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Crunch Into Color

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Dee Morales

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Crunch Into Color Lesson Plan

Students will learn plant growth needs, identify essential nutrients and vitamins in carrots, and practice healthy cooking by preparing a Rainbow Carrot Salad.

This lesson integrates science and nutrition to foster curiosity about plant biology while promoting healthy eating habits and practical cooking skills for K–5 learners.

Audience

Kindergarten–5th Grade

Time

1 hour

Approach

Hands-on planting, interactive game, and cooking activity

Materials

  • Carrot Seeds (packets), - Small Planting Pots & Soil, - Watering Can, - Mixing Bowls & Spoons, - Cutting Boards & Plastic Knives, - Assorted Carrots (purple, yellow, orange), - Rainbow Carrot Growth Worksheet, - Carrot Nutrients & Vitamins Game, and - Rainbow Carrot Salad Recipe Card

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

  • Review Rainbow Carrot Growth Worksheet, Carrot Nutrients & Vitamins Game, and Rainbow Carrot Salad Recipe Card
  • Print and copy all digital materials for each student or group
  • Gather carrot seeds, pots, soil, watering cans, bowls, cutting boards, and plastic knives
  • Wash and set out assorted carrots for the salad demo
  • Arrange tables into planting and cooking stations

Step 1

Introduction & Objectives

10 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle and display colorful carrot images
  • Explain lesson goals: understanding plant growth, nutrients, vitamins, and healthy recipes
  • Ask: “What do plants need to grow?” and chart responses
  • Show real carrots and ask: “Which vitamins might be inside these?”
  • Differentiation: use picture cards and sentence stems for ELL and emerging writers

Step 2

Planting Activity

15 minutes

  • Demonstrate filling pots with soil and planting carrot seeds
  • Distribute pots, soil, and seeds; guide students step-by-step
  • Students plant seeds, label pots with names, and water gently
  • Place pots by the window or class garden area for observation
  • Differentiation: pair students for peer support and provide visual step cards

Step 3

Nutrients & Vitamins Game

10 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups and distribute game cards
  • Play Carrot Nutrients & Vitamins Game: match vitamins (A, C, K) to their benefits
  • Rotate roles: reader, matcher, checker
  • Debrief: review why these nutrients matter for our bodies
  • Differentiation: offer simpler match sets for younger learners

Step 4

Rainbow Carrot Salad Preparation

15 minutes

  • Introduce Rainbow Carrot Salad Recipe Card
  • Model safe washing, peeling, and cutting techniques using plastic knives
  • Students wash and cut carrots into strips, mixing colors in bowls
  • Add a light dressing and toss together
  • Differentiation: assign chopping to older/advanced learners; younger students can mix and measure

Step 5

Tasting & Reflection

10 minutes

  • Serve small salad samples to each student
  • Prompt: “Describe the flavors and colors you taste” and record responses
  • Review key takeaways: plant needs, nutrient benefits, and healthy eating habits
  • Collect completed worksheets for assessment
  • Assessment: check worksheets and observe participation during activities
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Activity

Activity: Planting Carrot Seeds (#planting-activity)

Time: 15 minutes
Objective: Students will learn how to prepare soil, plant carrot seeds correctly, and water seedlings for healthy growth.

Materials

  • Carrot Seeds (packets)
  • Small Planting Pots
  • Soil
  • Watering Can
  • Name Labels & Markers
  • Visual Planting Step Cards

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Introduce the Visual Planting Step Cards with clear images of each stage.
  2. Demonstrate filling a pot halfway with soil and gently leveling it.
  3. Show how to make a small hole (about ¼ inch deep) using your finger or a pencil.
  4. Place 2–3 carrot seeds into each hole, then cover lightly with soil.
  5. Pat the soil gently to secure the seeds and attach a label with the student’s name and date.
  6. Model gentle watering: aim the watering can at the soil’s surface until it is evenly moist.
  7. Invite students to repeat each step at their own station. Circulate to offer hands-on support.

Differentiation Strategies

  • Pair students as buddies, rotating roles (leader/assistant) to build confidence.
  • Provide simplified sentence cards and picture icons for ELL and emerging writers.
  • Offer one-on-one verbal prompts, gestures, or tactile support for students with IEP or 504 plans.

Assessment

Use an observational checklist to ensure each student:

  • Fills the pot with soil correctly
  • Deposits seeds at the right depth
  • Labels and waters their pot safely

Collected observations will inform future planting follow-ups and individual support needs.

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Game

Game: Carrot Nutrients & Vitamins Match (#nutrients-game)

Time: 10 minutes
Objective: Students will identify key nutrients and vitamins found in carrots and understand their benefits by matching vitamin cards to benefit cards.

Materials

  • Pre-cut Vitamin Cards (A, C, K, Beta-Carotene)
  • Pre-cut Benefit Cards (e.g., “Supports healthy eyesight,” “Helps wounds heal,” “Aids blood clotting,” “Acts as an antioxidant”)
  • Envelopes or small bags for each set
  • Recording Sheet for matches (optional)

Setup

  1. Create 4–6 sets of matched Vitamin and Benefit Cards.
  2. Place each set in an envelope or bag.
  3. Divide students into small groups (2–4 per group).
  4. Give each group one envelope of mixed cards.

How to Play

  1. Distribute Roles within each group:
    • Reader reads the vitamin name aloud.
    • Matcher searches the benefit cards for the correct match.
    • Checker confirms the match using a teacher-provided answer key.
    • (If 4 players) Recorder writes the matches on a simple chart.
  2. On “Go,” the Reader picks a Vitamin Card and announces it.
  3. The Matcher finds the Benefit Card that best describes that vitamin’s function.
  4. The Checker verifies the pairing.
  5. Once confirmed, the group sets the pair aside and moves to the next Vitamin Card.
  6. Continue until all cards are matched correctly.

Debrief (2–3 minutes)

  • Gather as a class and review each vitamin–benefit pair.
  • Ask: “Which vitamin helps our eyes?” “Why is Vitamin C important when we get hurt?”
  • Emphasize how eating carrots helps us get these vitamins naturally.

Differentiation & Extension

  • For younger or emergent readers:
    • Use picture icons (eye for eyesight, band-aid for healing).
    • Reduce to 2–3 vitamin–benefit pairs per set.
  • For advanced learners:
    • Add a third set of Challenge Cards (e.g., fiber, potassium).
    • Ask groups to create their own Benefit Card description and share with the class.

Assessment

  • Observe group discussions and correct matches.
  • Collect a quick exit slip: “Pick one vitamin we matched and draw a carrot slice showing how it helps my body.”


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Worksheet

Rainbow Carrot Growth Worksheet (#rainbow-carrot-growth-worksheet)

Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________

1. What do plants need to grow?

Write three things plants need:

  1. ___________________________


  2. ___________________________


  3. ___________________________


2. Carrot Plant Diagram

Draw a carrot plant below. Be sure to include the roots, stem, and leaves. Then label each part and color your drawing.













3. Planting Record

Date planted: ____________________


Number of seeds planted: ____________


Depth of seeds (in inches or cm): ____________

4. Prediction

What do you think your carrot seedling will look like in one week? Draw and write below:













5. Observation Log (for next week)

Date: ____________________
Height of seedling: ____________ cm
What do you notice?
______________________________





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