K3L1 Seeds Starters

Lesson Duration: 45 minutes

Grade: K3

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Learning Objectives

1. Children will be able to identify different parts of plants that we eat.
    
2. Children will be able to categorize vegetables based on where they grow.
    
3. Children will be able to set up a simple seed germination experiment and make predictions about seed growth.

Lesson Procedure

3 mins - Welcome Time

• Sing the "Hello Song"

• Introduce today's topic: "Today we're going to be plant explorers!"

5 mins - Discovery Chat

• Show pictures of various plants (e.g., carrot, lettuce, apple tree)

• Ask: "What parts of these plants do we eat?"

• Briefly explain: "Plants have different parts, and we eat different parts of different plants!"

• Introduce vocabulary: root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit, seed

10 mins - Hands-On Challenge 1: Parts of Plants We Eat

• Provide small groups with pictures or plastic models of various vegetables and fruits

• Guide children in sorting them by the plant part we eat:

  - Roots (e.g., carrots, radishes)

  - Stems (e.g., celery, asparagus)

  - Leaves (e.g., lettuce, spinach)

  - Flowers (e.g., broccoli, cauliflower)

  - Fruits (e.g., tomatoes, apples)

  - Seeds (e.g., peas, corn)

• Ask children to name each vegetable or fruit and identify which part we eat

• Play a quick game: "I'm thinking of a vegetable that's a root we eat. Can you guess?"

10 mins - Hands-On Challenge 2: Where Do Vegetables Grow?

• Set up three areas in the classroom: "Underground", "On the Ground", and "Above the Ground"

• Provide children with pictures or toy vegetables

• Guide them in placing each vegetable in the correct area:

  - Underground (e.g., potatoes, carrots)

  - On the Ground (e.g., pumpkins, watermelons)

  - Above the Ground (e.g., tomatoes, apples)

• Discuss: "Why do you think some vegetables grow underground and others don't?"

• Play a movement game: Children act out being different vegetables growing (e.g., curled up for potatoes, stretching tall for corn)

10 mins - Hands-On Challenge 3: Seed Germination Experiment

• Explain what seeds need to grow: water, warmth

• Set up a simple experiment:

  1. Give each child two clear plastic cups and cotton wool

  2. Place cotton wool in both cups

  3. Put a bean seed on the cotton wool in each cup

  4. Add water to one cup only

• Label cups: "Water" and "No Water"

• Predict: "Which seed do you think will grow? Why?"

• Provide each child with a simple "Seed Growth Journal" to record observations over the coming days

2 mins - Wrap-Up

• Recap: "Today we learned about different parts of plants we eat, where vegetables grow, and we started an experiment to watch seeds grow!"

• Sing the "Goodbye Song"