Lesson Plan
Plant Life Cycle Journey
Students will be able to identify and sequence the four main stages of a plant life cycle (seed, sprout, plant, flower) using visual and interactive aids.
Understanding the plant life cycle helps us appreciate where our food comes from, how nature works, and the importance of plants in our environment. It connects students to the living world around them.
Audience
Middle School Students with Autism
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Visual aids, hands-on activities, and simplified language to accommodate limited reading skills.
Materials
Whiteboard or Projector, Markers or Pens, Plant Life Cycle Warm Up, Plant Life Cycle Slide Deck, Teacher Script: Plant Life Cycle, Plant Life Cycle Worksheet, Life Cycle Sequencing Activity, Index cards or small pieces of paper for sorting, and Pre-printed images of each life cycle stage (seed, sprout, plant, flower)
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review all generated materials: Plant Life Cycle Warm Up, Plant Life Cycle Slide Deck, Teacher Script: Plant Life Cycle, Plant Life Cycle Worksheet, and Life Cycle Sequencing Activity.
- Print and cut out the plant life cycle images for the sequencing activity.
- Ensure whiteboard/projector and markers are ready.
- Arrange the classroom for easy viewing of slides and group work for the activity.
Step 1
Warm Up: What Do Plants Need?
3 minutes
- Begin with the Plant Life Cycle Warm Up activity.
- Ask students to draw or write one thing plants need to grow. Encourage visual responses for those with limited reading skills.
- Briefly discuss their responses, connecting them to essential plant needs (sun, water, soil).
Step 2
Introduction: Our Plant Journey
2 minutes
- Introduce the concept of a 'life cycle' using simple terms.
- Use Slide 1: Welcome! and Slide 2: What is a Life Cycle? from the Plant Life Cycle Slide Deck to visually explain.
- Follow the Teacher Script: Plant Life Cycle for key talking points.
Step 3
Exploring Plant Life Cycle Stages
8 minutes
- Go through the main stages of the plant life cycle using Slides 3-6 of the Plant Life Cycle Slide Deck.
- For each stage (seed, sprout, plant, flower), show the corresponding image and provide a brief, clear explanation.
- Use the descriptive language from the Teacher Script: Plant Life Cycle.
- Encourage students to point to or imitate the stages if they are comfortable.
Step 4
Life Cycle Sequencing Activity
5 minutes
- Distribute the pre-printed images of the plant life cycle stages.
- Guide students through the Life Cycle Sequencing Activity, asking them to place the images in the correct order: seed, sprout, plant, flower.
- Provide clear, step-by-step instructions from the Teacher Script: Plant Life Cycle.
- Circulate to offer individual support and positive reinforcement.
Step 5
Wrap Up: What Did We Learn?
2 minutes
- Briefly recap the stages of the plant life cycle.
- Distribute the Plant Life Cycle Worksheet for a quick check of understanding or for homework, emphasizing the visual elements.
- Thank students for their participation.
Warm Up
Plant Life Cycle Warm Up
What do plants need to grow?
Think about what a plant needs to go from a tiny seed to a big, beautiful flower or a tasty fruit. Draw or write down one thing you think plants need to grow. Don't worry about spelling, just show your idea!
Slide Deck
Welcome to Our Plant Journey!
Today we will learn about plants and how they grow!
Welcome students and introduce the topic. Keep it engaging and visual.
What is a Life Cycle?
A life cycle is like a circle.
It shows how something grows and changes.
Plants have a life cycle too!
Explain what a life cycle is using simple terms and visual examples. Emphasize that it's a circle of changes.
Stage 1: The Tiny Seed
It all starts with a tiny seed.
A seed is like a sleeping baby plant.
It needs soil, water, and sun to wake up!
Introduce the 'seed' stage. Show an image of a seed. Ask students if they have ever seen a seed.
Stage 2: Hello, Sprout!
With water and sun, the seed wakes up!
It grows roots down and a tiny sprout up.
Look! A little green part peeks out of the soil.
Introduce the 'sprout' stage. Show an image of a sprout emerging from the soil. Emphasize the roots and small shoot.
Stage 3: Growing into a Plant
The sprout grows bigger and stronger.
It becomes a young plant with leaves.
The leaves help the plant make food from sunlight.
Introduce the 'plant' stage. Show an image of a young plant with leaves. Highlight the growth of leaves and stem.
Stage 4: Beautiful Flower or Tasty Fruit!
The plant grows a flower or fruit.
Flowers make new seeds.
Then the cycle can start all over again!
Introduce the 'flower/fruit' stage. Show an image of a blooming flower or a plant with fruit. Explain its purpose simply.
Our Plant Life Cycle!
Seed -> Sprout -> Plant -> Flower
It's a circle of life!
Review the stages in order. Use gestures or point to images on the screen. Ask students to recall each stage.
Script
Teacher Script: Plant Life Cycle
Warm Up: What Do Plants Need? (3 minutes)
(Teacher): "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today we're going on an exciting journey to learn how plants grow. To start, let's think about what plants need. Look at the Plant Life Cycle Warm Up paper. Can you draw or write one thing you think a plant needs to grow from a tiny seed? Take about two minutes for this."
