
Lesson Plan: How Plants Grow
Subject: Science
Grade: 5
Lesson Objective: To understand and contend that plants get what they need from air and water
Next Gen Science Standard: 5-LS1-1. Support an argument that plants get the materials they need for growth chiefly from air and water.
Starter:
Say:
- What do plants need to grow? (Allow the students to answer.)
Main:
Say:
- There are many different types of plants and each different type of plant has different needs.
- However, all plants need water and sun so that they can grow.
- Why do plants need water and sun? (Allow the students to answer.)
- Plants need water and sun because they make their own food, which is called photosynthesis.
- A plant’s leaves have parts that are called chloroplasts. The chloroplasts have green pigment, which is called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is what makes a plant’s leaves green.
- The chloroplasts absorb carbon dioxide from the air. The carbon dioxide mixes with the stored energy from the sun in the chloroplasts and creates a simple sugar through a chemical reaction.
- The simple sugar that is created is then transported through the plant and used by the plant as energy.
- Water is also needed and used in the process of photosynthesis. Without water, photosynthesis would not be able to happen.
- So, what are the two things that plants need in order to grow? (Allow the students to answer.)
- Plants need air and water.
- Now, you are going to pretend that someone is trying to convince you that the only thing that plants need is to be planted in soil.
- Think about what you would say to them and how you would try to convince them that the main things that plants need are water and air.
- You are going to write down what your response to that person would be.
- Does anyone have any questions?
Feedback:
Say:
- Who would like to share what you wrote? (Allow the students to share.)
Written by Kimberly Greacen, Education World® Contributing Writer
Kimberly is an educator with extensive experience in curriculum writing and developing instructional materials to align with Common Core State Standards and Bloom's Taxonomy.
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