ELA Educator Preparation
Wall Display Create a “Plants” wall display with labeled pictures of plants and flowers. Include a plant diagram with parts called out. Encourage children to look at the pictures throughout the weeks as you talk about the different plants and flowers. Ask, What colors do you see? I love yellow daffodils. Which is your favorite flower?
Bean Seeds At the beginning of the unit, each child plants a bean seed. During the unit, children will observe its growth. Create a corner in the Science and Math Center for the bean plants. Because plants take a while to grow, children will continue their plant observations and discussions over the weeks. Transplant the bean sprouts to soil at the end of the first week or when the first leaves appear.
Plant Corner Bring in a flowering plant and a non-flowering plant and keep it in a central area of the room. Set up a schedule for helpers to water the plants. Talk about what plants need to grow—soil, water, and sunlight. Nearby, post a chart with a simple drawing or diagram of a plant. Label the parts of the plant. Encourage children to look at, name, compare, and talk about the parts of a plant (flower, leaves, stem, roots).
Worm Habitat Give children the opportunity to observe and study real worms. You can dig up worms, purchase them from a bait shop, or order them from a biological supply catalogue. Set up a worm habitat with children at the beginning of Week 4. Reference a nonfiction book or go online to find information about how to set up a worm habitat with children.
Book-Browsing Boxes Create a “Plants” book-browsing box, a box with different versions of The Little Red Hen, and a “Worms” browsing box. Include some books about Community Helpers as well, since we’ll be talking about helping one another. Label each box with words and a matching picture or symbol, so children can identify its contents and browse on their own.