Watch Me Grow
A Study of Plants and Seeds
Introduction
Hello!
My name is Jessica Kracirik.
As a junior in the Early Childhood Education program at the
University of Dayton I would like to welcome you to our investigation of “Plants and Seeds”.
In my Pre-Kindergarten classroom the students and I participated in an investigation of observing, exploring, and making predictions about the various stages of plants and seeds. The students were able to watch seeds grow, learn the different parts of plants, look at seeds in common foods, and identify what a plant needs from the environment in order to survive. The students developed an awareness of their role in the classroom by developing responsibility. They watered the plants and made daily job a part of their morning routine.
Through observation and investigation the student acted as scientists to use the different steps of the scientific method, such as making predictions, performing experiments, recording observations, collecting data, and gaining results. We determined the stages of growth and development by measuring the plants each week and placed the results on a "Plant Growth Chart". We discussed what a plant needs to grow such as soil, sun, and water. The students also had the opportunity to paint with fruit, such as apples, peaches, and peppers after we cut it up and dug out the seeds. The students were exposed to fun and visual learning experiences in the classroom.
Assessment of the students took a variety of forms using their observations, dictations, and actual learning experience of planting seeds.
Project Goal
My goal of this project was to allow the students the opportunity to become an integral part of an experiment. I wanted the students to use real authentic materials to explore the basic parts of a plant, learn what a plant needs to grow, study the life cycle, and collect data on the growth of their plant. Through integrating the content areas of Math, Social Studies, English, and Science the students worked together to gain knowledge in these areas while achieving their goals, not to mention had fun while they learned!