Developmental Lesson Plan

Common Core/PA Standard(s):

3.3.4- A, B, and D - Biological Science: Know the similarities and differences of living things,
know that living things are made up of parts that have specific functions, and identify changes
in living things over time.
3.1.3.A5 ​Identify the structures in plants that are responsible for food production, support,
water transport, reproduction, growth, and protection.

Learning Targets/Objectives:

Students will be able to discuss ideas and techniques for identifying trees by listening to the
book ​The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree.

Students will be able to complete an apple tree life cycle sort by using the information they
learned in class.

Students will be able to complete an apple observation worksheet by using the information
they learned from observing apple seeds.

Assessment Approaches: Evidence:

1. Tree Season Pinwheel 1. Observation/Completion
2. Pine Cone Bird Feeder 2. Observation/Completion
3. Apple Tree Life Cycle Sort 3. Observation/Completion
4. Apple Seed Observing 4. Observation/Completion
5. Apple Observation Worksheet 5. Completion of worksheet
Assessment Scale:
The students will be assessed by the completion of their apple observation worksheet.
The scale will be out of 5.

5 - Exceptional (Students completed the entire worksheet)

4 - Acceptable (Students are missing one part of their observation worksheet)
< 3 Needs work (Students are missing several parts of their observation worksheet)

____/5
Subject Matter/Content:
Prerequisites:
● Students know what plants are.
● Students understand that plants are living things.
● Students know that trees are plants.
Key Vocabulary:
● Seasonal Change​ - The change from winter to spring, spring to summer, summer to
fall, and fall to winter.
● Tree​ - A woody plant that has a stem or trunk in the ground that grows from water.
● Seedlings​ - A young plant grown from a seed.
● Saplings​ - A young tree with a slender trunk.
● Seeds​ - A flowering plants unit of reproduction that is capable of developing into
another such plant.
● Apples​ - Juicy red fruit that grows on trees.
● Blossoms​ - Flowers that grow on apple fruit trees.
● Evergreen Trees​ - Trees that don’t shed their leaves in the winter.
● Pine Cone​ - Rounded woody fruit of a pine tree with scales that open to release a seed.

Content/Facts:
● Apples grow on trees.
● Apples start off as blossoms before they grow into apples
● The seeds in the apples are what grow new apple trees.
● The seeds in the pine cones are what grow new trees.
● Evergreen trees grow pine cones.
● Evergreen trees are also called Coniferous trees.
Introduction/Activating/Launch Strategies: (10 minutes)
● Introduction - So yesterday we learned about the parts and functions of a plant.
● Does anyone remember what I told you to think about today?
○ Allow students a couple of minutes to think
○ As long as the students answers are around “Is a tree a plant?”, go with that
● A good way to check some of the student’s knowledge is to put it on the board
● Draw a line down the smartboard with ​Is A Plant ​on one side and ​Is Not A Plant ​on the
other (Picture down below)
○ Allow the students to put their answer on the board quickly
○ Picture down below
● After they are all settled ask some of the students why they picked what they did
● Now that the students know that trees are plants, read the book
○ The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree ​by Gail Gibbons
● Ask students some questions afterward:
○ What did the apple tree look like in the spring, winter, summer, and fall?
○ What fruit grew on Arnold’s tree?
○ What was Arnold’s favorite season?
○ What is your favorite season?
Development/Teaching Approaches (45-50 minutes)
● Ask the students “who can tell me all the seasons again?”
○ Wait for students to answer
○ If students can’t get it, help them out
○ If they do, praise them
● Say “here’s a trickier question, does anyone know what months are in each season?”
○ If they don’t know don’t give them the answer quite yet
○ Let them know that they are going to learn that
● Explain to the students that we are going to make a Tree Season Pinwheel. (Found on
the activity page - activity 1)
○ The months wheel and tree wheel will be printed out for the students to cut
○ The Arrow will already be cut out for the students
○ Make sure the students put the trees on top of the months
● So now we know that most trees go through seasons, but does anyone know what kind
of tree doesn’t go through the seasons?
○ Wait for students to answer
○ If they can’t get it, help them out
● Explain to them that Evergreen trees do not go through seasons like most trees.
● On the smartboard the teacher will make an anchor chart of Evergreen trees (Picture
down below)
● The teacher will explain:
○ Evergreen trees stay green all year round.
○ They grow pine cones on them which carry the seeds that grow new trees.
○ They are covered in pine needles.
○ They are also called Coniferous trees.
○ They do not follow normal seasons like Arnold’s apple tree.
○ See picture down below
● Today we are going to be making pine cone bird feeders. (Found on the activity page -
Activity 2)
● Explain to the students that the bird feeders could be hung on apple trees to attract the
birds.
○ The supplies will be placed on trays in the front of the room and one person
from each table will come up to get it.
○ The teacher will demonstrate how to make the bird feeders.
○ The bird feeders will already have the string tied to them to save time.
■ First, you take the pine cone and you roll it into the shortening and
cornmeal mixture.
■ Then, you roll the pine cone in bird seed and roll it around.
○ After the teacher has demonstrated for the students, then they will try it on their
own.
○ The teacher will walk around and help when needed.
● Once the students have finished their pine cone bird feeders, one student from each
table will place them on the side of the room to let them dry.
● The teacher will then tell them that we are going to be focusing today's lesson on apple
trees like Arnold’s.
 ● The students will sit at their desks while the teacher passes out a worksheet related to
the powerpoint.
○ Ask them what they know about apple trees.
○ Allow them time to think
○ Ask the students if they know how apples grow?
○ Allow them time to think
● The teacher will put up a powerpoint of the life cycle of an apple tree on the
smartboard.
○ Powerpoint link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HHoPrlbS28521egaUssLDQrRf136ZkVK/vie
w?usp=sharing
○ Ask students if they notice any similarities to the life cycle of the flower
● The students will then work on the life cycle of an apple tree sorting activity. (Found
on the activity page - activity 3)
○ The pieces will already be cut out and on their desks.
○ The students will work in groups at their tables to complete the assignment.
○ The idea is to match up the life cycle of the apple tree to the one they learned
from the powerpoint.
○ The teacher will come around the room to check their work before they glue it
onto the construction paper.
● The last activity the students will be doing is observing apple seeds. (Found on the
activity page - activity 4)
● The students will clear their desks and the teacher will place a tray with an apple and
tweezers on their desks.
● There will be one 2 apples per table and 4 pairs of tweezers.
○ The apple will already be cut so that the seeds are facing out.
○ The students will use the tweezers to pull out the apple seed in the apple.
○ They will place it on their desks and work with their partners to discuss what
they notice about the seeds.
○ The students will then each fill out a worksheet that follows along with their
observation. (Found on the activity page - activity 5)
Closure/Summarizing Strategies: (5 minutes)
● To wrap up the lesson, the teacher will put on a video of the life cycle of an apple tree.
○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chNwmpqSa78
● Tell the students that for tomorrow they will be learning about color changing leaves.
● Remind them that the leaves on the apple trees in the fall change color.
Accommodations/Differentiation:
● Accommodations: Our student we are accommodating for is a female ELL student who
is fluent in Spanish.
○ For the tree season pinwheel activity, the teacher could sit with her and ask her
questions about the seasons.
■ What do you remember about Arnold’s tree in the Winter?
■ What do you remember about Arnold’s tree in the Spring?
■ What do you remember about Arnold’s tree in the Summer?
■ What do you remember about Arnold’s tree in the Fall?
 ○ By asking those questions, the student may be able to decide what pictures of
the trees go under each season.
○ The student could also have the months on the pinwheel written in spanish.
○ For the Life cycle of an apple tree, the student could have her cards written in
spanish.
○
● Differentiation
○ For students who are struggling, the teacher could do one on one instruction.
This would allow them to ask questions and have the teacher break down each
activity.
○ For students who are accelerated learners, the teacher could have them write a
summary about the life cycle of an apple tree.

