| Lesson Plans:
Bulbs and Seeds
Explores the
different needs that seeds and bulbs have in order to grow.
The Desert Alphabet Book
This is a unit of lesson on a beautiful picture book that uses each of
the letters from the alphabet book to tell an interesting fact about
something from the desert. Most of the facts that it talks about are
things that are very unusual that most people are unaware of. It tells
about the ways that plants and animals have adapted to extreme heat
and a dry climate.
Wonderful Wetlands
In this lesson students will be creating a model of Utah wetlands to
observe this unique environment that has important value to plants and
animals.
The Tough Cactus
Students will gain a better understanding of how desert plants
survive the harsh climate and recognize that plants go through
adaptations to accommodate harsh conditions.
Habitats of the World
Earth supports many different habitats, each of which has distinct
features and distinct plant and animals populations. Animals and
plants are adapted to the conditions of the habitats in which they
live.
Visiting a Meadow Habitat: An Introduction to Field Study
This field journal may be used to
introduce students to the concepts of butterflies, other pollinators
and their meadow habitat.
Plant Adaptations
Plants depend on special habitats. This lesson has two activities: a
habitat game and a scavenger hunt.
Desert Adaptations
When studying adaptations of plants and animals for life in a desert
environment, many concepts remain very abstract without first-hand
experience. Since it is not practical, in most cases, to take
students out in the desert and leave them, this hands-on activity is
the next best thing.
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Resources:
The Great Plant Escape
Six mysteries will give students experience with plant parts,
basic needs of plants, life cycles of plants, and environmental
conditions need for growth.
Habitats Students will identify living things in particular
habitats.
Great Barrier Reef An interactive site from National Geographic
which allows students to virtually tour the Great Barrier Reef - also
offers a scavenger hunt activity to go with the tour.
Plant Science Projects Science projects on plant science. Test
music's effect on plant growth. Test different soils. Compare
different types of plants.
Deserts This is a list of links and resources about deserts.
Science Online A must see! Great site for links to
Blueprint
Skills,
Lesson Plans,
Topical Sites,
Interactive
Websites for Students and
Worksheets
Science Clips You will find an alphabetical list of science
interactive movie clips.
Suggestions for English Language Learners (ELLs):
(E/B=Entering/Beginning, D=Developing, E=Expanding)
(E/B): Label pictures of plants found near the school.
(E/B): Cut out and label pictures of plants in various
environments.
(E/B): Use a Venn diagram to show similarities and
differences between two plants growing in different environments.
(E/B): Complete simple cloze sentences about plants.
(E/B): Identify and describe an ecosystem using pictures.
(E/B): As a group, identify the aspects of the environment,
which are important to plants.
(E/B): Students will compare arctic and desert animals and
how they have adapted to their environment. Students will choose
four animals then make a book with pictures and dictated sentences
explaining each animal's adaptations; (D) Students will do
research on 2 of the animals they have chosen and write short
descriptions explaining the adaptations; (E) Students will
research all 4 animals and their adaptation and write a narrative
comparing and controlling their adaptations.
(E/B): Students will compare the interactions of living and
non-living things in a woodland and a desert. Students will make a
chart showing living and non-living organisms in both habitats;
(D) Students will make a venn diagram comparing and contrasting
the habitats; (E) ...and will make a diorama showing two
habitats and then write a report on what is found in each habitat.
(E/B): Students will make a food web through studying the
Atlantic Salmon. Students will draw and label three animals that eat
the salmon and three animals the salmon eats; (D) ...and will
diagram and explain how a salmon is connected to ten different
animals in its environment; (E) ...and will write a short
story, illustrating a day in the life of a salmon.
(E/B): Students will create a model of the external anatomy
of an animal. Students will make and label the model; (D):
...and will explain functions of each part; (E) ...and as an
extension, students will write what kinds of adaptations they would
have to make to themselves to become more like the animal.
(E/B): Students will compare and contrast the growth of
plants in favorable and unfavorable conditions. Students will
compare plants by drawing and writing simple sentences about their
observations; (D): ...and will write and make a presentation
about their observations; (E): ...and will elaborate on the
differences and similarities in their observations of plants.
(D): Create a graphic organizer to show which aspects of the
environment is essential to plants.
(D): Provide two similar plants with different amounts of
light over one week and describe how the plants are affected.
(D): Compare and contrast plants found in habitats in
countries represented by students in the class.
(E): Research and report on plants common to students'
communities and regions.
(E): Share personal experience and knowledge about plants
through illustrations and explanations.
(E): Show the impact on organisms of changing one aspect of
the environment, such as, increased temperature in a forest, less
rainfall in a rain forest in a picture. Describe the impact in a
paragraph.
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Language Arts