NY Botanical Gardens Elementary Grades:

NY Botanical Gardens Elementary Grades:

Discovering and describing the many different plants which exist in different ecosystems.

Grade Level: Biology, second grade, elementary school.

Learning Standard(s):

Performance Standards: Demonstrate understanding of characteristics of organisms. Demonstrate understanding of organisms and environments. Scientific Tools and Technology: Acquires information from multiple

sources.

New York City Performance Standards: Student produces evidence that demonstrates understanding of characteristics of organisms, such as survival and environmental support; the relationship between structure

and function; variation in behavior. The student produces evidence that demonstrates understanding of organisms and environments, such as interdependence of animals and plants in an ecosystem; and populations and their effect on the environment.

National Science Standards: Plants and animals have life cycles that include being born, developing into adults, reproducing, and eventually dying.

Time Requirements:

Prep time: three weeks prior to attending the botanical gardens.

Time at the botanical garden: Five hours.

Topics covered by this lesson: This lesson will cover the following topics on plant diversity and ecosystems.

1. Plant anatomy.

2. How plants make food.

3. What plants need to survive.

4. The function of flowers.

Previsit:(what we would have covered prior to going to the gardens)

Purpose: To explore various plants they have at home and list what they think a

plant needs to survive. Students will be given the opportunity to gather data on these various

plants and explore the botanical gardens for other species and their habitats.

Objective: To have students understand where plants get their food and water. To discuss the function of flowers. To identify the other parts of plants and discuss their functions. To discuss the various habitats certain plants thrive in, while the same plants die in others.

Materials: Writing instrument and their journals.

Learning Prerequisites: Basic understanding of vocabulary discussed. Students will be expected to apply their acquired information while at the garden.

Visit: Students will be required to write plant names and draw the plant, while labeling their parts. Students will be responsible for identifying the habitats these plant were found in.

Post visit: Students will share information gathered from the gardens to design an original plant of their own, labeling parts and the reasons for those parts, possible habitat, and survival tactics.

Possible Questions:

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