Lesson Plan Guide

Teacher Candidate: Sara Mellinger Date: 11/27/17

Grade and Topic: 3rd Grade Science Length of Lesson: 1 hour

Mentor Teacher: Marla Philips School: University of Memphis IDT 3600

UNIT/CHAPTER OBJECTIVE/GENERALIZATION/BIG IDEA:

This lesson plan covers plants and their functions and is part of our Third-Grade Life Science unit.
Specifically, this lesson is based on the Tennessee state standard: GLE 0307.1.1 Use magnifiers to make
observations of specific plant and animal body parts and describe their functions.

LESSON OBJECTIVE:

1. Given a picture of a plant, students can identify the four main parts of a plant with 100% accuracy.
2. Given a future quiz, students will know the functions of the parts of a plant.
3. Given a real plant, students can use a magnifying glass and find specific parts of a plant with 100%
accuracy.
4. Students will produce a comic of a plant with four of its parts describing their functions.

The purpose of the lesson is for each student to learn the parts of the plant by working through the online
exercises provided. They will create an online comic describing the parts of the plant.

STANDARDS ADDRESSED:

GLE 0307.1.1 Use magnifiers to make observations of specific plant and animal body parts and describe their
functions.

3. Knowledge Constructor: Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct
knowledge, produce creative artifacts and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and
others.

MATERIALS:

1. The provided plant worksheet to label and fill out while working through the exercises and use to
create your comic
2. Pencil
3. Computer and internet access to watch the video and to use the interactive activity to attain knowledge about
the parts of the plant and use internet to create your comic
4. Dictionary to check spelling

Technology will be integrated in this lesson in two ways. First, technology will be used to learn about the parts of the
plant by watching a video and using interactive learning activities. Second, students will use technology to create a comic
using the website ToonDoo to show their knowledge and present it.
BACKGROUND and RATIONALE:

1. Students will demonstrate a clear understanding of the parts of the plant by filling out the worksheet and
creating the plant example using the online comic tool.
2. The critical academic language is the four parts of the plant (root, stem, leaf, and flower) and the
descriptions pertaining to each part that is shown in my comic example.
3. This lesson is a continuation of the study of plants.
4. The comic and worksheet will be the only hard material used in this lesson, both in which are produced
by the students own knowledge.
5. We will use the comic as a reference for further studying of plants and animals. We will use it
throughout the study of life science, for example comparing the parts of plants and the parts of animals.
6. The lesson and the technology use will be modified to meet the needs of diverse learners.

PROCEDURES AND TIMELINE:

Introduction
(10 min)

Begin by displaying a picture of an unlabeled plant on a large screen display, overhead, or whiteboard.
Handout the worksheet and explain that this lesson will be strictly taught online today so it is important
and required to fill out the worksheet to remember the material.
Encourage the students to write any notes or drawl any pictures on the back of the worksheet to help
them learn.
Discuss that the four different parts may be a little difficult to differentiate at first, but I will be available
for questions.
After today the students will have their own example of the parts of a plant to keep.
Write the exact links for the students to type in for the video, interactive learning activity, and ToonDoo
on the board or have them listed on the worksheet. Below are the links.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2r5LLy9Qaw
Interactive learning activity: https://www.turtlediary.com/game/plant-parts-labeling.html
ToonDoo.com: http://www.toondoo.com/View.toon?param=11708572

Procedures
(50 min)
Teacher procedures:

1. After the introduction, distribute the plant worksheet and dictionaries to the students and ask them to
brainstorm different parts of the plant and to begin writing down key words on the back of the sheet.
2. Have students type in the URL to the video to begin the lesson and use headphones.
3. Briefly show what the video, interactive learning activity, and comic website will look like using
your smartboard, your computer, or a students computer.
4. Monitor and assist as needed.
5. Direct the students to click on the link to the interactive learning activity once they have watched the
minute-long video.
6. Walk around and make sure students are filling out their worksheets.
7. Towards the end of the lesson label the plant displayed on the board to make sure all students are on
the same page.
8. Direct the students to click on the ToonDoo link and help struggling students create their comic.
9. Help all students print their comic and allow them one night to finish drawling and labeling it.
10. Remind the students that the comic should have a picture of each four parts of the plant and it should
be labeled and have a brief description of each part.
 Student procedures:

1. Students should complete their sheet by watching the video and working through the interactive
learning activities, so have sheet ready. They label the parts of the plant on the sheet and write the
descriptions, using the dictionary when needed for spelling.
2. First, find the video online and watch it taking notes on back of sheet.
3. Find the interactive learning activity then navigate through it continuing to fill out the worksheet.
4. Go to ToonDoo and create a comic of a plant.
5. You must have all 4 parts of the plant on your comic with a picture and description of each.
6. Print the comic before class is dismissed and finish it tonight as needed.
7. Present the comic in class tomorrow.

Students are encouraged to talk and help each other navigate through the interactive learning activity.
***If a computer is not working the lesson is easily completed with partners.
I have real plants in the class for students to relate to.
I have magnifying glasses for students to use on the real plants who complete the activity before class is
over.

Closure

Students can share their plant comics before class is over, which will help struggling students by giving
them ideas and showing them others work. At the end of class I make sure everyone has their comic printed
or emailed (if applicable) so that they can take them home and add to it before they are required to present
them and show them to me tomorrow for a grade. Remind them that the comics will be theirs to keep after I
check them.

ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE:

Plant Comic Rubric

Criteria 4 3 2 1 .
Rationale for using All the graphics and Some of the The comic lacks all Comic does not tell
pictures in comic information are used information on the accuracy of the parts what the parts of the
and accuracy in the correct context comic is labeled of the plant plants do
incorrectly Does not label the
plant at all
Images and Entire comic has a Comic has correct Only a few of the Few or none of the
descriptions significant amount of labeling but not pictures represent the pictures chosen
detail that correctly enough information plant correctly represent plant parts
represents each part
of the plant
Creativity Comic has Comic has some Comic shows an Comic has no
outstanding creativity creativity attempt of creativity creativity

MODIFICATIONS:

I am aware that modifications will be made for students who do not master the objectives and for those ready
for enrichment. However, modifications are not in this course and are not part of this lesson.