Aimee Soukup
Danielle Winter
Katie Stehn
Kelly Shew
Meg Turnis
Framework For a Science Unit: Part 1
Grade Level/Standard:
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Fifth Grad/ Essential Concept and/ or Skill: Understand and apply knowledge of the
characteristics of living things and how living things are both similar to and different
from each other and from non-living things.
Topic:
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Plants
Big Idea:
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Different species of plants have different observable characteristics by which they can be
classified.
Rational and Relevance:
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Prairies were once a huge part of the Midwest, however they are in danger of
disappearing forever. Students should learn about prairies to know more about their past
and how land was used and was recognized in history. They can use knowledge about
how the land was used and apply that to today. They can use their knowledge of the past
to help bring prairies back to the Midwest. The Midwest needs to be proactive in
bringing prairies back to the land to provide beauty and additional resources to the area
including habitats for birds, butterflies, insects, and other small wildlife.
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/features/panels/WayneNFPrairiesOhio.pdf
What science content does a teacher need to know to teach this lesson:
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What a prairie is:
o Prairies are an area of land that contains specific plants and animals that can only
survive in this type of habitat.
Prairie Plants/characteristics:
o Tall Grass
 Variety of tall grasses


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Big blue stem
o King of the prairie
o Most dominant
o Grows up 12 feet high
o The cattle loved it so much it was referred by people as the
“ice cream” of grass
Indian Grass
o Golden Brown
o Grows up to 6 feet tall
o Feathery appearance
o Very nutritious and excellent hay for winter feeding

o Flowering Plants
 Blackeyed Susan
 Dried leaves used as kidney remedy by early Americans
 Recent research indicates may have antibiotic properties
 brown domed center surrounded by bright yellow petals
 loves the sun
 Rigid Golden Rod
 Rubbery sap that Thomas Edison wanted to use as a rubber
substitute
 Often blamed for causing hay fever and allergies
o Actually because of pollen and other plants
 Grow 3-4 feet, distinct pale green/grayish color of leaves
 Mass of tiny golden flowers
 Upright Prairie Cone Flower
 Ogalalla Sioux Indians
 Created a beverage that is similar to a tea
 Name origin from the cone of the tiny flowers in the flower head
Why are prairie plants important:
o Years ago American Indians used plants for medical purposes, today many
scientists are finding new ways that plants can be used for bio fuel.
What is the plants role:
o Feed certain species of bird
o Brings wildlife and attracts other creatures to the land
o Offers nutrients to the soil
o Can be made into ingredients, antibiotics, food supplements, biofuel
 Blackeyed Susan
 Used kidney remedy by early Americans.
 Recent research indicates that it may have antibiotic properties
What specific things will you do as a teacher that will promote inquiry:
1. Find out what students already know about plants and prairies
2. Bring in plants to spark interest and help students identify certain species
3. Field trip to a prairie
a. Start with discussions on what students want to know or already know
b. Generate questions that students can ask or look for specific species of plants or
grass
c. Guide students to ask more questions about what they’d like to further their
learning in
d. Return to the prairie towards the end of the unit to see what more they have
learned and if anything/experience has changed
4. Model curious and questioning attitude
5. BE INTERESTING!
6. Provide opportunity for students to generate their own questions and answer through a
variety of resources