Name ______________________________ #_____
Individual Unit Learning Plan
Learning Style_______________________________
Unit: Life Science
State Indicator: S.4.3.1.1 The student observes different organisms and compares and contrasts how similar functions are served by
different structural characteristics.
Item Specification: Describe the functions of the primary structures of flowering plants/fruit trees, etc. (i.e. leaves make food, roots take up water
and nutrients and anchor plant in place, stem or trunk provide support and transport water and nutrients through the plant, flowers and seeds are
for reproduction.
Baseline Activities for Whole Class
Activity

Read & Discuss Sections:
1. Plant Needs & Adaptations, pgs. 72-75, w/s 50 Comparing Plants (10pts.)
2.The Functions of Plant Parts, pgs. A78-81,
w/s 52 How do Leaves, Stems, and Roots Help Plants Live? (10pts.)
3. Plant Life Cycles, pgs. A84-87, w/s 58, Vocabulary Review (10pts.)
Possible
Points
Points
Earned
Notes
Points
Earned
Notes
30
Investigation: Seedling Growth: Pgs. A82-83, w/s 53
20
Assessment


Activity
Practice Assessment
Harcourt Science, Chapter 3 Test
Part 1: Vocabulary, w/s AG13
Part 2: Science Concepts and Understanding, w/s AG14-16
Part 3: Performance Assessment: Create a plant to adaptation to a particular
environment. Label the plant parts and describe functions.
Review Test
Possible
Points
20
100 (%)
30
Individual Activities by LEARNING STYLE / Highlight your choice
Visual
Auditory
Create a Poster
Watch a Video

10 pts.
Create a poster of
plant adaptations
1. Look through books
and find 3 plants and
their adaptations
2. Look and read
about these
adaptations and how
they work.
3. Illustrate and color
picture of your plants
in their environment.
4. Label the plant
parts.
5. Next to each
structural adaptation
write a couple
sentences explaining
how it works to help
the plant.
5 pts.
http://www.unitedstrea
ming.com
Magic School Bus All
Dried Up
1.Before watching videoDiscuss the following
questions with a
partner:


