Wildlife Tag
OC Field Investigation Activity: Parts of a Plant
In this activity, students will explore the outdoor classroom to find a plant with a flower, and then they will draw it, label its parts, and answer questions about how its internal and external structures help the plant survive, grow, and reproduce.
STEP 1: Engage through Discussion
The background information, interactive powerpoint, and example questions below can be used to help introduce the topic, engage the students, and build a foundation to discuss the topic:
STEP 2: Explore with Literature
These books can be used to further explore the topic with your students:
STEP 3: Explain using Technology
These videos can be used to further explain the topic to your students:
STEP 4: Investigate through Journaling
The Outdoor Classroom Field Investigation Activity Observation Sheet(s) allow students to apply what they have learned as they investigate and record their real-world observations in their field journals. Before you go outside, don't forget to review the activity instructions and your Outdoor Classroom Rules with your students:
STEP 5: Review with an Assessment
Review and assess the students’ observations and answers on the activity sheets. As an assessment, have students use their computers to research and then draw a picture of a native Alabama plant and label its parts. You can also use the following assessment sheet (white out the word bank if needed): .
- Lesson Plan: Interactive STEPS below or PDF
- Outdoor Classroom Field Investigation Activity Sheets for Students:
- Outdoor Classroom Field Investigation Answer Sheets for Teachers: (version 2) Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"
- Materials Needed: Activity Sheets, Clipboards & Pencils (optional: magnifying glasses)
- Duration: Introduction - 30 min. | Outdoor Exploration - 20 min. | Review - 30 min.
- Alabama Course of Study Standards Taught: PDF
STEP 1: Engage through Discussion
The background information, interactive powerpoint, and example questions below can be used to help introduce the topic, engage the students, and build a foundation to discuss the topic:
- Background Info: Word Doc | PDF
- Interactive PowerPoint: PDF | PPT - Be sure to click "Enable Editing" when you open it, and click "Slide Show" & "From Beginning" to use interactive capability.
- Example Questions & Answers: Word Doc | PDF
STEP 2: Explore with Literature
These books can be used to further explore the topic with your students:
- From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons ISBN: 978-0823410255
- Amazing Plant Powers: How Plants Fly, Fight, Hide, Hunt and Change by Loreen Leedy ISBN: 978-o823422562
STEP 3: Explain using Technology
These videos can be used to further explain the topic to your students:
- PBS’s Think Garden: Plant Structure (2:52 min.) @ https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/5dea21b4-6c92-46ff-982c-8650f9429c01/think-garden-plant-structure/#.Wp2GmOjwY2w
STEP 4: Investigate through Journaling
The Outdoor Classroom Field Investigation Activity Observation Sheet(s) allow students to apply what they have learned as they investigate and record their real-world observations in their field journals. Before you go outside, don't forget to review the activity instructions and your Outdoor Classroom Rules with your students:
- Outdoor Classroom Activity Tip - As the students explore the outdoor classroom, they can identify how different plants have different types of flowers, stems, leaves and roots that all function to support survival. Make sure that the students understand that plants include grasses, wildflowers, bushes and trees.
- Activity Instructions Parts of a Plant for Activity Sheet(s) - Ask students to complete page 1 before going outside...OR...save page 1 as an Assessment Page after completing the activity. Then take students to the outdoor classroom to find a plant with flowers on it, draw a picture of the plant, and then label its parts including its flowers, leaves, stems, roots, phloem, and xylem. Then they should answer the questions about the plant's external structures.
- Activity Answer Sheets for Teachers - (version 2) Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"
- Example Outdoor Classroom Rules - The outdoor classroom is not a playground, so do not run and do not climb on anything. Remember that the outdoor classroom provides habitat (a home) for local wildlife, and you should not damage the local wildlife habitat. Therefore, do not pick up wildlife, plants, flowers or rocks. Also, do not feed wildlife. Be quiet so that we can have the opportunity to see wildlife, and so that we won't disturb other classes.
STEP 5: Review with an Assessment
Review and assess the students’ observations and answers on the activity sheets. As an assessment, have students use their computers to research and then draw a picture of a native Alabama plant and label its parts. You can also use the following assessment sheet (white out the word bank if needed): .