What is a plant?images/In...Cherry, Lynne: A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History Donaldson,...

Copyright 2008 abcteach.com


What is a plant?

A plant is a living thing.

Name _______________________________________

What am I?

“Plant” Series

Plants grow in the soil.

Plants get energy from the sun.



Most plants are green.

Plants need water.



People and animals eat plants. Copyright 2008 abcteach.com


Plants have leaves.

Plants are important.

We see plants every day.



tree vine flowers vegetables

list compiled for abcteach.com

Looking for children’s books focused on the environment? Use this list to get you started! Be sure to check the book to ensure the right level for your students. This list includes fiction and non-fiction books concerning environmental appreciation and conservation. Did we miss your favorite environmental book? Let us know!

Albert, Richard E.; Sylvia Long (illustrator): Alejandro's Gift Burns, Loree Griffin: Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, & the Science of Ocean Motion Cherry, Lynne: A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History Donaldson, Julia; Axel Scheffler (illustrator): The Snail and the Whale Dr. Seuss: The Lorax Driscoll, Michael; Meredith Hamilton (illustrator): A Child's Introduction to the Environment: The Air, Earth, and Sea Around Us- Plus Experiments, Projects, and Activities YOU Can Do to Help Our Planet! Ehlert, Lois: Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf Ehrlich, Amy; Wendell Minor (illustrator): Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson Gibbons, Gail: Nature's Green Umbrella Gibbons, Gail: Recycle!: A Handbook for Kids Hiaasen, Carl: Hoot Lasky, Kathryn; Stan Fellows (illustrator): John Muir: America's First Environmentalist McLimans, David: Gone Wild Peet, Bill: The Wump World Pfeffer, Susan Beth: Life As We Knew It Rockwell, Anne; Paul Meisel (illustrator): Why Are the Ice Caps Melting?: The Dangers of Global Warming Showers, Paul; Randy Chewning (illustrator): Where Does the Garbage Go? (revised edition) Steig, William: Abel's Island Tara, Stephanie Lisa; Alex Walton (illustrator): Snowy White World to Save The EarthWorks Group: 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth Thornhill, Jan: This Is My Planet: The Kids' Guide to Global Warming Van Allsburg, Chris: Just a Dream Vaupel, Robin: My Contract with Henry


ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Game board: Fasten the above label to the front of a file folder. Fasten pages 2 and 3 (caterpillar) on the insides of the file folder. Laminate. 2. Game pieces: Cut out the circles of flowers on page 4. Laminate. 3. To store game pieces, place them inside closed file folder. Fasten

sides of folder together with paper clips or report cover spines (cut to fit), or attach Velcro inside the file folder to keep the sides closed.

GAME PLAY Count the flowers on each circle. Match the circle to the section on the caterpillar with the corresponding number.


1 2

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6

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7

Nutrition & Health/Gardening/Vegetable

©2010 abcteach.com

Fun in the Garden!

Vegetable Gardening

Vegetable gardens are a special treat. Fresh vegetables taste great and they cost less

than the vegetables from the store! Planting a vegetable garden is fun and easy.

Before you plant:

Before you plant your garden, you need to plan your garden. Where will you plant the

garden? Remember, vegetable gardens need a sunny, open place. A vegetable garden

needs at least six hours of full sunlight a day. Vegetable gardens also need to be in an

area that drains water well.

Next you need to plan the vegetables you want to grow. Pick vegetables that you will

like eating and cooking. Find out how long the growing season is in your area. If you live

in the north, the growing season will be shorter than it is for gardeners south of you.

Check the seed packages to see how long each vegetable will take to grow. Be sure the

growing season in your area is long enough for the vegetables you choose. Draw a map

of where you will plant each vegetable in the garden.

Next, prepare the garden for planting. The soil needs to be turned over, conditioned and

fertilized. Turn the soil with a rototiller machine or a pitchfork and shovel. The soil

should not be wet when it is turned. Take out the lumps, rocks and roots.

Mix the soil with compost, fertilizer, and soil conditioner. You can use your own

compost or buy it at a garden store. When the garden soil is mixed up well, rake it flat.

Use a metal garden rake to level the soil.

Plant your seeds:

When you are ready to plant make sure the soil is still loose. Water the garden the day

before you plant. Plant your seeds from the back of the garden forward. This will keep

you from stepping on the rows you have already planted. Make a row in the soil with

the edge of a hoe. Mark the beginning and end of the row with sticks or stakes.


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Follow the directions on the seed package. Some small seeds can be scattered in rows,

with a little bit of soil on top of them. Larger seeds should be planted by themselves

along the row. Large seeds need a larger amount of soil put on top of them. Plant more

seeds than you need. Some seeds will not grow.

