K-LS1-1: Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals…

Plants and Seeds: What Does a Seed Need? Grade 1

What's hiding inside a bean, and what does it need to wake up and grow? Young scientists open soaked seeds, sprout beans in bags and watch seedlings bend to find the light.

• What does a seed need to grow? Day 1: 40 min. Then 5–10 min check-ins for 7 to 10 days, and a 25 min wrap-up

  Each team puts beans in three zip bags: wet in the light, wet in a dark cupboard, and dry. Over 7 to 10 days children keep a picture journal and find out that a seed needs water to start growing, and that light matters once the little plant is up.

• Why do plants grow toward the window? Day 1: 40 min. Then 5 min check-ins for 1 to 2 weeks, and a 20 min wrap-up

  Children turn young bean plants away from a window and watch them bend back toward the light, and they set a seedling inside a shoebox maze to see if it can find its way out. They explain that plants need light and grow toward it.

Who Eats What? Food Chains and Helpers Grades K–2

What does a rabbit need, and what does a sunflower need? Children sort picture cards by what living things need, build food chains on the floor from the sun to a fox, and play bees carrying pollen between paper flowers. Everything prints: no materials to buy.

• What do animals and plants need to live? 40–50 min

  Children sort eight picture cards of animals and plants by what each one needs, then play a plant-or-animal freeze game. They find the pattern: every animal needs food, water and air, and a plant needs light, water and air because it makes its own food.

Printable practice for K-LS1-1

• Plants and Seeds: What Does a Seed Need? workbook included with the unit

  3 practice pages, 3 readings, 2 English-support pages, 1 word wall, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

• Who Eats What? Food Chains and Helpers workbook included with the unit

  2 English-support pages, 2 practice pages, 2 readings, 1 word wall, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

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