Thematic Units - Plants

Plants

You will find various Web Sites on the top portion of this page.
Further down, you will find Lesson Plans.
At the bottom of the page, you will find Books that you can order directly from Amazon.com!

Aquatic Plants
Learn about the variety of plants that can be found in each aquatic community.

Celebrating Wildflowers Coloring Book
Simply click on a flower, print, and color!

Chemistry of Autumn Colors
Learn about the scientific explanation of the changing colors in leaves.

Dendrochronology
Find out how archaeologists date past events like climate change by studying the rings on trees.

The Desert Biome
Learn about the plants that grow in the harsh, dry conditions of a desert.

eNature.com
Bring nature to your computer by exploring information and photos of almost any North American plant or animal. Check out diverse habitats, get tips from Audubon experts, and more!

Fresh Water Plants
Learn about the variety of plants are located in or around fresh water ecosystems.

Geobop's
Find your state's plant.

The Grasslands Biome
Pictures and descriptions of grasslands and the flowers found in them.

Great Plant Escape
Learn more about plants and life cycles while solving a mystery. What fun!

Leaf it Alone: Plants to Keep Away From
This Lanakids page teaches you how to avoid coming home with an itchy, yucky rash after playing outdoors.

Natural Perspective
A scientific exploration of the plant, animal, protist, and fungi kingdoms, with pictures.

Paper U
Learn about papermaking, recycling, and how they effect the environment. Site includes information on paper crafts, trees, and careers working with paper.

PBS MATHLINE
Gardening and Farming Activities include plotting a vegetable garden and estimating crop
yields, plus a career spotlight with farmer Keith Jolley and tips on how to prioritize rules and relationships in your classroom.

Plant Medicines
Overviews medicinal plants and herbs of the rain forest.

Rainforest Biome
Learn about the different Rainforest plants and their adaptations.

Real Trees 4 Kids
This site explains how evergreen trees are grown, harvested, and sold for Christmas. Have fun while learning all about these conifers!

Science 4 Kids
Visit this site from the Agricultural Resource Service (ARS) for cool links to bacteria, bugs, and plants that like heavy metal.

Seed Starting Home Page
Find fast facts on starting flower, vegetable, and herb seeds.

The Tundra Biome
Learn about the plants that live in the Tundra Environment.

Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?
This site includes projects to do with leaves, from the Curious Kids Science Newsletter.

Why Leaves Change Color
Learn the science behind this marvelous act of nature.

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Lesson Plans

The Teacher's Corner Resources This indicates resources located on The Teacher's Corner.

The Teacher's Corner Resources Little Brown Seeds Grades K-2
A fun poem for younger students.
Submitted by: Stacie

The Teacher's Corner Resources Poems & Songs Grades K-2
Here are some creative ways to help your students learn about plants and seeds.
Submitted by: Lorti@email-removed

The Teacher's Corner Resources Planting Popcorn Grades Elementary
This is a great activity to help students learn the exact way a seed sprouts and grows.
Submitted by: Debbie

The Teacher's Corner Resources Plant Sale Project Grades Elementary
Growing plants to sell can be a valuable lesson and a great fund-raiser.
Submitted by: From Amy Graff, a first, second and third grade special educator at The Stapleton School in Framingham, Massachusetts. This idea was posted in the NEA's Weekly "Works4Me" Tip Newsletter.

The Teacher's Corner Resources Various Activities Grades Various
Here are a variety of plant activities. Ranging from tissue paper flowers to graphing plant growth to making a "Dirt" snack.
Submitted by: Dmdunk@email-removed

Apples Grades Primary
This particular unit was written for the primary grades, and is anchored in second grade. Although it is literature based, science and social studies standards are addressed. By studying about Apples students will learn and wonder about how nature works to help plants grow.

Comparing Leaves Grades All
Students will be able to determine differences in trees by their leaves, seeds, and flowers.

Drawing My Own Flower Structure Grades 4-6
Students will learn the parts of a flower and will learn about symmetrics, visual placements, and using guidelines.

Fruits & Vegetables Grades 5-8
Plant reproduction and response helps students understand the difference between plants with seeds and seedless plants. In this activity students are surprised to learn that any of the items commonly called vegetables or nuts are really fruits.

From Seed to Plant Grades 1-3
This unit on plants and seeds was designed to cover a 12 week period. During this unit, students will learn how to identify plant parts, determine what plants need to survive, and recognize how plants are a benefit to people and our planet.

How Are Seeds the Same and Different? Grades K-1
Students will examine seeds from different types of fruits and vegetables. The students will sort and classify the seeds according to different variables.

Jack and the Beanstalk Grade 3
This lesson provides hands-on experiences. The children plant seeds and watch them grow. They are able to identify the parts of a living plant rather than a picture. They draw, write, and perform "Jack and the Beanstalk" in addition to reading it.

Lettuce Be Different Grades K-5
Students compare their own similarities and differences. They then grow and compare several varieties of lettuce plants to explore variations within the same type of plant.

Photosynthesis & Transpiration Grades 6-8
Plants provide a renewable source of food energy for many forms of life. Green plants utilize the sun's energy and the gases in the atmosphere to produce food through photosynthesis and exchange gases in the atmosphere in the associated process of transpiration.

Plants Grades K-5
This unit includes Favorite Links, Internet Activities, Lesson Plans, and Related Resources for Pre-K-5th grade classes studying earth science.

Plant Dyes Grades K-6
Students will be able to use plant materials to create various colored dyes and will be able to use these dyes to create a painting and/or dye cloth.

Plant Systems Grades 1-3
Students will construct a terrarium and use the information gathered from observing the plants in it.

Plants and Seeds Grades 1-3
This lesson will allow students to learn about that different kinds of plants form different amounts of seeds, some plants form only a few seeds, while others form many seeds, and that the fruit is the part of a flowering plant that contains seeds.

Pumpkin Observations Grades 2-3
In this elementary science activity, students will have an opportunity to note the attributes, likenesses, and differences among pumpkins they have brought back to the classroom from a trip to a pumpkin farm. They will learn that all pumpkins are different. They vary in size, weight, and the number of seeds found inside. Students will practice several scientific processes, including observing, predicting, and recording observations as a pumpkin is examined.

Super Sized Sunflowers Grade 1
The sunflower is an amazing plant that has been very popular in recent years. This series of lessons for first graders engages students in all four components of Discipline Based Art Education while also integrating math and science.

Terrarium For Life Grades 2-3
This activity is designed to make each student more aware of the terrarium environment. In creating a terrarium students will benefit from hands-on and learning experiences over a four week period.

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Books

3D Eyewitness Plant

Acorn Pancakes, Dandelion Salad, and Other Wild Dishes
by Jean Craighead George

The Amazing Apple Book
by Paulette Bourgeois

America's Deserts: Guide to Plants & Animals
by Marianne D. Wallace

A Seed Grows : My First Look at a Plant's Life Cycle (Child's First Look at Nature - A Unique Flap-Book Series)
by Pamela Hickman

Atlas of Plants
by Gallimard Jeunesse, Claude D. Delafosse, Sylvaine Perols (Contributor)

Autumn Leaves (Preparing for Winter)
by Gail Saunders-Smith

The Berenstain Bears Grow-It: Mother Nature Has Such a Green Thumb
by Stan Berenstain

Berries, Nuts and Seeds (Take-Along Guide)
by Diane L. Burns

Botanical Gardens Coloring Book
by Dot Barlowe, Dorthy Barlowe, Sy Barlowe