Taking care of your garden:

Water well. Use a gentle spray so that you don't uncover the seeds. Thin the seedlings

when they have sprouted. Pull the smallest seedlings. Leave the strongest seedlings in

the garden.

Most vegetables need an inch or more water each week. Wait a day to water after a

heavy rain. This gives the soil time to drain. If the soil doesn’t drain, the plants’ roots will

drown. Add mulch between the rows to stop weeds from growing. Mulch also keeps

the soil moist.

Weeds take water, light and space away from your plants. Pull them often. Pull the

entire root of the weed. Leaving any part of the root will allow the weed to grow back.

Harvesting:

Harvest your vegetables when they are ripe. If they are attached to a stalk or vine,

gently twist the vegetable until it frees itself. If the vegetable is not coming loose easily,

it might not be fully ripe. Try again in a few days. If you are digging up a root vegetable,

be careful not to cut it with your tool.

Always wash vegetables. Place leafy vegetables in a sink or bowl full of cold water. Stir

gently. The dirt will sink to the bottom.


©2010 abcteach.com

Fun in the Garden!

Vegetable Gardening

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. What things do you have to plan before you can plant your garden?

2. What is the best location for your garden?

3. Why is it important to know your growing season?

4. How do you prepare your soil for gardening?

5. What should you use as a guide to plant your seeds?

6. When should you wait a day to water your garden? Why?

7. Why should you pull the entire root of a weed when weeding?

8. Why should you wash the vegetables from your garden?

Discussion Questions

Answer on a separate piece of paper, or in a class discussion. Additional research may

be necessary to answer the questions.

1. What are planting zones? Which planting zone do you live in? What is the planting

season in your zone?

2. Read the backs of some seed packets. What are some special instructions you see on

these packets?

3. Why do you think seed starting is good for the earth? What are other ways to make

gardening an environmentally friendly activity?


©2010 abcteach.com

Fun in the Garden!

Vegetable Gardening

Functional Text Questions:

1. How much sunlight does a garden need every day? __________________

2. What happens after you plan the location of your garden?

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

3. What happens before you plant your seeds?

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

4. What materials do you need for vegetable gardening?

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

5. What tools to you need to plant a vegetable garden?

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

6. What is the first step in vegetable gardening?

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

7. What is the last step in vegetable gardening?

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________


©2010 abcteach.com

Fun in the Garden! Vegetable Gardening

Answer Key

Reading Comprehension Answers:

1. The location of the garden, the types of vegetables you want to grow, and where you

are planting the vegetables all need to be planned before you start working in your

garden.

2. The best location for the garden is in an area that has at least 6 hours of direct

sunlight every day, has good drainage,

3. It is important to know your growing season so that you plant vegetables that will

germinate and grow to maturity within the time you have.

4. You have to turn over the soil and add conditioners and fertilizers, as well as get rid

of any lumps, rocks and roots in the soil before you can plant seeds.

5. Use the seed package as a guide to planting your seeds in the garden.

6. You should wait a day to water your garden after a heavy rain, to give the garden

time to drain.

7. If you do not pull the entire root of the weed, it will grow back and threaten your

plants.

8. Vegetables from the garden should always be washed, because they will have dirt,

any fertilizer you use, and insects on them.

Functional Text Answers:

1. The garden needs at least six hours of direct sunlight every day.

2. You plan what vegetables you are planting and where you are putting them in the

garden.

3. You till the soil, and add conditioner and fertilizer to it. Make sure there are no

lumps, rocks or roots in the soil, and rake it flat.

4. Materials you need for vegetable gardening are seeds, compost, soil conditioner,

fertilizer, and an available water source for vegetable gardening.

5. Tools you need for planting a vegetable gardening are a rototiller machine or garden

pitchfork and shovel. You will also need a metal gardening rake and a garden hoe.

6. The first step in vegetable gardening is to plan the location of the garden.

7. The last step in vegetable gardening is to harvest and wash the vegetables.

Name: _________________ Date: _______Vegetable Gardening

S B D LE H P L G M I DS O I L Q V A R O G GO V Y A E E R O J H RC E T N N G D O M T OU L I T H E E T W T W

N L E E T N S M JL L E A V E S

D C B Q PM P A E L J S O WR Z O O A E S O H F J

H S E E D S W A T E RW I H A R V E S T

EV

SEEDS GARDEN PLANTTILL HOE SOIL

WATER LIGHT VEGETABLESROOTS LEAVES SOWSHOVEL GROW HARVEST

User-created with abctools® for home and classroom use only.Graphics and format ©2000-2010 abcteach® Vegetable Gardening May not be sold/redistributed without permission

