Child Development Introduction to Curriculum

Small Group Activity Lesson Plan for

Science
Britney Collins
Victor Valley Community College
25/25
Name of Activity:
Children will be germinating lima beans
Curriculum Area:
Science
Length of Activity:
The length of the activity will be 15-20 minutes.
Learning Objectives:
Objective 1:
DRDP Measure 30- Curiosity and Initiative: The child will be able to hypothesize by
saying what they think is inside of the bean.
Objective 2:
DRDP Measure 34- Classification: The child will be able to make generalizations of their
findings by matching their beans stages of growth with the correct picture (growth card).
Objective 3:
DRDP Measure 14- Following increasingly complex instructions: The child will be able
to observe and follow multi step instructions by first getting the bag ready, then dipping
the cotton balls in water and putting them in the bag and finally putting in a few of the
lima beans.
Objective 4:
DRDP Measure 40- Fine Motor Skills: The child demonstrates by using their fingers to
grab the small objects like cotton balls and beans.
Material/Equipment Needed:
5x8 Cards
Metal ring
Round colored stickers
Poster board
Lima Beans
Cotton Balls in a bowl
Plastic ziplock baggies
Water in a bowl
Labels made with each childs name and the date
(Later Date)
Small containers of dirt for their seedlings.
Preparation:
Prepare the flip chart by drawing the progression of seed growth per day on each
5x8 card. Each card will have a round colored circle, representing that specific
growth.
Prepare the poster board with a graph to chart progression of seed growth: names
on left hand side, pictures of seed growth progression on top, and Day 1 Day 2
Day 3 ...on the bottom. Round colored stickers that match the flip chart will be
placed in the grid every day to show growth.
Prepare area:
o Get three bowls holding lima beans, cotton balls and water.
o Get plastic bags ready and labels of each childs name.
o Soak number of lima beans in water overnight to get them soft to put them
in a plastic baggie.
Procedures
Beginning:
I will introduce this activity in circle time.
I will create interest in the children by asking them questions about what is in
a seed. I will explain to the children that each seed has a tiny plant inside
waiting to come out. To draw interest I will ask them Who knows what the
seed needs in order to come out of its shell and grow? After responses I will
tell them that we will be making our own seeds come out of their shells by
giving them water and a nice place to grow. I will tell them that this is called
germination and have them repeat the word.
I go through the flip chart (5x8 cards) on the steps a seed takes in order to
grow. Each card will have a picture of the steps of germination. Along side
each picture (card) will be specific color sticker dot.
I will read a very short book on seeds such as: One Bean by Anne Rockwell,
How a Seed Grows by Helene J Jordan, or The Tiny Seed, by Eric Carle.
Middle:
This activity will be a Free Choice Activity. The children will have a choice to go
to the Germination Activity table.
I will introduce the materials to the children and give them general guidelines and
safety rules such as dont eat the lima beans because they dont taste good when
they arent cooked.
With the soaked seeds already prepared, I will have the children feel the
difference between the soaked seeds and hard seeds. I will ask them what do
you think is inside? Do you think anything is inside?
I will split open a couple of the beans and see the little sprouts (baby plants
wanting to come out) inside the beans. I will ask them what the beans feel and
smell like?
I will model how to dip the cotton balls in water, put it in the baggie and put in a
few of the lima beans (more than one as most likely one will not germinate).
As they are finishing up with each step, I will ask them to tell me or if they
remember what the next step is.
If they want to put in many beans at once, I will remind them that seeds need
space to grow so that only 2-3 are best.
I will tell them that seeds dont need nutrients (extra food) because the seed has
everything it needs within their seed shell.
I will have the child find their own name on the label sheet and put the label on
their baggie.
I will encourage children to work together by asking a child who has finished
their project to go over the steps with their friend. This will show me if they
remember the steps.
End:
I will show the children, together, after everyone has their baggies, that we will
chart their seeds growth every day on the chart.
I will guide the children to the chart and I will ask them which picture resembles
the stage of growth. I will describe the characteristic of our bean and the picture.
We will then put the first sticker on the chart, showing only the seed and no
growth.
We will put our baggies on the windowsill. I will ask them what a seed needs to
grow? Water, a nice place to grow (like a pillow) and sunlight. I will tell the, that
all I need to do now is make sure the baggies are sealed tight and then tape to a
window, and if they want they can either stay with me or be excused to go on to
another free choice activity.
Based on my label sheet, I will encourage other children in the center who havent
made a baggie, to come germinate their seeds with me.
Throughout the day/week, what opportunities will the children have to reflect back
on this activity?
Throughout the week we will be returning to the baggies, watching the progression of the
seeds, and finding the correct growth card in order to chart the growth. We will talk
about the growth of the beans as they start to shoot out some sprouts and roots. I will
repeat the process as often as possible and go back to the chart and flip book to see where
the seed was and where it is now, and where is will be going.
I will explain that once the seeds have sprouted and grown their first leaves, they will be
looking for food. And thats why it is the roots that grow first, always, in order to help
the growing plant look for food. When the seeds sprout and are ready to be planted, we
will plant them in dirt, and the children can take them home to take care of on their own.