Recall
Where have you observed plants before?
Students can respond with any way that involves their previous experiences, including outside, in a garden, in pots on the front porch, or in any other location.
Can you name some parts of plants?
Students can list any plant parts, such as stems, branches, roots, leaves, flowers, fruit, or other parts.
What do you think roots help a plant do?
Students likely relied on their sense of sight and also their sense of touch.
Which senses helped you observe your plants today?
Students likely relied on their sense of sight and also their sense of touch.
What do the leaves look like that you observed today?
Students can suggest descriptive terms, such as pointy, large, flat, green, or any other descriptive word or phrase.
What do the roots of a plant usually look like? How do roots of the carrot look different?
Students can suggest that roots usually look long and stringy, but the carrot has a larger and thicker root.
Describe how you illustrated each plant part. What did each part look like?
Ask students to use descriptive terms to describe each of their drawings. Perhaps their roots are long and thin and their branches are thicker and above ground, or the flowers are brightly colored and the leaves are broad and green. Any descriptive terms are appropriate here.
Why do you think some plants have big strong branches while others have small thin branches?
Students can think of the different habitats or weather conditions in which plants grow. They should make a connection that strong winds or the need to grow tall means that plants will likely have large stiff branches.
Which parts of plants do the stems connect to?
Stems connect to the roots, the branches, or the leaves (depending on the plant students are observing). Ask students to identify the parts that are on either side of the stem.
How do your other materials help you see the parts of plants a little easier?
The items that were used in the model help show the plant parts easier and clearer than some of the real plants.
Why do you think the leaves of most plants are broad and flat?
The leaves need to capture sunlight, so they have large, flat surfaces. Remind students that this is how plants make their food.
Which items worked best to show the leaves of your model plant?
The construction paper with waxed paper worked best to show the leaves.
Why do you think flowers help a plant?
Flowers attract animals such as bees, which is why they are brightly colored. You may show some pictures of birds or bees to help students visualize how animals are involved with the flowers.
Which of the plant parts that you saw today do you think is the most important? Why do you think so?
Students can decide which characteristic is the most important, but they must support their answer. Responses may include “Leaves are the most important because they help a plant get sunlight” or any other supported answer.