A webquest for fifth grade students studying
general plant structure and function
Designed by: Sarah Kinney
SKinney5253@wsc.ma.edu
Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion
Extension Activity | MA Frameworks | Credits
Introduction
You are an alien from the planet, Plantopia and your emperor, Patrick Pickle-Nose needs
you to travel to Earth and explore the parts of a plant. This exploration will insure the
survival of your planet, so it is vital that you learn everything you can about the parts of a
plant. Read all the information pertaining to plants carefully, because this information is
vital to the survival of your planet, Plantopia. In order to teach Patrick Pickle-Nose
everything you learn on Earth, you will be keeping an Explorer’s Notebook. In this
notebook write down any important information and make illustrations to help to remember
what you find on this strange planet called Earth.
Task
You will investigate and understand the basic plant anatomy and life processes using the
Internet as your tool. Also, you must recognize and understand the structure of a plant,
including leaves, stems, roots, seeds, and flowers. Take notes and create illustrations in
your Explorer’s Notebook. Then to meet the requests of Patrick Pickle-Nose, you must go
into KidPix and draw and label a picture of a plant.
Process
1. Read and take notes on the biology of plants. You should focus your attention on plant
parts, food production, pollination, and seed dispersal. These notes should be in your
Explorer’s Notebook and may be accompanied by quick sketches. Be sure to make the
notes clear so there will be no mix-ups for Patrick Pickle-Nose.
http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/parts.html
2. Examine the parts of a flower and make notes and draw sketches of what you find about
these plants on Earth.
http://www.uoregon.edu/~sdenner1/flower/partsofflower.htm
3. Read and take notes on the life cycle of a plant. You should view the two videos (Life
Cycle Video and Reproduction Video) at the top of the page. Write down what you see in
the videos and what you learn from your reading. Make sure you use plenty of details so
that you can describe to Patrick Pickle-Nose exactly how Earth’s plants grow.
http://www.fastplants.org/intro.lifecycle.php#menu
4. Examine seed growth, parts of a flower, and seed dispersal. Complete the exercises in
these three topics and record what you find in your Explorer’s Notebook.
http://www2.bgfl.org/bgfl2/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/science/plants_pt2/index.htm
5. Using KidPix, create and label the parts of a plant, including the parts of the flower. Be
sure to use the language you have learned exploring Earth’s plants.
6. Now that you have acted as a root and absorbed all of the educational nutrients provided
by these Internet sites, it is now time to expunge what you have learned. On the poster
that Patrick Pickle-Nose gave you, draw and illustrate a life cycle web of a plant using the
new terms you learned while exploring the plants on Earth. When this is complete, bring it
to Patrick Pickle-Nose with the KidPix plant you created.
Evaluation
Upon arrival back to Plantopia, the alien explorers will show Patrick Pickle-Nose their
Explorer’s Notebooks. After he examines them, they will use the information to study for an
exam given by Patrick Pickle-Nose. The life cycle webs and KidPix illustration will serve as
evidence of good exploratory skills.
Conclusion
At the end of this mission, the alien explorers will be able to understand the parts of a plant,
and will be able to think abstractly about this subject matter. Hopefully, the alien explorers
have insured the survival of your plant and your beloved emperor.
Have a safe trip back to Plantopia!
We’ll miss you here on planet Earth!
Extension Activity
Detective Leplant with his partners Bud and Sprout have been working to solve the mystery
of plant life. It is up to you to help the trio solve case one and unravel this great mystery in
the Great Plant Escape!
MA Curriculum Frameworks
Life Science (Biology) (preK-8) Strand
Topic : Plant Structures and Functions
2. Identify the structures in plants (leaves, roots, flowers, stems, bark, wood) that are responsible
for food production, support, water transport, reproduction, growth, and protection.
3. Recognize that plants and animals go through predictable life cycles that include birth, growth,
development, reproduction, and death.
Credits
http://www.radford.edu/~sbisset/grp202.htm
http://gifsnow.com/
http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/current.html
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/