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Vegetable Gardening

S B D LE H P L G M I DS O I L Q V A R O G GO V Y A E E R O J H RC E T N N G D O M T OU L I T H E E T W T W

N L E E T N S M JL L E A V E S

D C B Q PM P A E L J S O WR Z O O A E S O H F J

H S E E D S W A T E RW I H A R V E S T

EV

User-created with abctools® for home and classroom use only.Graphics and format ©2000-2010 abcteach® Vegetable Gardening May not be sold/redistributed without permission

www.abcteach.com

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Yellow C6, D5, G2, H1 C2, D3, G6, H7 D1, E2, H5, I6 D7, E6, H3, I2

B4, C1, C4, C7, D2, D4, D6, E3, E5, F1, F2, F6, F7, G3, G5, H2, H4, H6, I1, I4, I7, J4

A B C D E F G H I J K

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Green B8, G8 B9, G9 E8, J8 E9, J9 C8, C9, D8, D9, F8, F9, F10 H8, H9, I8, I9

Orange E4, F3, F5, G4

Brown F4


A B C D E F G H I J K

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Garden Project

© 2009 abcteach.com

Garden Plot Objective: To create a record of a newly planted garden, so that plants will be easy to identify as they grow. To learn and practice mapping skills. You will need: • grid paper • pencil • colored pencils • ruler • measuring tape Instructions: Teachers/Parents: 1. Discuss the importance of garden planning. 2. Discuss map-making skills. Students: 1. Measure your garden. Create a scale that will allow you to draw your

garden on the grid paper (i.e. one square = one square foot). 2. Draw the outer border of your garden on the grid paper. 3. Create a legend with symbols to represent the plants in your garden

(i.e. red “T” for a tomato plant, yellow circle for a yellow rose plant, etc.).

4. Use colored pencils to draw your plant symbols in your garden plot. Stay as true to scale as possible.

5. As your garden grows, refer to your plot to identify plants. 6. Make changes to the plot as needed if plants die or new ones are

added. Hints: • Do not try to be too exact. Estimate distances smaller than your scale

unit. • Keep your Garden Plot in your Gardening Journal.

Garden Project


Legend:

Lapbook


Insects and Spiders

Lapbook


Theme Words SPIDER COCOON INSECT NEST CRAWL HIVE CREEPY BUTTERFLY ANT WEB

Cut out the square and fold on dotted lines to make a booklet.

Lapbook


Matchbooks: Fold on dotted. Fold with words at the top of the book.

Two Pockets: Fold flaps back. Glue flaps to lapbook.

How many legs does a spider typically have?

Make a list of things you know about grasshoppers.

Lapbook


Flash Cards: Add information to these cards. Store in pockets.

Lapbook


1. Glue this side to the lapbook. 2. Glue horizontally or vertically. 3. Fold on center line. Cut the dot-

ted lines to create the flaps. 4. Write a question to go with

each image on the flap. 5. Answer the questions under the

flap.


Natural Resources Activity - Products & Uses Teacher Instructions

Objective: To reinforce the relationship between natural resources, their uses, and the goods that are produced from them. Materials: Natural Resource Cards, tape, Natural Resource Products worksheet, objects in the classroom made from natural resources. Preparation: • Print a set of cards for each student or group. Cut the cards apart (or

have students cut them in class). • Check your classroom in advance to be sure that there are many

examples of natural resource products. Bring extra items into the classroom if necessary.

Activity: • Pass out the cards to students or groups. • Instruct students to select a Natural Resource Card and find an object

in the classroom that is made from that resource. • Place or tape the card on the object. • Students should do this for each card he/she has. • Students should look for different objects from what other students have

chosen. • After all the cards have been placed, discuss each card’s placement

with the class. Have the student state why the object was chosen. Correct if necessary.

• Have students complete the Natural Resource Products worksheet based on their findings.

Suggested items: • forests: paper or wood - desk, ruler, books, poster, door, etc. • soil: glass, bricks, pottery, potting soil, clay, sand art, concrete, etc. • water: drinks, paint, wet wipes, fountain, sink, wet sponge, etc. • minerals: metal or rock - lockers, magnet, electronics, chalk, etc. • plants: fruit, vegetables, cotton, blue jeans, rope, house plant, etc. • animals: leather, wool, ivory, sea shells, bristle brushes, etc. • air: person, plant, fan, air conditioner, pinwheel, balloon, etc. • solar energy: solar-powered calculator, plant, sunlight, etc.


Name ____________________ Date ______________

Natural Resource Products & Uses List objects in your classroom that come from natural resources.

