KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

LESSON PLAN FORMAT

Teacher Candidate: Alison Waldron

Date: 3/13/14

Cooperating Teacher: N/A

Coop. Initials: N/A

Group Size: 30

Grade Level: 3rd Grade

Allotted Time: 90-120 minutes

Subject or Topic: Science - Organisms

Section: EEU 205

STANDARD:
S3.A.2.1.2: Make predictions based on observations.
S3.B.1.1.1: Identify and describe the functions of basic structures of animals and plants
(e.g., animals [skeleton, heart, lungs]; plants [roots, stem, leaves]).
S3.B.1.1.3: Describe the basic needs of plants and animals and their dependence on light,
food, air, water, and shelter.
S3.B.2.1.1: Identify adaptations of plants and animals that have helped them to survive.
S3.B.2.1.2: Identify and describe plant and animal characteristics that are necessary for
survival.
I. Performance Objectives (Learning Outcomes):
A. Students will be able to predict how plants help people breathe
B. Students will be able to identify the parts of basic structures of plants
C. Students will be able to understand the different concepts of photosynthesis
II.

Instructional Materials
A. One leafy plant
B. 15 scissors
C. Warm, well-lit spot (window)
D. 15 water glasses of water
E. 30 print outs of prediction sheet
F. Computers for groups of two or three students

III.

Subject Matter
A. Pre-requisites:

 Fine Motor Skills

Group skills
Simple Plant vocabulary terms
B. Key Vocabulary/Content:
Leaf - grows from stem of plant
Predict - making a guess from data/materials given
Carbon dioxide - a heavy odorless colorless gas formed during
respiration and by the decomposition of organic substances;
absorbed from the air by plants in photosynthesis. Humans exhale
this.
Oxygen - colorless and odorless element from plants that lets
humans and animals breathe in
Photosynthesis - process used by plants to make their own food
*Vocabulary on online activity
C. Big Idea:
How plants help people and animals breathe
Oxygen
Photosynthesis
D. Content:
How plants give off oxygen using photosynthesis
IV.

Implementation
A. Introduction
What do plants need to survive? - Food and Oxygen
How do plants get their food?
Show photosynthesis video
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwwQU8DBaY8
B. Development
Put the plant in a warm, well-lit spot for about two hours before class
Give the children a cup of water, a leaf and a pair of scissors
Let them play with the materials for about five minutes
Tell the children to put the leaf in the water.
Make sure they use their fingertips to hold it under water.
Let them observe what happens to the leaf
Record findings on a record sheet
1. Draw picture showing what was seen one the surface of the
leaf
After the five minutes explain that they will be predicting how plants
help people breathe
How can you tell the leaf is giving off oxygen?

 Green plants make their own food using light, water, and carbon
dioxide (from the air). During this process, plants give off oxygen.
Have students answer record sheet questions
1. How were you able to see the oxygen given off by the leaf?
2. Why do you think the release of oxygen by plants is important
to people and animals?
Next we are going to do an online activity
Spilt everyone into groups of two or three
Please walk over to the computers with your partner(s) and finish
the first activity.
Work on online activity until closure
1. http://www.tv411.org/science/tv411-whatscooking/photosynthesis-science-lesson
C. Closure
Read book: The Magic School Bus Gets Planted by Lenore Notkin
and Joanna Cole
1. Ask questions:
a. What do you think will happen to the bus?
b. Why do you think that happened?
c. How would you get out of this situation?
Have the students fill out the attached exit slip
Tomorrow we will be learning about how plants can by used as
medicine and healing agents!
D. Accommodations/Differentiation
For children with handicaps, have them pair up in a group with a
helper to guide them and assist them when needed.
Braille on vocabulary words
1. For the vision impaired
Holding up the projects and microscopes
1. For the hearing impaired
Help teacher pass out materials
1. Child with ADHD; to keep them focused
E. Assessment/Evaluation Plan
1. Formative
a. Students will give the prediction/inquiry sheet to the teacher.
b. Exit slip at the end of class
c. Online activity results
2. Summative
a. Unit test at the end of the week

V.

Reflective Response
A. Report of Students Performance in Terms of Stated Objectives
Reflection on the students performance after lesson is taught
Remediation for failing students to meet acceptable level
B. Personal Reflection
Questions written before lesson
Answer to pre-made questions below
1. Were the students able to predict how plants help people
breathe?
2. Were the students able to identify the parts of basic structures
of plants?
3. Were the students able to understand the different concepts of
photosynthesis?

VI.

Resources
A. Photosynthesis video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwwQU8DBaY8
B. Science Activity Card - Frank Schaffer Publication, Inc.
Plants Give Off Oxygen
C. Online activity
http://www.tv411.org/science/tv411-whats-cooking/photosynthesisscience-lesson
D. The Magic School Bus Gets Planted by Lenore Notkin and Joanna Cole