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The Great Plant Escape
https://web.extension.illinois.edu/gpe/index.cfm
GRADE LEVEL: 3-6

CONTENT:
The Great Plant Escape is an upper elementary program for teaching about plant science. The site includes an accompanying teacher's guide.

AESTHETICS:
The Web site uses colorful borders, graphics, and photos throughout. Most pages feature short paragraphs of text with hyperlinks to definitions.

ORGANIZATION:
The home page has links to each of the sections. The site can be browsed from the main page or through a path from the Teacher's Guide. The main page route uses a forward button within each section to lead viewers. The Teacher's Guide has the same menu on the left side bar of each page. Those menus are customized with instructions, resources, and background information for each specific case.

REVIEW:
The Great Plant Escape is an elementary program to teach 4th and 5th grade students plant science. Users will learn how foods grow. Activities at the site make use of math, science, language arts, social studies, music and art concepts. Viewers can individualize their program by selecting activities. Some activities are for independent work and some are for group work. The premise of the site is for users to help Detective LePlant solve the mystery of plant life by identifying the different parts of plants, what each part does, and how plants grow. At the end of the five lesson series, teachers can quiz students on what they've learned. The mystery concept will keep students interested, while at the same time introducing them to the science of plants.