What Soil does Grass
Grow Best in?
Content/Topic
Science
Grade 3
March 26, 2014
Equipment/ Materials
Students will use their understanding of sand, potting soil, gravel, and silt to
make predictions prior to their experiment as to what soil they think is best for
plants to grow in. The students will compare and hypothesize how well
different soils can grow the seeds.
1.
Styrofoam cups
2.
Potting soil, sand, gravel, silt
3.
Grass seeds
Teaching Strategy and/or Strategy
4.
Soil Grass Sheet (1 per
student)
5.
Letter page
In using various multimedia tools it will clarify and introduce science concepts.
The teacher will model effective scientific processes when engaging in an
experiment by having the students conduct a prediction and recording their
observations.
Outcomes
ESC.2 Analyze the interdependence between soil and living things, including
the importance of soil for individuals, society, and all components of the
environment
Indicators
Classroom Management
After the video I will ask the students
questions to see if they were able to
comprehend the video. The cups of
soil will be prepared to ensure things
run smoothly and it will be as a
demonstration at the front. While the
students are working on their letters I
will circulate around the classroom.
c. Examine the interdependence between plants and soils (e.g., soils provide
nutrients for plant growth, plant leaves die and fall onto the ground, and plant
roots spread throughout soil).
Prerequisite Learning (if necessary):
The students will have previously learned about the different soils and which ones can hold more water and contain more
nutrients, which will help them in making their educated guess on what soil the grass will grow best in.
Evaluation/Assessment:
There will be observation of the students to see if they are able to follow directions throughout the experiment. For evaluation the
‘prediction thought question’ and the drawings of the ‘day 1 observations of the cups’.
Set: (estimated time____15 min______)
To begin the lesson we will watch a video on plants and soil. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEzNUVMHjJ8
What Soil does Grass Grow Best in?
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Watch the video two times. The first time ask the students to pay attention to the four factors plants need to grow. Write these on
the board. Explain that most First Nations believe everything is alive because there is a spirit that flows through the plants.
Therefore plants are living things and need certain aspects to survive. Plants need water, oxygen, and sunlight, and nutrients to
grow. The soil is also essential in plant growth. Watch the video a second time and ask the students to watch for the three factors
that the soil helps with. After the video is done ask the students what they are and record on the board.
What do plants get from the soil?
Nutrients: Soil holds nutrients that the plant takes up through its roots
Water: The spaces between among the soil contain water, which moves upward through the plants
Air: The soil contains air that provides oxygen to the plant roots.
Development: (estimated time___30 min__)
Explain to the students that we are going to plants grass seeds into four different types of soil. Have the students make a prediction
on the page of what soil the grass seeds will grow best in. I will have the students watch the demonstration at the front of the
classroom. I will have four cups of soil at the front (sand, silt, potting soil, and gravel). I will put the grass seeds in and water each
one. After I have planted the grass in the soil, the students will draw what the cup looks like in the right box on their page. They
will do this for all four cups. The students will then write a letter addressed to me telling me what a plant needs to grow and what
the soil provides for the plant.
Closure: (estimated time___10 min___)
I will explain to the students that next week we will observe what soil was best for growing the grass seeds. Then the students will
hand in their letters to me.
Adaptive Dimension:
I chose to have the students watch the planting at the front for time sake and to make things more organized. However, the
students could each plant their own. For the prediction and letter writing Prince and Tomi may need help understanding what the
question is asking them. I will leave on the board what plants need to grow and how soil helps plants grow so they can use that for
reference.
Professional Plan/Target:
My professional plan for this lesson is to have clear instructions for the students throughout the lesson.
Resources:
https://soilscientists.wikispaces.com/Teacher+Resources+For+Unit
What Soil does Grass Grow Best in?
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