Engage students with a captivating question: 'Have you ever wondered how leaves help plants make their food?' This will spark curiosity about the role of leaves in photosynthesis.
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Leaves
Learning Objectives
- Understand that leaves use sunlight, air, and water to make food for the plant through photosynthesis.
- Recognize that the broad and flat shape of leaves helps them capture more sunlight for photosynthesis.
- Identify that leaves come in various shapes and sizes, but their structure supports their function in making food.
- Learn that leaves have a network of veins to transport food, water, and nutrients throughout the plant.
Introduction and Hook
Direct Instruction
Explain the process of photosynthesis, emphasizing how leaves use sunlight, air, and water to produce food for the plant.
Introduce the concept of leaf structure, highlighting how their broad and flat shape aids in capturing sunlight.
Guided Exploration
Watch the video 'Parts of a Plants – Roots, Stems and Leaves' to visually understand how leaves function alongside other plant parts.
Discuss with students how different leaf shapes and sizes can affect their ability to perform photosynthesis.
Hands-On Activity
Conduct a 'Schoolyard Plant Hunt' where students observe and draw different leaves, focusing on their shapes and vein patterns.
Independent Practice
Have students create a leaf collage using leaves collected during the 'Schoolyard Plant Hunt', labeling the parts and their functions.
Check for Understanding
Use the 'Observing Leaf Diversity' assessment to evaluate students' understanding of different leaf shapes and their functions.
Review and Reflection
Reflect on the lesson by discussing how the structure of leaves is perfectly designed for their role in photosynthesis.
Assessment and Extension
Encourage students to complete the 'Plant Parts and Functions' assessment to reinforce their understanding of how leaves contribute to plant survival.
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