The 'Good and the Bad' About Plants

Students first learn about plant trait advantages and plant trait disadvantages before designing their own plant which they then draw and explain it’s pro’s and con’s. After they have done t... See More

Students first learn about plant trait advantages and plant trait disadvantages before designing their own plant which they then draw and explain it’s pro’s and con’s. After they have done this they engage in a plant game that allows students to compare their plant with others after ten generations. Game instructions and cards are provided in this lesson for middle school students.

Plant Ecology

The lesson ideas presented in this article would be a perfect fit for my ecology unit. The article is very thorough, and offers at plant trait table, background lesson and three additional ... See More

The lesson ideas presented in this article would be a perfect fit for my ecology unit. The article is very thorough, and offers at plant trait table, background lesson and three additional lessons. The culminating activity is a card game, and the cards are presented in a ready to copy format. This lesson could be easily adapted to a 5E model – engaging students in the background lesson and having students explore plant traits using the table as they designed their own plant. The explanation is accomplished through student diagrams of their self-designed plants incorporating careful labeling of their plant’s traits, and then students elaborate through the plant card game. The evaluation would take place throughout the unit and it could also incorporate the plant card game results. I am very intrigued by this lesson and eager to try it.