What do you know
about desert
plants and
animals?
What adaptations
do desert plants
and animals have
to make?
Be listening to the
answers to these
questions as you watch
the video.
2. After Watching Videodiscuss what you
learned and write down
the information you and
show the teacher.
Group
Learner
Group Investigation
10 pts.
Investigate cactus structure
1. Read together and discuss
the book: The Cacuts Hotel
by B.Z Zimmerman
Materials:
 aloe Vera plant
 paper towels
 magnifying lens
 plastic knives
2. Examine a stem of an
aloe vera plant. Observe and
discuss the following:
a.) cut open the stem of the
plant
b.) examine how much
moisture there is inside
c.) what does the inside look
and feel like?
d.) what does the skin look
like?
3. On a separate piece of
paper, discuss and write
answers to the following
questions:
a.)How is a plant able to
hold so much moisture?
b.)Why does a plant in the
desert need to be able to do
that?
c.)Why is the skin smooth,
waxy, and spiny?
d.)Why do you think the
stem is thick and rounded?
Kinesthetic
Expressive
Make A Model
Plant Blog
15 pts.
Create your own plant
that would survive in a
desert climate
15 pts.
Share your opinions
on plant adaptations
1.Read the book: Cactus
in the Desert by Phyllis
Busch
2. Make a T-chart
labeled Water
Acquisition/ Water
Conservation. Categorize
the adaptations
3. Create your own plant
that you believe could
survive in the desert.
 a plant that can
store water
 a plant that can
compete with other
plants for water
 a plant that can
withstand the hot
desert sun
 an other adaptations
you feel would be
necessary
www.classblogmeister.
com
Use your science text,
library books, or websites
as resources.
Materials:
 clay
 glue
 scissors
 pipe cleaners
 toothpicks
 tissue paper
1. Respond to the
following questions on
the plant blog:
 What do you think
are the best or most
effective plant
adaptations and
why?
 What types of
adaptations do you
think a plant living in
Kansas needs and
why?
 What do you think is
the most unusual
plant adaptation and
why?
2. Read other students'
blogs. Respond to their
blog in the following
way:
 What did you learn
from their blog?
 What questions
would you like them
to think about?
 Do you agree or
disagree, why or
why not?
Individual
Learner
Play Computer
Game
5 pts.
Play The Great Plant
Escape game on the
computer!
http://www.urbanext.uiu
c.edu/gpe/case1/c1facts
2a.html
Directions:
1. There are 6
Mystery Cases
to read and
solve.
2. Start with Case
1 and go in
order.
3. At the end of
each case there
is a quiz and
activities to
complete.
4. After finishing
each case, write
10 things you
learned about
plants on
notebook paper
and turn it in.
Visual
Auditory
Group Learner
Kinesthetic
Expressive
Watch A Video
Plant Web Site
Watch a Video
Investigation
Create a Plant
Wikis
15 pts.
Watch The Private Life
10pts.
Explore plants with Zip
the Bee!
David Attenborough
BBC
http://www.bgfl.org/zips
plants
As you watch the
video:
1. list the different
environments
2. the plant(s) that live
there
3. how they have
adapted to live in the
environment
1. With your partner(s)
read orally and discuss
the different plant
topics:
a.) Growth of a plant
b.) Parts of a Plant
c.) Pollination
of Plants: It’s a Jungle
Out There
After viewing the
video:
1. Illustrate and color
pictures of the plants
and their environment
2. Label the structural
adaptations
3. Write a brief
description of how the
plant’s adaptations
work.
2. With your partner(s)
take Zip's Challenge.
Read orally and discuss
the questions and
answers.
3. With your partner(s)
get a sheet of white
construction paper.
Divide it into 3 sections
and write the following
headings:
a.) Plant Growth
b.) Plant Parts
c.)Pollination
Using illustrations,
labels, and descriptions,
tell what you learned
from Zip!
15 pts.
What is a Living Thing?
http://www.unitedmainstrea
ming.com
Group Procedure:
1. fold a sheet of notebook
paper into four even
sections. At the top of each
column, write the initials :
K (know), W (what to
know), L (what I learned),
Q (questions I still have)
2. I K column, write
everything you know about
plant structure, adaptations,
and life cycle
3. in W section, write down
what you would like to learn
about plant structure,
adaptations, and life cycle
4. Now watch the program.
(skip the segment on
classification of animals). In
L section, write down what
you learned
5. After watching the video,
discuss and write down in
the Q section, what they
would still like to know. Use
www.askjeeves.com
or www.Yahooligans.com
to research questions.
5 pts.
The Tough Cactus
Materials
Wax paper
sponge
Water dropper
bowl
1.Read The Cactus Hotel
by B.Z. Guiberson
Procedure 1: How the
Waxy Skin Works
a.)Squeeze a few drops
of water onto the wax
paper.
b.)Observe how the
water droplets roll
around the wax paper
and does not soak
through.
Procedure 2: How the
Spongy Roots Work
a.) Fill one of the bowls
full of water
b.)Dip the sponge into
the water
c.)Observe how the
sponge soaks up the
water
d.) Squeeze out the
water and measure how
much it holds
On notebook paper,
explain how the
investigation shows the
different adaptations
desert plants have
developed
10 pts.
Edit & revise an article
on plant adaptations
www.wikispaces.com
You and your
classmates will
collaborate and create
an article on plants
and adaptations
1. Contribute
information about the
following topic:
Plant Adaptaions
2. Check the
information other
people have provided
for the following:



