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Are plants alive?
Plant Secrets Unit | Lesson 1 of 3

Are plants alive?

Plant Secrets Unit | Lesson 1 of 3
Lesson narration:
Scroll for prep

DISCUSS:

What do we do to take care of pets?

Why do we do those things?

DISCUSS:

How do animals TELL or SHOW you what they need?

DISCUSS:

Do plants have needs?

Step
01/15
Let’s observe some plants together.
Discuss.
Step
02/15
Watch what happens to this plant after we give it some water. What
do you notice? What are the leaves doing?
Step
03/15
Find a space where you can pretend to be a plant.
You can stay seated or find a spot to stand and stretch.
Step
04/15
Now it’s your turn to pretend to be a plant!
Imagine you are a thirsty plant.
Then, imagine that you get some water.
Step
05/15
Watch to see how the game is played. You’ll pretend to be a plant
that only gets a few drops of water at a time. Get ready to play the
game in the next step!
Step
06/15
Pretend to be a plant! Watch for the watering can.
As you get more and more water, you’ll become a healthier plant.
Step
07/15
Discuss.
Step
08/15
Watch what happens to this plant near a window with lots of bright
sunlight. What do you notice?
Step
09/15
Watch closely to see what happens when we change the direction of
the sunlight. What do you notice?
Step
10/15
Find a space where you can pretend to be a plant.
You can stay seated or find a spot to stand and stretch.
Step
11/15
Now it’s your turn to pretend to be a plant! Imagine that you are a
plant with leaves reaching toward the sunlight. Follow the sunlight!
Step
12/15
Pretend you’re a plant again! But this time, imagine that your teacher
is the sunlight. Imagine that you move your leaves toward the
sunlight!

Teachers, get ready to be the sunlight!

Walk around the classroom and guide your students to follow the sunlight (you!), just like a plant would!

Whenever you're done, go to the next slide.

Step
13/15
Observe what happens to plants grown in the sunlight and plants
grown in the dark. Discuss.
Step
14/15
Discuss.
Step
15/15
Animals have needs. That’s one way we know that animals are alive.
If something is alive, it has needs. Discuss.
Slide Image
Slide Image

living


1 of 8

something that is alive; it grows and has needs
Slide Image

nonliving


2 of 8

anything that is not alive, it does not have needs
Slide Image

plant


3 of 8

a living thing that doesn't need to eat other living things
Slide Image

leaf


4 of 8

a part of a plant that is often flat and green
Slide Image

needs


5 of 8

things an animal or plant must have in order to live
Slide Image

sunlight


6 of 8

light from the Sun
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healthy


7 of 8

not sick or injured
Slide Image

observe


8 of 8

to pay close attention to something
🎉 That’s it for this lesson! How did it go?
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Lesson narration:

Grade K

Plant Needs

Living & Nonliving

K-LS1-1

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students make observations of plants in order to identify their needs and that they are, in fact, living things. In the activity, Plant Dance, students engage in a kinesthetic activity in which they observe and then model the appearance of plants when their needs are and aren’t met.
Preview activity

Exploration

8 mins

Wrap-Up

4 mins

Grade K

Plant Needs

Living & Nonliving

K-LS1-1

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