Involve students in generating ideas and prior knowledge about their local surroundings. 

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- Create a 4 corners brainstorm session. In each corner of the room place sticky notes, markers, and several different colours of paper. Divide the class evenly and have each group brainstorm as many plants that grow here as they can think of, writing one per sticky note. Next, ask groups to categorize their ideas into groups of their choosing using the coloured paper provided and attaching their sticky notes to the appropriate paper. Have each group then share their groupings to the class. Display these brainstorms somewhere in the classroom to refer to during Step 2 - Evaluate.

 

- Ask students to survey others around the school and people they encounter at home to review and discover how plants are used. Create a class graph to display student responses. Use the video below, too.

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*Art Connection* 

Create this watercolour art project with students to discuss root vegetables and the parts of a plant.

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- Review the cycle of Photosynthesis. Using Pair Programming (two students working together on one computer with one student as the 'driver', controlling the computer, and the other as the 'navigator', helping the driver; switch roles throughout), students will create a representation of Photosynthesis in Scratch.

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- As an additional activity, get students to engage with this Photosynthesis Virtual Lab to further explore Photosynthesis and the colours of the light spectrum which cause the most plant growth. This lab also assists students to take measurements and collect notes, which will be good preparation for Step 2 - Evaluate. 

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