Young Naturalist Lesson:

Plants and People

Overview:

Students discover the value of plants to the well-being of people and the environment in general. They discuss the importance of photosynthesis and do research to fill in a chart describing the benefits plants provide.

 

Curriculum Focus:

 

Materials:

 

Activity:

Print out the Plants And People chart. Make enough photocopies for student pairs or small groups to use. Review the Puddler Young Naturalist story. If students tried the experiments listed, review the results. Discuss the process of photosynthesis, including its by-products:

 

carbon dioxide + water + sunlight --->chlorophyll in leaves performs photosynthesis

---> organic compounds (plant food) + oxygen

 

Ask students why plant photosynthesis is important to life on earth (living things require oxygen to survive, photosynthesis provides food for plants so they can grow; plants form the basis of the food chain). Ask students to share a few examples they know about the importance of plants to people.

Divide students into pairs or small groups. Hand out copies of the Plants and People chart. Direct students to work together to fill in their charts. Explain they will need to find at least five examples for each category. Have students use books, the Internet, periodicals, the television and CD-ROMs to do their research.

Once students have completed their charts, have them compare their results with others. Create a master list on the board. Answers may relate to the following topics:

Health: food and beverages, production of oxygen through photosynthesis, temperature and pollution control, flood control, various medicines (muscle relaxers, pain killers, blood coagulators, sedatives, steroids, heart stimulants, antibiotics), allergens

Manufactured Products: paper products, building materials, textiles, fossil fuels, furniture, paints, cleaning agents, tools, rubber, cooking oils

Recreation: gardening, hiking, cooking, wood crafts, wildlife feeding

 

Extension idea:

Make a class collage about plants and people. Use the master chart to generate ideas. Have students cut out pictures from magazines, newspapers, and other printed materials that illustrate examples from the chart. Also have them look for articles regarding plants and people. Use these materials to create a collage, perhaps in the shape of a tree.