Lesson Plan for Toddler - Nature Study - Common Plants I

### Lesson Plan: Common Plants **Grade Level:** Toddler (Ages 2-4) **Subject:** Nature Study **Duration:** 30-45 minutes --- #### **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. --- #### **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. --- #### **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. --- #### **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. --- #### **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. --- #### **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. --- This lesson plan is designed to spark curiosity and appreciation for nature among toddlers while building foundational knowledge about common plants in their environment.