Why are plants important? Unit Project Presentation Vernelle Eshelman

1. Why are plants important? Unit Project Presentation VernelleEshelman Plants Unit Project Presentation VernelleEshelman

2. Unit Summary • The students will investigate and understand that flowering plants undergo a series of orderly changes in their life cycles. Students will be growing plants and charting growth. They will label the parts of a flowering plant, describe what all plants need to survive, and examine how plants reproduce. They will engage in experiments to observe how water and temperature affect plant growth and keep a journal of observations. Group work, email, and independent research will be used to teach collaboration skills. Students will use checklists, charts, graphs and a rubric to evaluate their group and individual success.

3. Curriculum-FramingQuestions Essential Question What do you need to survive?

4. Unit Questions • Why are plants important? • What are the basic parts of plants? • Can you describe a plant life cycle? • How do water and temperature affect plant growth? • How do plants reproduce? • What do all plants need to survive?

5. Content Questions • Which part of a flowering plant stores the seeds? • How does water travel from the ground to the other parts of the plant? • Which parts of plants do you eat? • What happened to the plant we did not water? • What happened to the plant we overwatered? • Which plant grew best the one in the freezer or the one in the sun? Why? • What did you find inside the lima bean? • Do plants need air to grow?

6. Plant Project The project will help students develop 21st century skills through the following: • Implementing collaboration and group work. • Strengthening their ability to frame, analyze, and solve problems. • Improving communication skills • Setting and meeting high standards and goals individually and in group interaction

7. Gauging Student Needs Assessments • Kidspirationactivity • Brainstorming and journals • Checklists • Spreadsheet data entry • Quizmo test • Written test and teacher observation • Rubric • Email

8. My Goals For The Course • Use technology to improve 21st century skills • Generate an interactive unit • Make learning more enjoyable for my students • Model ways students can access technology for information

9. Goals For My Students • Learn to work as a team member • Self assess their learning • Take responsibility for their own learning • Use 21 century skills to enhance their education

10. Student Samples • Computer generated poster • Spreadsheet and graph • Journal • Portfolio • Kidspiration • Quizmo test

11. Request For Feedback • Suggestions and comments welcomed!

12. We did it!