Bobbi Richardson

Linda Branch

Rosemary Jodeit

Sproutin’ and Singin’

Theme

How Plants Grow

Overview

This collection of kindergarten activities is based around the fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk and will allow the students to experience what happens when seeds are planted and begin to grow into a plant. The students will observe the changes in the plant over a period of two weeks. Students will also listen to a story about how seeds are grown, complete a literature based art project as well as actively participate in songs with motions that will go through the seed cycle.

CLEAR Curriculum Objectives

SCI.K.2.01 – sort and record observations about parts of plants including leaves, roots, stems and flowers and the germination of seeds.

SCI.K.3.06 – observe, describe and record changes in movement and position

SCI.K.2.03 – Identify parts that when separated from the whole, may result in the part or whole not working such as plants without roots.

ELA.K.2.A – Connect experiences and ideas with those of others through speaking and listening.

ELA.K(1.18F) – Write in different forms for different purposes such as lists to record, letters to invite or thank, and stories or poems to entertain through shared writing.

MUS.K.1.07 – Move to express the mood of the music.

CPK.01.A – Create original artworks.

CPK.01.A– Sing or play original music.

ART.K.1.11 – Develop manipulative skills when drawing, painting, printmaking, and constructing artworks, using a variety of materials.

Materials

Seeds

Plastic or Styrofoam cups

Soil

Small plants/flowers

Ziplock sandwich bags

Napkins/paper towels

Colored Scarves

CD with “Morning Song” or “Peer Gynt” by Grieg

Book: Jack and the Beanstalk

Book: From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons

Green butcher paper

Procedure/activity for observation

1. Teacher will read aloud the story of Jack and the Beanstalk.
2. After discussing the story, have students construct a “story stalk”. Twist and crinkle a very long piece of green butcher paper to construct a bean stalk. Have students cut out (or use pre-cut) large green leaves. Students will illustrate their favorite part of the story and write a sentence about it. Attach these leaves to the stalk with glue or staples and display it along the wall or around a door.
3. Teacher will read aloud the book From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons.
4. Discuss plants and what they need to grow. Discuss parts of plants and flowers.
5. Students will plant lima bean seeds inside clear plastic cups full of soil and care for them by watering them and placing them in a sunny area of the classroom.
6. Students begin a plant journal after planting the seed and continue adding entries until the plant is sent home. Inside the journal every few days the students will fill in the blank and illustrate “My plant has been growing for ____ days. Here is what it looks like.”
7. Students will also make “baggie germinators” to observe how a plant actually sprouts and begins to grow.  This activity actually allows students to see what the roots of a plant look like. Each student will place a wet paper towel inside of a zip-lock bag. Staple the baggie in two places halfway up the paper towel. Place one seed on top of each staple and seal the baggie. Hang them up in the classroom and watch them sprout within days!
8. Students are divided into groups for a song. Each group pantomimes words of song “The Seed Cycle” to the tune of “The farmer in the Dell”. Before the song is sung, divide the class into groups explaining that each of them will be a seed, wind, rain, sun (there can be several of each of these) and one farmer. Form large circle. Inside the circle are the seeds and farmer. Sing together:
   1. The farmer sows his seeds
   2. The wind begins to blow
   3. The Rain begins to fall
   4. The sun begins to shine
   5. The seeds begin to grow
   6. The farmer cuts his grain
   7. And now the harvest’s in!
9.  Read book The Enormous Turnip. Have students dramatize this story about a very large turnip that a farmer could not pull out of the ground. He calls for his wife, children, a dog and a cat to help him, but it is the tiny mouse who joins in that finally helps to pull the turnip out of the ground.
10. Act out seed cycle set to “Morning Song” (Peer Gynt) by Grieg.

a.     seed- children squat and curl into a ball while one scarf is hidden inside each fist.

b.     sprouting – slowly emerge from squatting position, stretching out arms

c.     leaves – open hands and allow scarves to emerge, students may wants to sway with the music.

d.     drop leaves (scarves) to the ground.

e.     wither – slowly return to the seed position at the beginning of the cycle.

Extension:

Plant a vegetable garden. Have students choose which type of vegetable seed to plant. Sprout the seeds in small cups before transferring them to a bed in the garden. Have students decorate index cards with their names and pictures of gardens/vegetables. These will be laminated and placed on popsicle sticks to mark where their seeds are planted. When the vegetables are harvested, have students help prepare a class salad to share.

Additional Songs and Fingerplays:

“Do You Know the Parts of Plants”

 (Tune: “Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes”)

Do you know the parts of plants?

Parts of plants?

Do you know the parts of plants?

Parts of plants?

All kinds of plants that grow and grow and grow.

Do you know the parts of plants?

Parts of plants?

The roots hold the plant in place,

Plant in place.

The roots hold the plant in place,

Plant in place.

The roots store food and water, too.

The roots hold the plant in place,

Plant in place.

The stem moves water up the plant,

Up the plant.

The stem moves water up the plant,

Up the plant.

The stem brings water to the leaves.

The stem moves water up the plant,

Up the plant.

The flower grows into a fruit,

Into a fruit, into a fruit.

The flower grows into the fruit,

Which holds the tiny seeds.

Now you know the parts of plants,

The parts of plants, the parts of plants.

Now you know the parts of plants,

That make them grow and grow.

“Green Plants Need”

(Tune: 3 Blind Mice)

Three main things, three main things,

Green plants need, green plants need.

For plants to grow and plants to thrive,

In order to keep green plants alive,

What does it take for them to survive?

Just three main things.

Plants need sun, plants need sun,

That’s number one, plants need sun.

For plants to grow and plants to thrive,

In order to keep green plants alive,

What does it take for them to survive?

Just three main things.

Plants need air, plants need air,

Be aware, plants need air.

For plants to grow and plants to thrive,

In order to keep green plants alive,

What does it take for them to survive?

Just three main things.

Plants need water, plants need water,

Especially when it’s hotter, plants need water.

For plants to grow and plants to thrive,

In order to keep green plants alive,

What does it take for them to survive?

Just three main things.