correct any spelling,
punctuation or
capitalization errors
add additional
information to what
has already been
written
If you see any
information you
don't agree with,
discuss this with the
author and come to
a decision together
on whether to make
changes
Individual
Learner
Plant Life Cycle
15 pts.
http://www.bgfl.org/pla
nts
View the following
sections and answer
questions on notebook
paper:
1. Seed Growth:What
are the best conditions
for growth
2. Parts of a Flower:
Assemble the flower on
the computer (click on i
to get directions). When
finished print your work.
3. Seed Dispersal:
List the types of seed
dispersals and write a
sentence explaining it.
1. wind
2. bursting
3. shakers
4. water
5. catching a lift
6. animal food
7. drop and roll
4.Print the plant
structure worksheet.
Using the plant
identification picture,
describe the biological
functions of the plant
parts:
1. flower
2. stem
3. leaf
4. roots
Visual
Auditory
Group Learner
Kinesthetic
Expressive
Individual Learner
Investigation on
Leaf Adaptations
Create a Podcast
Investigation on Water Loss
and Leaf Structure
Examine Plants
You Are A Reporter!
Habitat Poster
5 pts.
15 pts.
Use books or the internet to
Investigate how leaf shape
research the following
and coating can increase
questions on your podcast
runoff of extra water and
script:
keep the plant healthy in
damp climates
Welcome to a Podcast on
Plant adaptations
Materials:
This is: (your name)
*Leaf Patterns
Scissors
1. One type of plant
Construction paper
adaptation is_________
Wax paper
Water mister
2. This adaptation helps the
plant to _________
Procedure:
1. Trace leaf patterns on
3. Another interesting plant
construction and wax
adaptation is _____
paper and cut them out
2. First work with the
4. This adaptation helps the
construction paper leaves plant to ___________
and mist each with water
and observe which one
Continue the same format
sheds water best. Compare with other adaptations
results and record your
observations.
Finally, an adaptation that I
3. Repeat with the wax
found most interesting was
paper leaves and compare
________________
with the construction paper
leaves. Record your
This helps the plant to___
observations.
4. How do leaves that shed I thought it was the most
water well help the plant to interesting because_____
survive? Record your
thoughts
Thank you for listening to
*leaf shapes paper
our podcast on plant
adaptations
5 pts.
Explore the roles of succulence
and tough outer coverings in
preventing water loss.




Materials:
4 sponges of different
thickness
Bowls
Measuring cups or
graduated cylinders
Water
Group Procedure:
1. Place each of the 4 sponges in
a bowl of water. Allow the
sponges to sit a minute or so.
2. Remove the sponges from
water and squeeze them one at a
time into a measuring cup and
note the amount of water coming
form each sponge.
Discuss & Write down your
observations to the following
questions:
1. Which one holds more water?
Why?
2. Which one holds the least
amount? Why?
3. Which one would dry out the
fastest? Why?
4. In an environment with not
much water, what type of leaf do
you think would work best?
Why?
10 pts.
Examine plants for
adaptations
5 pts.
10 pts.
You are a reporter for a Show different plants in their
magazine. You have been
habitats
( bring in selected plants or
sent the desert to write
allows students to examine
about desert plants and
Materials:
preselected plants inside or
their adaptations.
1). 3 large drawings of
outside the school building.
thermometers
You will research and write 2.) 1 large raindrop
Materials:
about 5 different desert 3.) 1 small raindrop
Magnifying lens
plants that you find most 4.) 3 large sun cut outs with
Pencil
interesting.
cello phane over one
Clip board and paper
5.) 3 background pictures on
Ruler
Use books or computer to construction paper of these
research.
environments: Desert
1.) sketch a picture of your
Rain forest
plant & label the plant parts
Include the following:
Kansas
2.) Examine the following
parts and tell how the plants
Article Title
Use books or comoputer for
adaptations help the plant
research
survive:
A new paragraph for each
Leaves- what shape and size,
plant.
Procedure:
how do they help the plant
1. Desert picture- glue on
get water or sunlight?
Each paragraph should thermomenter with very high
Roots- deep or shallow, how start with a topic sentence temperature, sun, and small
do they help the plant collect
that tells the main idea. raindrop. Illustrate and color
nutrients and water?
three desert plants and label
Thorns- are there any types
Each paragraph should their adaptations.
of thorn or spikes to protect give details about the plant 2. Tropical Rain Forest- glue
the plant from animals?
and its adaptations.
on thermometer with warm
Skin- is the skin of the plant
temperature, sun with cello
waxy, hard, or soft and how
Make sure all your
phane screen, and large
would that help the plant
information is factual.
raindrop. Illustrate and color
hold water?
three rain forest plants and
Stems or Branches- are they
End your article with a label their adaptations.
short, long. Thick, or thin and
conclusion about your
3. Kansas- (pick a season)
how do they help the plant
desert plants.
glue on sun (screened,
get sunlight?
covered or full), thermometer
Seeds-how are they spread,
(with appropriate
how does the plant reproduce
temperature), and
Any other Adaptation?
appropriate raindrop size.
Illustrate and color three
plants commoly found in
Kansas and list their
adaptations.
Points Possible
Activity
Individual Activity # 1
25
Individual Activity # 2
25
Individual Activity # 3
25
Points Earned
Grade
Notes