(Allow students to draw or write. Circulate and observe.)
(Teacher): "Great ideas, everyone! I see drawings of sun, water, and even soil. You are all thinking like plant experts! These are super important for plants."
Introduction: Our Plant Journey (2 minutes)
(Teacher): "Every living thing has a special way it grows and changes. This is called a life cycle. Think of it like a circle, where things grow, change, and then make new ones to start again!"
*(Display Slide 1: Welcome! and then Slide 2: What is a Life Cycle? from the Plant Life Cycle Slide Deck.)
(Teacher): "Look at the screen. This circle shows how things change. Today, we will learn about the plant life cycle!"
Exploring Plant Life Cycle Stages (8 minutes)
(Teacher): "Let's see how a plant grows, step by step!"
*(Display Slide 3: The Tiny Seed.)
(Teacher): "It all begins here, with a tiny seed. Hold up your fingers to show me how tiny a seed can be!" (Pause for student response) "A seed is like a sleeping baby plant. It needs soil, water, and warm sunshine to wake up and start growing!"
*(Display Slide 4: Hello, Sprout!.)
(Teacher): "When the seed gets water and sun, it wakes up! It grows roots that go down into the soil to drink water. And then, a little green part pushes up! We call this a sprout. Can you make a little sprout with your hands, pushing up from the ground?" (Pause for student response) "This tiny sprout is ready to reach for the sky!"
*(Display Slide 5: Growing into a Plant.)
(Teacher): "The sprout keeps growing, getting bigger and stronger. It grows more leaves and a taller stem. Now it's a young plant! The leaves are like solar panels, soaking up the sun to make food for the plant to grow even bigger. Show me how a plant grows tall!" (Pause for student response)
*(Display Slide 6: Beautiful Flower or Tasty Fruit!.)
(Teacher): "Finally, our plant grows a beautiful flower or maybe even a tasty fruit! What are some flowers you like?" (Pause for student response) "These flowers and fruits are super important because they hold new seeds inside. And guess what? Those new seeds can start the whole life cycle all over again! It's like a never-ending story!"
Life Cycle Sequencing Activity (5 minutes)
(Teacher): "Now we're going to put our plant life cycle in order! I'm going to give each of you some pictures: a seed, a sprout, a plant, and a flower. Your job is to put them in the correct order of how a plant grows. Remember, it starts with the seed!"
*(Distribute the pre-printed images for the Life Cycle Sequencing Activity.)
(Teacher): "First, find the picture of the seed. This is where it all begins. Put it first. Now, what comes after the seed? What grows out of the seed? Yes, the sprout! Place the sprout picture next. Then, the sprout grows into a bigger plant. And finally, the plant makes a flower!"
(Circulate, offer praise, and provide gentle guidance as students arrange their pictures. For students who struggle, guide them by pointing to the correct image.)
(Teacher): "Excellent work, everyone! You've successfully put the plant life cycle in order!"
Wrap Up: What Did We Learn? (2 minutes)
(Teacher): "You all did an amazing job today learning about how plants grow. We started with a... what was the first thing? A seed! Then it grew into a... sprout! Then a bigger... plant! And finally, a beautiful... flower!" (Pause and encourage students to fill in the blanks if they are able.)
(Teacher): "I have a special Plant Life Cycle Worksheet for you to take home or finish up now. It has more pictures to help you remember. Thank you for being such great plant scientists today!"
Activity
Life Cycle Sequencing Activity
Put the Plant Life Cycle in Order!
Instructions for Students:
Your teacher will give you four pictures. Each picture shows a different part of a plant's life. Your job is to put these pictures in the correct order, starting with how a plant begins and ending with how it makes new seeds.
The Pictures You Will Get:
- Seed: The very beginning, like a tiny sleeping baby plant.
- Sprout: The little plant just popping out of the ground.
- Plant: The young plant growing bigger with leaves.
- Flower (or Fruit): The full-grown plant that makes new seeds.
What to Do:
- Look at all your pictures carefully.
- Find the picture that shows the start of the plant's life. Place it first.
- Think about what happens next. Which picture shows the plant growing a little bit bigger? Place it second.
- Continue until you have all four pictures in the right order.
- If you need help, raise your hand! Your teacher is here to assist you.
(Teacher Note: You will need to print out images of a seed, sprout, young plant, and a flowering plant/plant with fruit for each student or group before class.)
Worksheet
Plant Life Cycle Worksheet
My Plant Grows!
Name:
Date:
Draw and Label the Plant Life Cycle Stages
Draw a picture for each stage of the plant life cycle in the boxes below. You can also write the name of the stage if you like!
Stage 1: The Tiny Seed
Draw what a seed looks like here:
Stage 2: Hello, Sprout!
Draw what a sprout looks like here:
Stage 3: Growing into a Plant
Draw what a young plant looks like here:
Stage 4: Beautiful Flower (or Tasty Fruit!)
Draw what a flower or fruit looks like here: