What Do Plants Need to Grow?

What Do Plants Need to Grow? introduces students to the important role plants play in sustaining life as we know it. Plants are among the most important resources on Earth, providing us with food to eat and oxygen to breathe. In addition to adding beauty to our surrounding environment, plants also keep our soil healthy through decomposition, provide habitats for animals, and are the source of many materials we use every day—including wood, clothing, medicine, plastic, and more. In this unit, students will study plant parts and understand what plants need to grow and survive. They will also learn important concepts for second through fourth grade, such as photosynthesis and decomposition.

Students will practice hands-on laboratory experiments that involve observation, prediction, data collection, and analysis. Many lessons are based on student participation in partnerships or teams, providing opportunities for cooperative learning. Throughout the unit, students are encouraged to explore the vital connection between the plant systems they are studying and the way plants are connected to their daily live

Lesson Plans: Lessons include inquiry-based, real life challenges that engage students in a meaningful way as they discover the story behind how their food is produced.

Google Slides: The Google Slide presentation includes activity instructions, editable student worksheets, brainstorming templates, and embedded links to related videos, websites, and online games.

The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating youth throughout California about the importance of agriculture in their daily lives. For additional free resources, visit LearnAboutAg.org.