Rachel Anne Randall

Rachel Anne Randall October 5, 2009 GS 4401-431 Bradbury

The Life Cycle of a Pumpkin Individual 5E Plan/Children’s Literature Assignment

Grade Level: First NCSCOS Standards: Science Standards: Competency Goal 1: The learner will conduct investigations and make observations to build an understanding of the needs of living organisms. 1.01 Investigate the needs of a variety of different plants:  Air.  Water.  Light.  Space. 1.04 Identify local environments that support the needs of common North Carolina plants and animals. Language Arts Standards: Competency Goal 2: The learner will develop and apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed. 2.04, 2.05 Competency Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology. 3.03 Competency Goal 5: The learner will apply grammar and language conventions to communicate effectively. 5.01, 5.02, 5.03, 5.04, 5.06, 5.07

Children’s Literature Used: (click pictures to go to Amazon.com) “It’s Pumpkin Time!” By: Zoe Hall

This book takes you through the life cycle of a pumpkin as it follows a fictional brother and sister as they prepare their own way for Halloween by planting a pumpkin patch. From seeds to ripe orange pumpkins this book not only tells how pumpkin grows but also what people must do to help the pumpkins grow.

“The Pumpkin Patch” By: Elizabeth King This non-fiction book takes you to the pumpkin patch and through the entire life cycle with real life photographs with real people working in the fields, and real children choosing pumpkins!

“Watch it Grow: Pumpkin” By Barrie Watts

This is a wonderful non-fiction resource to have in your classroom when teaching about pumpkins. This book also goes step by step through the life cycle and goes into a lot more detail than perhaps some of these other books. I chose not to use this book specifically due to time constraints of our lesson.

“Pumpkins” By: Ken Robins (non-fiction resource)

Once again this book takes you through the entire life cycle of the pumpkin through real photographs and simple text. But what I like most about this book is it adds a Jack-o-lantern and Halloween step to the cycle, which is pretty neat.

Materials Needed:  PUMPKINS  Children’s Literature Books about pumpkins  Graphic organizer set up on board  Smaller cups for planting  Soil  Dried pumpkin seeds (must be taken from a pumpkin about 2 days prior to planting because October is not the normal planting period for pumpkins)  Winter Squash seeds  Plastic Table Cloths  Small watering can  Sentence strips for explain  Pumpkin Booklet materials o Small paper plates o Pages of the book o Sentence strips o Glue o Crayons/Markers  Hall Art Materials o Flaps o Scissors o Construction Paper

Background Information for Teacher: Life Cycle Stages: (Highlighted words are the specific stage names we will use with the students)  A seed is planted and then when the soil around the seed gets wet the seed begins to push out tiny roots. Those roots collect the water from the soil and the seed begins to sprout under the surface and then the sprout pushes its way up to the surface of the soil.  That sprout unfolds its leaves once it gets to the surface and begins to grow bigger.  As the sprout continues to grow it becomes the pumpkin vine. (or plan)  After about 4 weeks flower buds begin to grow on the vine. Eventually these buds will become the pumpkin. (or blossom)  Once the bud opens bees fertilize the female buds with pollen from the male flowers.  After the female has been fertilized a small fruit begins to grow, this is the small green pumpkin.  Then the pumpkin grows and grows and begins to turn into the final fully grown orange pumpkin. How to care for a pumpkin sprout:  Place the cups of soil in a place where it can get sun  Water once a day, but not too much just enough to saturate the soil.

ENGAGE:  Have pumpkins displayed at the front of the room, and ask students to discuss what they already know about pumpkins. Place this information in a K-W-L chart (Know, Want to know, Learned)  Show the students “Its Pumpkin Time” by Zoe Hall  Ask students about the cover and what they think the book is going to be about.  Read the book to the class aloud.  While reading explain new vocabulary, and have students make predictions about what the next step will be.  After reading discuss the content of the book briefly with the students.

EXPLORE:  Review the stages of the cycle mentioned in the book quickly o A more detailed explanation will be given later in the lesson!  Let’s Plant a Seed!! o First give each student a pumpkin seed and a winter squash seed. Let them compare and contrast the two seed. This would also be a good time to talk about where seeds come from. o Explain exactly what you are going to do before you distribute any materials. As you explain it, demonstrate it. o Give each child 2 cups . (write their names and pumpkin or squash on each cup) o Fill each cup ¾ of the way full of soil o Hand each child a pumpkin seed and explain that pumpkins are normally planted in the spring. o Have them place the seed down in the soil and set that cup to the side . We’re going to plant a second seed just to be sure that something grows! o Hand each student a winter squash seed, and repeat the planting step. o Then help each student water the seeds with just enough water to saturate the soil. EXPLAIN:  Read aloud “The Pumpkin Patch” By: Elizabeth King (non-fiction book) o As we read we’ll discuss vocabulary and important facts in this book  Review and explain the stages of the pumpkin life cycle 1) Seed (have seeds already out of a pumpkin clean for the children to touch and smell) 2) Sprout 3) Plant /Vine 4) Flower 5) Green Pumpkin 6) Orange Pumpkin  Take the prepared sentence strips and place them in the graphic organizer on the board, with blanks in the strips for the students to fill in which stage comes next. o Hand each student a premade booklet so they can fill in the stages in their book as you go through the sentences on the board. o Sentence Strips (same sentences they will use in their books for centers) . Carolyn planted a pumpkin ______. (Seed) . That pumpkin seed turned into a pumpkin ______. (sprout) . Then the pumpkin sprout turned into a pumpkin ______. (plant) . The pumpkin plant turned into a pumpkin ______. (flower) . That pumpkin flower turned into a ______(green) pumpkin. . The green pumpkin turned into a full grown ______(orange) pumpkin! Sentence 1 Sentence 3 Sentence 5

Sentence 2 Sentence 4 Sentence 6

EXPAND:  Pumpkin/Squash Plant observations o On the day they plant their seeds, have them draw what their cups look like on their observation chart, and write any observations they can make. o About a week later take the time for the students to take their cups back to their desk and fill in the second row on their observation chart. They should draw what they see and write about what they see. . You can continue this observing step for as many weeks as you prefer, or as long as your plants are growing. I would suggest assigning one student to water all of the sprouts each day. . There is an example of a observation chart at the end of this lesson plan, but you may want to create your own.

EVALUATE:  Pumpkin Cycle Hall Art o Each student will receive a long strip of paper, and a copy of the pumpkin life cycle flaps. o Instruct students to cut the life cycle flaps out on ONLY the dark black line. o Then they should fold along the dotted line o Finally glue the flaps down in the correct order with no assistance, so that when you open the flap the words are in your hand. (Have example prepared of just one flap so they don’t see the order). . Here is the link for the flaps http://atozteacherstuff.com/printables/pumpkin_lesson.pdf

Resources: I used these lessons to help me think of ideas, most of what I found in these plans I adapted to fit my classroom.

(2007). Pumpkins- life cycle of a plant. Retrieved from http://www.k6edu.com/1stgrade/science/pumpkin-life-cycle.html Post, A. (n.d.). Integrated lesson plan: pumpkins. Retrieved from www.atozteacherstuff.com Sheakoski, M (2009, July 27). How pumpkins grow lesson plan. Retrieved from http://primary-school-lesson- plans.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_apples_and_pumpkins_grow_lesson_plan#i xzz0RJX1CQJv

Expand Worksheet Example: Name: ______Pumpkin Observations Observation Pumpkin Pumpkin Squash Squash Date Drawing Writings Picture Writings