3rd Grade Investigating If Plants Need Light To Grow Lesson Plan Example (Science)

Topic: Investigating if plants need light to grow

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding that plants need light to grow.

Materials

• Selection of plant specimens (e.g. basil, lettuce, tomato)
• Dark room or box
• Light bulb or other source of bright white light
• Protective goggles (optional)

Warm-up

• Ask students if they have ever planted a seed before. What happened to the seed?
• Discuss the importance of sunlight for plants to grow.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of photosynthesis, the process by which plants use light energy to make food (i.e. glucose) using carbon dioxide and water.
• Explain that without light, plants cannot make food and will die.
• Show students several different types of seeds, such as beans, peas, and radishes.
• Have students plant the seeds in small cups filled with soil.
• Place the cups in a dark area of the classroom and check on them regularly to make sure they are not dry.
• After a few days, discuss the results and what they mean for the need for light for plants to grow.

Guided Practice

• Have students wash and dry several different types of plants (i.e. grass, basil, and ivy).
• Have students label their own small cups with the names of the plants they have chosen.
• Have students carefully remove a small piece of the plant (about the size of a thumb nail) and place it in their cup.
• Have students fill the cup with soil and water it well.
• Place the cups in a sunny area of the classroom and check on them regularly to make sure they are not dry.
• After a few days, discuss the results and what they mean for the need for light for plants to grow.

Independent Practice

• Have students choose one type of plant to test the need for light in their own classroom environment.
• Have students follow the same steps as in the guided practice activity, but this time in their own cups at their desks.
• After a few days, discuss the results and what they mean for the need for light for plants to grow.

Closure

• Review the results of the experiments and discuss the importance of light for plant growth.
• Ask students to share any questions or ideas about the need for light for plants to grow.

Assessment

• Observe students during the independent practice to assess their understanding of the need for light and their ability to conduct a simple experiment.
• Evaluate their experiment boards or reports to assess their understanding of the concept and their ability to present and explain their results.