Young Naturalist Lesson:
Young Naturalist Lesson:Students learn the main parts of a plant (roots, stem, leaves, flower). They observe a flower, label its parts, and perform a song and dance about plant parts.
Print out the plant parts diagram. Make enough photocopies for each student to use. Review the Puddler Young Naturalist story. If students tried the experiments listed, review the results. Remind students that the experiments focused on the different jobs carried out by a plant's various parts. Show the class a picture or a live flower. Ask students to identify any parts they know. Ask if anyone can share a plant fact. Discuss each main plant part and its primary functions:
Roots: anchor the plant in soil, take in water and minerals
Stem: holds the plant upright, carries water up from roots and food down from leaves
Leaves: make food for the plant, using green material (chlorophyll) to turn sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into a sugary liquid
Flower: creates seeds that grow into new plants, is usually colorful or scented
Pass out copies of the plant parts diagram. Have students label the parts, either by writing the correct word, or by drawing a line from each word to its matching part.
Tell students they can use their own bodies to help remember the parts of a plant. Explain you are going to teach them a song and dance in which they imagine they are a flowering plant. Point out each body part they will be using: toes for roots, legs and trunk for the stem, arms and hands for the leaves, and head for the flower. Note: you may wish to have students take off their shoes and socks, so that wiggling toes are easier to see. Demonstrate each line and movement, practicing until students are comfortable doing the whole song. Note: As an alternative, have older students write plant poems or role play each of a plant's parts.
(sung to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot" )
| Words | Movement |
| I have roots to help me hold my ground. | Wriggle toes. |
| My stem keeps my body from falling down. | Bounce up and down, legs together. |
| Inside my leaves is where my food is found. | Wave arms up and down. |
| My flower makes seeds so I'll spread 'round. | Shake head back and forth. |
Use plant parts to make musical instruments. For example, make a tambourine from two paper plates stapled together and filled with sunflower seeds. Use carrot sticks as drum sticks. Cut twigs with leaves attached, let the leaves dry out, and shake them as rattles.