Module 3: Plant Adaptations- Science 3 - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, students will learn to investigate how plants absorb water, draw conclusions about how water is transported through a plant, observe root formation in plants, recognize that plants reproduce with or without seeds, and classify flowering and nonflowering plants. They will Identify various plants that live in harsh climates, describe adaptations that plants make to survive in extreme climates and apply an understanding of plant needs and adaptations to create a unique plant.

Module Materials:

Lesson # Lesson Title Material(s)
1 Water Transport celery stalks with leaves
drinking glass (2)
water
food coloring (red, blue)
scissors
2 Reproduction and Growth avocado seed or sweet potato
drinking glass
water
nails or toothpicks
3 Surviving Harsh Climates None
4 Project: DIY Plant Experiment potted plants (3, same kind)
soil (3 types, optional)

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 Water Transport
  1. Investigate how plants absorb water.
  2. Draw conclusions about how water is transported through a plant.
2 Reproduction and Growth
  1. Observe root formation in plants.
  2. Recognize that plants reproduce with or without seeds.
  3. Classify flowering and nonflowering plants.
3 Surviving Harsh Climates
  1. Identify various plants that live in harsh climates.
  2. Describe adaptations that plants make to survive in extreme climates.
  3. Apply understanding of plant needs and adaptations to create a unique plant.
4 Project: DIY Plant Experiment
  1. Design an experiment to determine the specific needs of a plant.
  2. Compare findings of an experiment with other experiments.

Module Key Words:

Key Words
absorption
transpiration
growth
reproduction
flowering
nonflowering
climate
adapt
experiment
plant

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
1 Water Transport 6 Celery Investigation Assignment
2 Reproduction and Growth 6 Grow a Plant Assignment
3 Surviving Harsh Climates 6 Plant Adaptations Assignment
4 Project: DIY Plant Experiment 3 DIY Plant Experiment Project

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 Water Transport After your student completes this lesson, ask your student to explain what transpiration is and how plants absorb and transport water.
2 Reproduction and Growth After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain how flowering plants reproduce and how nonflowering plants reproduce. If possible go for a walk outside and ask your student to identify flowering and nonflowering plants on their walk.
3 Surviving Harsh Climates After completing this lesson, have your student describe what they learned about how plants adapt in extreme climates.
4 Project: DIY Plant Experiment After your student reviews the directions for this project, ask them to explain the requirements of the project and the rubric before they begin. When they are finished have them review the requirements and rubric again, to make sure their project meets all of the requirements.

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
Water Transport
  1. How does a plant absorb and transport water?
Reproduction and Growth
  1. How do plants grow and reproduce?
Surviving Harsh Climates
  1. How do plants adapt to extreme climates?
Project: DIY Plant Experiment
  1. How can you design your own plant experiment?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level
1 The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living Things Grow Joanna Cole

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing