Science Unit Plan

Group 1: Michaela Callahan & Adrienne Ducato

 Key Concept =
Organisms Have
Life Cycles
What is a Life Cycle?
A life cycle is the stages of development and growth living
things go through. All living things have a life cycle.
Guiding Questions
1. What is the advantage of having a complicated life cycle
of growth and development?
2. How do plants’ life cycles help them survive?
Learning Objectives
Week 1:

● TLW be able to identify the stages in the life cycle of plants.

● TLW begin performing the tasks to plant their own vegetables.

Week 2:

● TLW be able to understand that plants are alive, and very different from
one another.
● TLW use the correct vocabulary when describing plant life cycles.
● TLW be able to share what they have learned, thus far, about life cycles.
 Gardening Unit Plan Calendar
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5
Show Phenomena Learn about life Prior Knowledge: Growing Plants Field Trip to
cycles of Write in journal - Lesson Plan Petaluma Bounty Farm
BrainPop Video vegetables, What do plants need
https://www.brainpop.com/s especially spinach to grow? Record hypotheses in
cience/diversityoflife/see
journal
dplants/
Read Oh Say BrainPop Video
Can You Seed? https://www.brainpop.com/s Read Plant the Tiny
Whole Group cience/cellularlifeandgene
Discussion: What is Seed
tics/plantgrowth/
a Life Cycle? Watch Popeye clip
https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=7zrRlMGeBes Group Discussion
Look at various Afterwards: What do Plant spinach in
plant life cycles plants need to grow? pots
Partner Talk: What
is your favorite What does spinach
need to grow? Create Life Cycle
vegetable? Booklet
Mindful Eating: PE Movement: Groups
act out plant life HW: Pre-Trip
Would you like to Activity - write in
taste spinach now? cycle using their
bodies journal a list of
possible questions
to ask at farm
 Gardening Unit Plan Calendar
Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10
Write in journal Read What Did I Look Read Wacky Show video on how a Final Project:
about things learned Like When I Was a Plant Cycles tiny seed grows into Develop 3D models to
at field trip Baby? a big plant: describe that
https://youtu.be/tkFPyue5X organisms have unique
3Q
Discuss the field Check on potted and diverse life
trip with students, plants cycles but all have
emphasizing the Students each dissect in common birth,
various life cycles a seed Outside Activity: How Plants Grow growth, reproduction,
explored Draw how plants are Lesson Plan: and death. Have
Discuss findings looking (incorporate https://www.nps.gov/timu/l students work
earn/education/upload/how-
Check on potted aloud and write in partner talk and plants-grow-unit-plan.pdf
together in small
plants and make journal various art tools) ● Cross Cutting groups to create a
predictions for how Concepts, Science & 3D model of plant
long they think that Teacher creates a Engineering life cycles and label
Practices, and
the plants will take diagram of a seed Disciplinary Core
the parts (open
to grow in journal. with parts labeled Ideas for the ended). TTW/TLW
Lesson Plan above provide materials
Students label on (ex: pipe cleaners,
worksheet the parts clay).
of seed
Meet the Needs of English Learners
● Speak slowly and distinctly
● Give clear written and
step-by-step verbal
instructions
● Write down key terms
● Provide students with enough
time to formulate a response
● Use charts, graphs and figures
● Provide numerous beneficial
hand-on activities
● Require ELs to keep science
journals
● Regularly check that students
are understanding the lesson
● Use non-linguistic
representations of concepts
● Partner English learners with
strong English speakers
(bilingual students)
● Provide pictorial flashcards
(picture of the concept on one
side, term on the reverse in
the language to be learned)
● Model activities in front of
class before having ELs engage
in an activity
● Encourage students to continue
building their literacy skills
in their home language
Meet the Needs of Students on the Autism Spectrum
● Maintain an organized classroom and limit distractions
● Break down instructions into smaller, manageable tasks
● Use multi-sensory strategies
● Give students on the Autism Spectrum opportunities for
success

While these suggestions are ideal for classroom settings,

parents of students on the Autism Spectrum can also
implement these principles at home. Helping children both in
and out of the classroom is the best way to help students
achieve success.