments because of seasonal behaviors, e.g., in winter, some trees shed leaves, some animals hibernate, and other animals migrate. 5. 3-5.IS.1 Ask questions and make predictions that can be tested. 6. 3-5.IS.3 Keep accurate records while conducting simple investigations or experiments. 7. 3-5.ES.5 Recognize and discuss the different properties of soil, including color, texture (size of particles), the ability to retain water, and the ability to support the growth of plants. Required Background Knowledge Essential Questions 1. What does a seed need to grow? 2. What types of adaptations or attributes do the seeds have to help them grow? Introduction / Motivation Briefly go over the information that they have learned over the past two weeks. Procedure The instructor will: 2 of 7
1. Have students complete their data sheets and tape them in their science notebooks. (10 minutes) 2. Hand out Let s Redesign and go over the instructions with the students. (This is part of an evaluation of the lesson plan itself, so the teacher can determine if the students understood the material so far. Please only assist in explaining the directions, NOT in the actual design). (5 minutes) 3. Give students time to do the worksheet in class. (25 minutes) 4. Hand out the Quiz. Again have the students work on this alone, so we can evaluate the effectiveness of the lesson plan itself. (20 minutes). Materials List Materials Per Student Amount Location N/A N/A Vocabulary with Definitions 1. Petiole connects the leaf to the stem 2. Veins carry nutrients and water through the leaf. 3. Blade the main part of the leaf. 4. Stomata tiny holes on the underside of the leaf that allows air to move in and out of the leaf. 5. Monocot the veins in the leaf are in parallel lines. Monocot sprouts have one leaf. 6. Dicot the veins in the leaf branch out from one another. Dicot sprouts have two leaves. 7. Stem the part of the plant that holds up the leaves. 8. Node the place where a leaf grows. 9. Green Stems die in the winter. (Some green stemmed plants live through the winter by using underground routs and grow new stems in the spring.) 10. Woody Stems live for many years. (The stems grow wider and taller with age. The stems grow thicker to support the height of the tree by adding a ring of cells around the trunk each year.) 11. Root usually grows underground. Roots absorb water and minerals from the soil by using root hairs. 12. Root hairs tiny structures that grow near the end of a root. 3 of 7
13. Root tip where the root ends. It has a slimy cap that helps it push through the soil. 14. Taproot the main root that is longer and thicker than the rest of the root system. Smaller roots branch off of it. 15. Fibrous Root network of branching roots with no main root. Most monocots have this type of system. Assessment / Evaluation of Students The instructor may assess the students in any/all of the following manners: 1. Brainstorming assignments based on knowledge from lesson 2. Quiz Lesson Extensions Attachments 1. Data Sheets 2. Quiz, Seeds on the Brain Troubleshooting Tips Safety Issues Additional Resources Key Words Seed, Plant, Stem, Leaf, Dicot, Monocot, Soil, Root 4 of 7
Name: Group: Step 7: Communicate Solutions 1.) What types of seed did your team plant? We planted, and. 2.) Did any of the seeds grow?. 3.) If they did grow, what type of soil were the seeds in?. 4.) What other soil could we put seeds in to see if they will grow?. 5.) Based on what you have seen in nature, where do you think the seeds would grow?
Name: Group: Step 8: Redesign Based on what we have learned so far about seeds, design a seed that will grow well in your soil. [Hint: Add to the seed different layers and parts to make sure the seed grows up strong and healthy.] Draw and label your seed here: Design a plant for your soil. [Hint: Add to the plant parts and function to make sure the plant grows up strong and healthy.]
Name: Date Seeds on the Brain For each question below, please circle the correct answer for each question. 1. Which part of a plant takes in carbon dioxide? a. petals b. roots c. leaves d. pollen 2. Which part of a plant takes in minerals and water? e. petals f. roots g. leaves h. pollen 3. Which seed type sprouts with only one leaf? a. lima bean seed b. dicot seed c. tricot seed d. monocot seed For each of the following questions, please write TRUE or FALSE. 4. Carbon dioxide, which is a gas, is released during photosynthesis. 5. Food is stored inside of seeds to give the tiny plants energy to grow. 6. Seeds are carried by the wind to the location where they will grow.