Stemi Lesson Plan Template

STEMi Lesson Plan Template

Teachers Name: Stephanie Storey School: PS 11 Queens STEMi PD Attended: Track 3C: SMARTBoard Use in the STEM Classroom

Lesson Title The Needs of Plants Grade Level 2nd Grade NYS Standards LE 1.1b: Describe the basic needs of plants: Light, air, water, soil (nutrients) Or Common Core State Standards Objective(s) Students will learn the basic needs of plants and why each need is important to survival.

Materials and Websites SMARTBoard presentation, http://www.scholastic.com/magicschoolbus/games/sciencenews/index.htm, two small plants (refer to application for advanced preparation), science log sheet.

Smart Start As a review of the needs of living things, complete the slide 2, which reviews the needs of humans. Move the box at the bottom to check your answers.

Mini-Lesson Complete the SMARTBoard presentation with students. Students will learn a song to help them remember the needs of plants. Then, they will see why plants need water and soil and how plants make food. There is a link to the Scholastic website which gives a step-by-step account of photosynthesis as well as a diagram in the presentation. At the end of the presentation students will demonstrate their understanding by identifying the needs of a plant in a picture and then matching the functions of different substances to the correct substance (air, soil, water, sunlight).

Application As a conclusion to the previous days’ science lesson show the students that you have (Group Work) two of the same type of plant and you are going to put one in the closet and one next to the window. Have students predict what will happen. Then, after the mini-lesson bring out both plants and have students discuss how they differ and/or are the same. Students will sketch the two plants.

Conclusion As a conclusion, students will answer the question at the bottom of the log sheet, “Based on plants needs, where do you think would be a good place to have plants in your apartment? Why?” Share out students’ answers.

Extensions: Similar experiments can be done by leaving plants without soil or water.