Materials/Resources:
● Book - Gibbons, G. (1995). ​The seasons of Arnold's apple tree.​ New York, NY:
Scholastic.
● Book video:
○ Clark, Kelley. [Mrs. Clarks Reading Corner]. (2017, October 4). ​The Seasons of
Arnold's Apple Tree Read Aloud ​[Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3t3icKhq4M
● Pine cone
● Bird seed
● String
● Shortening and cornmeal
● Months wheel
● Tree wheel
● Arrow
● Paper fastener
● Markers
● Smartboard
● Apple life cycle cards
● Arrow cards
● Large piece of construction paper
● Glue
● Apple
● Tweezers
● Apple observation worksheet
● Wrap up lesson video:
○ [Life for Beginners]. (2010, August 2). ​Apple Tree Life Cycle Animation
[Video]. YouTube. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chNwmpqSa78

Reflective Response:
Report of Student Learning Target/Objectives Proficiency Levels
 Remediation Plan (if applicable)

Personal Reflection Questions

● How was my pacing?
● Were there things that could have been taken out?
● Are there things that could have been added?

Additional reflection/thoughts

Activity Page

Is a plant/Is not a plant picture example

Coniferous Tree Anchor Chart

Activity 1: Tree Season Pinwheel

Found:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Southern-Hemisphere-Seasonal-Wheel-2655233?
pp=1
I found this activity on Pinterest. It is a pinwheel of the way trees progress through the different
seasons. The original post was of the Southern hemisphere but it could be adapted for the
Northern hemisphere and Western hemisphere. The activity involves two wheels - one with
months and one with the trees. The students place the seasons pinwheel on top of the months
wheel. They would then use a paper fastener to connect the spinning arrow and both pinwheels
together.
Activity 2: Pine Cone Bird Feeder
Found: ​https://onelittleproject.com/pinecone-bird-feeders/
I found this activity on a website called One Little project. This pine cone bird feeder activity is
typically done using peanut butter but for the sake of allergies, I found a way to use cornmeal
and shortening. The teacher would attach the string to the pine cone ahead of time so that it's
easier for the students. Then they would roll the pine cone in the shortening mix and then repeat
in the bird seed.
Activity 3: Apple Tree LIfe Cycle Sort
Found:
https://www.giftofcuriosity.com/apple-tree-life-cycle/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest
&utm_campaign=tailwind_smartloop&utm_content=smartloop&utm_term=37562072
I found this activity on a “Gift of Curiosity”. This activity is an apple tree life cycle sort. I felt that it
tied perfectly into my lesson plan. The students will be given the apple tree life cycle cards and
they have to sort them into the correct life cycle order.

Activity 4: Apple Seed Observing

I came up with this idea on my own, but found a sample picture on google. The idea behind this
activity is that you pull out the apple seeds inside the apple and observe them. I have a
worksheet down below that the students would complete with this assignment.
Activity 5: Apple observation worksheet
Found:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Editable-Science-Apple-Observation-Worksheet-
2177734
I found this activity on teachers pay teachers. This worksheet is great for third grade and would
be great for the apple observation assignment. The students draw out what their apple looks
like, making note of the color. Then they make predictions about the amount of seeds in their
apple and how many were actually in it. Lastly, they can tape on some of the actual apple seeds
to the paper.