### Lesson Plan: Common Plants
**Grade Level:** Toddler (Ages 2-4)
**Subject:** Nature Study
**Duration:** 30-45 minutes
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#### **Objective:**
Introduce toddlers to common plants found in their immediate environment. Enhance their observational skills and encourage curiosity about the natural world.
#### **Materials Needed:**
- Picture book about common plants (e.g., "My First Garden" by Wendy C. Lewison)
- Real plants (potted plants, flowers, or leaves)
- Magnifying glasses
- Plant identification cards
- Sand buckets and small shovels (optional for outdoor exploration)
- Paint and brushes (for a leaf painting activity)
- Paper and crayons
---
#### **Introduction: (5-10 minutes)**
1. **Greeting and Circle Time:**
- Gather children on a soft mat or rug.
- Sing a welcoming song to set a positive tone (e.g., "The More We Get Together").
2. **Discussion:**
- Show pictures of common plants.
- Ask open-ended questions like, "Do you have a favorite flower?" or "What color are the leaves?" to engage them.
3. **Read Aloud:**
- Read a picture book about plants, such as "My First Garden". Point out different plants in the book and their colors.
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#### **Main Activity: (15-20 minutes)**
1. **Plant Exploration:**
- Place potted plants and leaves around the room or play area.
- Let the toddlers explore these plants using magnifying glasses.
- Ask them to describe what they see, feel, and smell.
2. **Interactive Learning:**
- Show plant identification cards with simple pictures and names of common plants.
- Help them match real plants with pictures on the cards.
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#### **Outdoor Activity: (Optional, 10-15 minutes)**
1. **Nature Walk:**
- If accessible, organize a short, supervised nature walk.
- Encourage children to collect leaves, flowers, and small twigs using their sand buckets.
- Point out various plants and flowers along the way.
---
#### **Art & Craft: (10-15 minutes)**
1. **Leaf Painting:**
- Gather children at a table with paints and brushes.
- Provide large leaves and encourage them to paint on the leaves or make leaf prints on paper.
- Discuss the different shapes and patterns they see.
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#### **Conclusion: (5 minutes)**
1. **Review & Sharing:**
- Gather back in a circle.
- Allow children to share what they learned or show their leaf paintings.
- Praise their observations and creativity.
2. **Goodbye Song:**
- Sing a goodbye song like "Goodbye Friends" to end the session on a cheerful note.
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#### **Extension Activities:**
- **Plant Growing Experiment:**
- Plant seeds in small pots and let children water them daily.
- Observe the growth and discuss changes each week.
- **Nature Scrapbook:**
- Create a nature scrapbook with leaf rubbings, dried flowers, and drawings.
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#### **Assessment:**
- **Observation:**
- Assess participation and engagement during activities.
- Note children’s ability to recognize and describe plants.
- **Informal Discussion:**
- Ask questions to gauge their understanding and interest.
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This lesson plan is designed to spark curiosity and appreciation for nature among toddlers while building foundational knowledge about common plants in their environment.