1. forests _________________ _________________ _________________

2. soil _________________ _________________ _________________

3. water _________________ _________________ _________________

4. minerals _________________ _________________ _________________

5. plants _________________ _________________ _________________

6. animals _________________ _________________ _________________

7. air _________________ _________________ _________________

8. solar energy _________________ _________________ _________________


Forests Soil

Water Minerals


Solar Energy Air

Plants Animals


Natural Resources Wall Hanging MATERIALS: 3 pages of printouts (1 of globe, 2 of resource signs) Crayons, markers or colored pencils Scissors Glue ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Color the globe and natural resource signs. 2. Cut out the globe along the dotted lines. 3. Cut out the natural resource signs along the dotted lines. You should have 3 long strips (with 3 signs on each) and 3 separate signs. 4. Glue each separate sign to the bottom of a long strip, making 3 long strips with 4 signs on each one. 5. Glue each strip to the bottom edge of the globe cutout. 6. Let the glue dry. Display your wall hanging!

©2008 abcteach.com

• Object of the Game - Learn about the parts of plants.

• How to Play - Place each card into the correct flower pot. Sort by stems, flowers, leaves and fruit.

Teachers: Note: If desired, the cards can be color coded to self-check. Assembly Instructions - Attach above graphic to front of file folder. Attach the two pages with flower pots inside file folder. Cut out cards. Laminate the file folder and cards for durability.

©2008 abcteach.com

A leaf is the flat green part of the plant where photosynthesis takes

place. Plants usually have many leaves. Plants store sunlight in their leaves.

Leaves

The flower is the part of the plant that produces seeds to grow more

plants. Flowers come in many colors. Bees and birds feed on the nectar

made by flowers.

Flower

Parts of a Plant

The stem is the long center support for the plant. Leaves and flowers grow from the stem. Water and nutrients travel up through the stem to other

parts of the plant.

Stem

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A bud is the start of a flower. It is very small at first, but gets larger. The bud will open into a flower. The green leaves covering the bud are

called sepals.

Bud

The roots of a plant grow underground and are usually not seen. They support the plant and anchor it to the ground. Roots draw water and nutrients from

the soil for the entire plant.

Roots

A seed is the very beginning of a plant. Seeds are planted in the soil and grow into plants. Plants produce more seeds

that will grow new plants. (Which came first - the seed or the plant?)

Seeds

Fruit contains seeds. Fruit begins as a flower. It can be either soft like a strawberry or hard like a nut. Many

fruits are good to eat.

Fruit

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A pod is a covering that protects seeds. Once the seeds are mature, the pod opens and the seeds are

scattered.

Pod

Veins are the lines that you can see on leaves. They are actually tiny tubes that take water and nutrients from

the stem to leaf cells.

Vein

The margin is the edge of a leaf. Leaf margins can be smooth, jagged, or

fringed. Leaf margins help to identify leaves and plants.

Margin

The petiole is the smaller stem that connects a leaf to the main stem.

Leaves that have a petiole are called petiolate. Leaves that attach directly

to the stem are called sessile.

Petiole

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An axillary bud is a bud that grows where the leaf attaches to the stem.

It is called axillary because it grows in the axil - the angle between the stem

and the petiole.

Axillary Bud

The internode is the part of the stem between nodes. The internode

strengthens the stem.

Internode

The node is the place where leaves grow out from the stem. Tiny nodes

hold the bud for new leaves.

Node

The terminal bud is a bud that grows at the very end of a stem. If it grows

at the very top of the plant it is often called an apical bud.

Terminal Bud

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A bulb is a very short stem that grows underground. Leaves grow directly out of the bulb. Bulbs can

reproduce themselves and grow more bulbs which grow new plants.

Bulb

Root hairs are tiny roots that grow off larger roots. They grow out into the soil to soak up more water and

nutrients.

Root Hair

The root tip is the end of the root. At the very tip is a covering called the root cap that helps the root to grow

downward through the soil.

Root Tip

A taproot is the center part of a root that grows straight down.

It anchors the plant. Other roots grow from the taproot.

Tap Root


Science Parts of a Plant

You will need: Parts of a Plant printout

Diagram of Plant Parts printout scissors

glue

Spring

Center Activity


Read Parts of a Plant. Cut out the pictures below. Match the pictures to the words on the next page. Glue the pictures in place.

Parts of a Plant Plants have many parts. Each part has a special job to do. Roots are the part of the plant you don’t see. They are underground. Roots hold the plant in place. Roots also soak up water and food from the soil to feed the plant. The stem is the main part of the plant. It holds the plant up. Food and water travel through the stem to all parts of the plant. The leaves soak up sunlight to feed the plant. The flower makes seeds to grow more plants.


Name ___________________

Diagram of Plant Parts

Stem

Roots

Flower

Leaf Leaf

What is a plant?images/In...Cherry, Lynne: A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History Donaldson,...

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