Science Lesson Plans – Homeschool Lounge

This lesson plan focuses on parts of plants and their functions. As adults we know that plants are alive but what does that really mean? When I studied plants with the boys, both of whom have ADHD, there were so many books, and lesson plans, and stuff to cover that it was simply overwhelming. When I broke down the botany lessons into 5 separate goals that made my life a lot easier. Their hyperactive ADHD wasn’t going to be OK with sitting for long so I split the lessons up into fifteen minute sections. Teaching homeschool science can be difficult but it doesn’t have to be. By using this lesson, which is geared towards children ages 4 – 7 years old, you can learn about plants alongside your child. These videos, worksheets, online games, and books explores the concept that plants have special parts like roots and leaves. As you and your child, or children, enjoy these exercises help them to make the connections and make observations. This would also be a great time to visit a conservatory, public gardens, or even plant your own garden! Let us know how you used this lesson or how you added your own special touch to it in the comments below. U+ME Kids Gardening Tool Set, Real Kids Garden Set, Eco Friendly Design | Outdoor Play | STEM Learning | Montessori Activities | Mini Things That Actually Work *now at Amazon Paint & Plant Flower Growing Kit - Kids Gardening Science Gifts for Girls and Boys Ages 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 - STEM Arts & Crafts Project Activity - Grow Your Own Cosmos, Zinnia & Marigold Flowers *now at Amazon PARTS OF PLANTS AND THEIR SPECIAL FUNCTIONS You have special parts like legs and arms, a face, and smaller parts like eyes and ears. Plants have special parts, too. Their parts are called the root, stem, branch, leaf, flower, fruit, and seed. Let’s learn more about a plant’s special parts from Professor P! Played by son trying to be an old scientist. ;) We learned that roots anchor the plant to take in their water and nutrients and hold the plant firmly in the ground. Roots are also absorbers of water and minerals from the soil. Stems and branches are the plant’s feet. They help support the plant in the soil and carry water and nutrients throughout the various parts of the plant. Stems also hold up the leaves to reach out to the light. They keep the fruits and flowers of the plant attached to the plant. Stems can grow straight up, trail along the ground, climb fences and trees or stay underground. Leaves are a food making factory for the plant. Seeds of a plant help it to produce flowers or fruit. Some plants produce fruit that holds its seeds. VIDEOS — “Parts of Plants” from MindsetLearn – a BBC TV show “The Carrot Seed” by Ruth Krauss “The Tiny Seed” by Eric Carle “How Plants Make Food” by The Dr. Binocs Show | Learn Videos For Kids GAMES — SoftSchools.com: Identify the plant parts. Turtle Diary: The plant life cycle WORKSHEETS — HomeschoolCreations.net: A printable pack that can be used for a lapbook on the parts of plant. MadeByTeachers.com: Cut and paste the parts of a plant. TeachPreschool.org: Create with the parts of a flower (not shown) BOOKS — Roots, Stems, Leaves, and Flowers: Let's Investigate Plant Parts (Get Started with Stem) by Ruth Owen Gardening for Kids: Learn, Grow, and Get Messy with Fun STEAM Projects by Brandy Stone National Geographic Readers: Seed to Plant by Kristin Baird Rattini CONCLUSION I hope you and your preschooler, or Kindergartener, enjoy these free homeschool resources! This lesson is based on the scope and sequence in the book, "What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know (Revised and updated): Preparing Your Child for a Lifetime of Learning " written by E.D. Hirsch Jr. which is available from Amazon.