First Knowledge of Plants

A. FIRST KNOWLEDGE OF PLANTS

Age : 6-7 years

Aim : To enable the child to identify plants and to learn the vocabulary of plants.

Materials : Cards with pictures of plants and cards of their names in two envelopes.

Presentation 1 1. Show the child where the envelopes are kept. Lay out

the small name cards in a column on the table.

1. Show the first card (usually an easy plant to identify) and

describe it.

1. If the child knows the name of the plant, he finds the label

and places it by the picture.

1. If the child does not know the name of the plant, this card

is set aside and he continues with the next card.

1. At the end, the cards which the child was unable to identify can be matched using the numbers on the back of the picture cards and the numbers that appear on the name cards.
2. When all the vocabulary has been learned, the child can proceed to the next envelope.

Purpose : To enable the child to identify plants and to learn vocabulary.

Control of Error : The numbers on the name and picture cards correspond.

Follow up : walks, writing stories about plants, small project on one plant, children can make booklets of various plants.

Notes : Give a few pictures with labels of plants. Start with the ones the child may already know. Do a loose three period lesson on those she doesn’t know.

Presentation 2

Material : Envelopes with pictures, color coded envelope with stories.

Presentation : Gather children in a small group and lay down the picture cards on the table. Place the story cards out on the same table. Children read the story cards to each other placing these with the corresponding pictures. The cards that they are unable to pair up are set aside. Once they have gone through all the cards, identify the remaining cards left by the children.

Purpose : To help identify plants by reading information about them. Very important to let children read the stories by themselves.

Start with those the child already knows. Do a loose three period lesson.

Age : 8 years old – 9-10 year olds for reading.

Follow up : Take the children on walks for observation and identification of specimens. This can be related to the time lines.

Presentation 3

Materials : color coded categories of plants and pictures, certain classification labels (for example: How Do Humans Use Plants?

Construction and Industry, Food for People, Food for Animals, Other Uses)

Presentation 1. Take out one category and its appropriate pictures. Place

the category on the table with the pictures below them.

1. Start with a well known picture to the child and ask him to

place it where it belongs.

1. Continue above procedure for a number of pictures and

categories.

Purpose : Children should research, discuss, and reason amongst

themselves.

Children should become more knowledgeable about

classification.

Age : Approximately 7 years old.

Illustration:

How Do Humans Use Plants?

Construction & Industry Food for People Food for Animals Other Uses

Presentation 4

Materials: Prepared tickets, headings, and pictures.

Presentation: 1. Place all categories of tickets on the table. Make sure it

is done neatly.

1. Ask the child to choose a picture.
2. The child answers each question. When an answer is matched with the question, the cards are put together.
3. The child continues until all cards are matched.

Age: 8 years old.

Follow up: Research, and projects.