### Lesson Plan: Changes in Plants
**Grade Level:** Primary 4
**Subject:** Basic Science and Technology
**Duration:** 60 minutes
**Topic:** Changes in Plants
#### **Objectives:**
By the end of the lesson, students will:
1. Understand the different stages in a plant's life cycle.
2. Identify factors that cause changes in plants.
3. Recognize the importance of water, sunlight, and soil in plant growth.
#### **Materials Needed:**
- Chart paper and markers
- Pictures of different stages of plant growth (from seed to plant)
- Pots, soil, seeds (e.g., beans), and watering cans
- A sunny spot or grow lights
- Worksheet with questions about plant growth
#### **Introduction (10 minutes):**
1. **Welcome and Warm-up (5 minutes):** Start with a brief discussion on what students know about plants.
- Questions: What do plants need to grow? Have you ever planted a seed?
2. **Setting the Stage (5 minutes):** Introduce the topic by explaining that plants go through different stages in their life cycle and that they change over time. Briefly outline what the students will learn in the lesson.
#### **Instruction (20 minutes):**
1. **Presentation (10 minutes):** Use chart paper to draw and explain the life cycle of a plant.
- Stages: Seed, germination, seedling, mature plant, flowering, and seed production.
- Show pictures of each stage.
2. **Discussion (10 minutes):** Discuss the factors that affect plant growth (water, sunlight, soil).
- Ask: Why do you think water and sunlight are important for plants?
- Explain how these factors contribute to the changes in plants during their life cycle.
#### **Activity (20 minutes):**
1. **Planting Seeds (10 minutes):** Students will plant their own seeds in small pots.
- Demonstrate how to plant a seed: filling the pot with soil, placing the seed, and watering it.
2. **Observation and Hypothesis (5 minutes):** Ask students to predict what they think will happen to their seeds in the coming days/weeks.
3. **Worksheet (5 minutes):** Distribute a worksheet with questions related to the life cycle of plants and factors affecting their growth.
- Questions could include: What stage is this plant in? What does a seed need to grow into a plant?
#### **Conclusion (10 minutes):**
1. **Review and Reflect (5 minutes):** Recap the lesson by discussing the main points again.
- Ask: What did we learn about how plants grow? What are the stages of a plant's life cycle?
2. **Homework (5 minutes):** Ask students to observe their plants at home and keep a short diary recording changes every day.
- For example: Day 1 - planted the seed, Day 2 - watered the seed, etc.
#### **Assessment:**
- Participation during the planting activity.
- Completion and accuracy of the worksheet.
- Diary entries (to be checked in subsequent classes for ongoing assessment).
#### **Extension:**
- If time and resources allow, students can engage in a longer-term project of growing their plants, taking measurements, recording data, and presenting their findings to the class.
#### **Note to the Teacher:**
- Ensure every student is involved in the planting process.
- Regularly check the students' plants and discuss the ongoing changes in the following classes.
- Provide support and encouragement to students who may need additional help understanding the concepts.
By fostering hands-on experience and observation, students will have a better understanding of the life cycle of plants and the factors that influence their growth.