Early Science  /  Plants  /  Unit Preparation

Plants Unit Preparation

Overview

The Plants curriculum supplement is designed for four weeks of hands-on and digital (iPad) science learning experiences that are embedded with math and engineering. The activities in each of the 12 lessons can be completed in the time frame that works best for your classroom and schedule, whether all in one day or spread over several days.

Let’s get ready! Take time to familiarize yourself with this Teacher’s Guide. The Unit Overview PDF organizes the activities in each lesson by different times in the daily schedule. You can follow the schedule in the Overview or use it as a guide to plan a daily schedule that best fits your schedule.

The four sections of the Get Ready to Teach Science section will help you understand the program and how to feel comfortable using it in your classroom.

Before the Plant Unit Begins…

Plant Some Seeds Early

Roll up your sleeves and explore! A week before you introduce the planting activities to the children, gather seeds and planting materials. "Plant" a few seeds yourself, in a plastic sandwich bag along with a moist paper towel, and observe how the seeds sprout and grow. Plant some seeds in soil as well. (Remember, when planting the seeds in soil, do not plant them too deep!) Plants need warmth, water, and light in order to grow. If possible, clear a space near a warm, sunny window for your children’s plants.

The day before the first lesson, soak 2 bean seeds per child, plus several more, in water. Also soak 2 other seeds per child (e.g. sunflower, nasturtium, radish, cat oats, chickpeas or lentils). Soaking the seed in water overnight will help them sprout in 2-4 days and poke through the soil in about 1 week.

The seeds suggested (see Materials list below) can grow quickly with the right amount of sunlight, warmth, and water, so children should have plenty to observe during the 4-week unit. Adapt the schedule as needed if the plants are growing particularly slowly.

Tips for Planting Seeds in Soil

We Can All Be Scientists

Consider starting the unit with a day of activities that will give children a general introduction to exploring the world as a scientist.

Guided Small Group iPads

We recommend choosing and marking one specific iPad to use with all 4 Guided Small Groups during the plants unit. There is a different section within the app for each group to record their data. Using one iPad for all the groups makes it possible to compare photo entries from any group on a single tablet, using the Compare Class Plants tool in the Plants Journal app.

Materials

As you plan your schedule, gather the materials listed below and on each individual activity page for one week or the full unit. Review the activities and test out a few of the activities beforehand in order to anticipate problems or questions that might arise.

Apps

Download these Early Science apps onto your iPads. Familiarize yourself with each digital game and journal app. Before each use, make sure the iPads are charged and that the volume is adjusted appropriately. If you prefer NOT to use the in-app character audio, turn the iPad volume off.

Videos

Printables

Books

Other Materials