What is a Plant?
Provided by: Garfield Park Observatory|Published on: June 14, 2025
Grades: 3, 4, 5
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Science
Authors: Garfield Park Observatory
Region: Global
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this lesson from the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, students share their prior knowledge of plants, sort plants into categories, and conduct research to answer questions they have about plants.
- The extension activity for this lesson focuses on the different parts of the plant and the roles they play.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The lesson plan includes discussion prompts that will get students talking.
- This is an active and engaging student-centered lesson plan.
Prerequisites
- The lesson plan contains a resource to help students with their research, although it can be helpful to preview and provide additional resources for students.
- Supplies for the lesson include Post-it notes, butcher paper, writing utensils, and printed copies of the worksheet.
Differentiation & Implementation
- The lesson plan includes an extension activity.
- The "Intro to Plants Guidebook" contains vocabulary words and can be used to take a virtual field trip through the Conservatory.
- To connect this lesson to climate change, students can learn about how trees adapt to drought.
- Learning about plants can also connect to our Green Spaces Unit Plan as students learn the role of plants in keeping us and the Earth healthy.
This resource from Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance provides teachers with a lesson plan for students to learn about plants. The lesson plan includes an extension mystery game and a guidebook. The lesson plan also includes a student worksheet, resources provided and used in the lesson plan are from reputable sources, and this resource would be a great addition to a classroom discussion on identifying plants.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
