Name: Rebekah Schwall

Date: 4/7/16
Standard(s)/Guideline(s):

Grade Level: Preschool

Lesson Title: Dissecting plants

Circle one:

ECE

PKSN

C&GK/Math/M&D/D&C: Describe and compare objects using measurable attributes (e.g., length, size, capacity and weight).
C&GK/Science/SI&A/Inquiry: Describe, compare, sort, classify, and order.
C&GK/Science/SI&A/Inquiry Use simple tools to extend investigation.
Pre-assessment of current knowledge: Previous lessons in the investigation show us students know what plants need to grow and can identify the general parts
of a plant.
Instructional Objectives (1-2)
One/Two Assessed Instructional
Objective(s): The student will be
able to...
Describe parts of a plant
and their comparative
sizes
Use a magnifying glass to
observe and find details
about the plant parts

One Assessed Developmental

Skill:
Motor skills

Safety Considerations:
Scissor safety

Assessment of Student Learning

Identify Evidence:
Pictures of students using magnifying glass
Anecdotal records of descriptions
Student work of sorting plant parts from top to
bottom

Program Monitoring:
Whole class checklist of objectives and standards

Learning Experience
Academic Language:
Stem, leaf, petal, roots, flower, reproduce, pollinate, stamen
Procedural steps:
1. Read students a book on plants and then ask them
what parts of a plant they knew of and record what
parts they knew
2. Hand each student half a piece of cardstock and
have them write their names on them.
3. Give each student a flower and start from the bottom
and ask them what they know about the roots, i.e.
what theyre called, what purpose they think theyll
have, etc.
4. Have students cut or break the roots off the plant and
plant or glue it to the cardstock.
5. Continue this process going up the plant and have
students place the parts of the plants with glue or
tape along the cardstock.
6. Have students investigate the different plant parts
using a magnifying glass and describe what they are
seeing. Allow students to cut open any part of the
plant they want so they can look inside and see more
of the details.
7. Have students describe the relative sizes of the
plants and ask them which part of the plant was the
largest and which was the smallest.

Authentic Materials:
Flowers
Adult Roles:
Assist students with cutting and placing plant parts, ask
students questions to make them think, documentation, etc.

Resources & References:

Parts of a Flower by Candice F. Ransom
Leaves by Vijaya Bodach

Reflection:
Implementing this lesson taught me a lot about my students. My students were involved and engaged in reading the story and excited to look at the different parts
of a flower. Only two of the seven students I worked with were able to correctly identify the largest and smallest parts of the plant, but 6 of the 7 students showed
me relatively larger and smaller parts of the plant. All of my students examined the different flower parts with a magnifying glass and they were all interested in how
the different parts of the flower felt on the inside and the parts they hadnt typically felt. From doing this lesson, I can tell I need to work more on the terms
largest/biggest and smallest, as well as sequencing according to size. I would also move to continuing to study the smaller and more specialized parts of the plant
to help students learn the different vocabulary.