Plants - Part Of Our Living Enviroment

PROGRAM OUTLINE ( 2 hours)
This is a study of plants and the non-living components of the environment which affect their growth. A study of plants in two different communities (forest, field) encourages comparisons and makes adaptations more apparent. A simulation game is played to stress the importance of plants.

Field and Forest Study
Students work in pairs to examine the non-living conditions of a forest and field habitat: soil moisture, light, air temperature, and wind speed. A worksheet is used to record observations.
Students will then examine more closely the characteristics of five plants in each of the habitats. Using a check mark system of recording, students examine the following characteristics of each plant.

Leaf Style- narrow, wide

Leaf Arrangement-only on two sides of stem, all around the stem

Leaf Location- Near ground, top of stem, along stem

Height of Plant- use rulers

Students add up the check marks. Hopefully a pattern will appear indicating that plants have adapted certain characteristics to survive in specific habitats.

PLANTS TO THE RESCUE
In this simulation game, students role play plant helpers (butterfly, bee, wind), hurters (pollution, habitat destruction, pickers/steppers) and finally plants. The object of the game is for plants to get pollinated so they can produce seeds and germinate. If this occurs, then they will receive a card which indicates one benefit of plants. Plant hurters may interfere with this process and consequently reduce the benefits of plants.
This game provides an opportunity for students to discuss the many uses and benefits of plants and ultimately realize the need to respect and protect them.

PREVISIT PREPARATION
Students should be familiar with-
Observation skills-practice by writing a brief description of an object. Read the description to another student. Can they guess the object you are describing?
Parts of a plant and their function- root, stem, leaves, flowers, seeds
Adaptation- characteristics of a plant that allow it to survive in a specific environment
Habitat- home of an animal distinguished by certain characteristics, i.e. forest, field, pond.

	Education for, in and about the Frontenac Arch Biosphere
	PROGRAM OUTLINE ( 2 hours) This is a study of plants and the non-living components of the environment which affect their growth. A study of plants in two different communities (forest, field) encourages comparisons and makes adaptations more apparent. A simulation game is played to stress the importance of plants. Field and Forest Study Students work in pairs to examine the non-living conditions of a forest and field habitat: soil moisture, light, air temperature, and wind speed. A worksheet is used to record observations. Students will then examine more closely the characteristics of five plants in each of the habitats. Using a check mark system of recording, students examine the following characteristics of each plant. Leaf Style- narrow, wide Leaf Arrangement-only on two sides of stem, all around the stem Leaf Location- Near ground, top of stem, along stem Height of Plant- use rulers Students add up the check marks. Hopefully a pattern will appear indicating that plants have adapted certain characteristics to survive in specific habitats. PLANTS TO THE RESCUE In this simulation game, students role play plant helpers (butterfly, bee, wind), hurters (pollution, habitat destruction, pickers/steppers) and finally plants. The object of the game is for plants to get pollinated so they can produce seeds and germinate. If this occurs, then they will receive a card which indicates one benefit of plants. Plant hurters may interfere with this process and consequently reduce the benefits of plants. This game provides an opportunity for students to discuss the many uses and benefits of plants and ultimately realize the need to respect and protect them. PREVISIT PREPARATION Students should be familiar with- Observation skills-practice by writing a brief description of an object. Read the description to another student. Can they guess the object you are describing? Parts of a plant and their function- root, stem, leaves, flowers, seeds Adaptation- characteristics of a plant that allow it to survive in a specific environment Habitat- home of an animal distinguished by certain characteristics, i.e. forest, field, pond.