Sandra Smith Spring 2008 FOSS Lesson Adaptation Structures of Life Module Grades 3 4 The Sprouting Seed Activity 2 Grade 3 Science EALR 1 SYSTEMS The student knows and applies scientific concepts and principles to understand the properties structures and changes in physical earth space and living systems Component 1 3 Changes Understand how interactions within and among systems cause changes in matter and energy GLE 1 3 8 Identify sources of energy and matter used by plants to grow and sustain life e g air water light food mineral nutrients Evidence of Learning Life Processes and the Flow of Matter and Energy Identify sources of energy and matter used by plants to grow and sustain life e g air water light food mineral nutrients Objective Given a week long activity in which small groups will sprout seeds and make regular observations and 2 whole class discussions students will be able to identify sources of energy and matter used by plants to grow and sustain life Preassessment Entry task questions day one Formative Assessment Students daily observations and journal reflections Postassessment Exit task questions day seven Lesson Outline Day One Entry task questions assessing students existing knowledge of what plants need to grow and sustain life Students create sprouters Class discussion Day Two Students water sprouters and record observations Day Three Students water sprouters and record observations Day Four Students water sprouters and record observations Day Five Students water sprouters and record observations Day Six Students water sprouters and record observations Day Seven Students water sprouters and record observations Class discussion Exit task questions assessing students knowledge of what plants need to grow and sustain life Materials Science Journals For each group of four students 1 container liter squat with lid 1 round coffee filter Seeds 7 Bush bean 7 Sunflower 7 Pea 7 Popcorn 2 hand lenses 4 student sheets The Sprouting Seed 1 Place mat Sprouting Seed Place Mat For the class 1 Sprouter 3 trays 1 bowl 1 lid 1 Brush 1 Container liter 70 Bush beans 35 Sunflower seeds 35 Pea seeds 35 Popcorn seeds 3 plastic cups 1 pitcher 1 spoon 5 mL White Glue Bleach Transparent Tape 1 duplication master for The Sprouting Seed 1 duplication master for Sprouting Seed Place Mat Teacher Preparation Schedule the activity This activity should be conducted during a mild or warm time of year to prevent cold or widely fluctuating temperatures The seed sprouting activity including daily observations and journal reflections will last about 7 school days The next activity Growing Further will follow Practice with the class sprouter Run through the activity and make sure that technical details are properly worked out in order to avoid wasted classtime if problems do arise when students are setting up their sprouters See original FOSS lesson for specific steps which include thoroughly washing all equipment and preparing a very weak bleach solution for watering the seeds Count seeds for the Class Sprouter This sprouter will act as a demonstrator and a control group Practice Setting up a minisprouter This step will give the teacher experience with the students materials and will help in anticipating difficulties Count seeds for the Minisprouters this step may be done with student help Make a demonstration place mat for a Minisprouter Set up a materials station so that the materials manager from each group can easily procure the needed materials Copy Student Sheets Each student will complete The Sprouting Seed observation sheet and each group will need a Sprouting Seed Place Mat Doing the Activity I will follow the activity steps outline in the FOSS lesson the procedures for the activity are thoughtfully laid out The most significant change I will make to this lesson is adding class discussion at the beginning and end of the activity The lesson as it is published includes very few questions for students and the questions that are there fail to move students to higherlevel thinking I will attempt to write thought provoking inquiry questions for students to consider and discuss as they move toward an understanding of what plants need to grow and sustain life Questions What do plants need to grow and sustain life How do plants get the energy and material that they need to grow In our experiment In a garden In a forest In the ocean
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