Plants Resources

Lesson Ideas and Resources

• Lesson - Plant Parts (for K-1)
  Use the websites below to introduce and/or review the parts of a plant.  Then practice labeling the parts, and discuss which parts of plants can be eaten.

Plant Explorer - A great site for primary students with quick online activities to learn about the parts of a plant and plants that we eat.

• Parts of a Plant - use to review plant parts
• What Do Plants Need - interactive picture describes the four things plants need to survive
• Eating Plants - click on pictures of food and drink to find out what comes from plants
• I Didn't Know I Ate That - given a food, figure out which part of the plant it comes from

Plant Parts Salad - Very basic interactive illustration of the different parts of plants that can be used in a salad.  (Example, a carrot is a root.)

Label Plant Parts - Label six main parts of a plant; Part of the Great Plant Escape website.

Plant or Not a Plant - download this Kidspiration activity to let kids sort foods depending on whether they come from a plant or not.

Parts of a Plant - print this pdf file and have students label and color the parts of a plant

• Lesson - How a Plant Gets Food (for 1st grade)
  Conduct a classroom experiment using celery and colored water to show students how plants get their nutrients.  Then follow up with some of the websites from the previous activity if needed and have students use a paint program to draw the parts of the plant and what the plant needs to grow.

Plant Activity - read about a first grade class that completed the lesson using a microscope connected to computer.

See pictures from the activity.  Download a handout to use with this activity.

Websites for Research and Information

• The Great Plant Escape - Created for 4th and 5th graders, this extensive site makes the world of plants exciting and would also be appropriate for older grades.  Some parts are also useful for younger grades.
• Aggie Horticulture for Kids - This site created by the Texas A&M University Horticulture Program includes lots of information about gardening for kids.
• Plant Glossary -  More in depth description of plant parts, but still simple for older primary students

Webquests and Online Activities

• Web of Life - This is a great explanation of the entire life cycle in a story format that kids can understand.  Goes all the way from plants through animals and back.
• Michigan 4-H Children's Garden - This site includes an extensive virtual tour of a garden created especially for kids at Michigan State University.
• Growing Plants - this interactive "game" lets students see the effects of sun and water on the growth of plants
• Flower Parts - use this interactive site to label or dissect the parts of a flower

Teacher Resources

• Teaching with the Web (Plant Resources) - This site includes a list of links related to plants and gardening.  It is created for K-2 teachers, but included many sites appropriate for older age groups.