Plant Parts/Physiology (K-4)

Root Roundup – Learn all about the different kinds of roots and about the important jobs they do for plants.

Pulling the Water Chain – Experiment with stems to learn about

Breathing Plants

Operation Flower Dissection

How Seeds Travel

Learn all about the parts of a plant – roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds. Each of these parts performs important jobs for the plant, and these classroom activities will give students the chance to experiment with plant parts and learn all about their functions.

Plant Parts/Physiology (5-8)

Cold Consequences – Plants encounter different extremes in the environment, including freezing temperatures.  This activity, students will learn about how plants have adapted to survive the cold.

Plant Part Adaptation Charades – Lights, camera, action!  Use this charades game as a review after your students have learned about the parts of a plant and how plants adapt to their surroundings.

Plant Parts/Physiology (9-12)

Investigating Invasives – Invasive plants can crowd out native species, reducing biodiversity and disrupting how an ecosystem functions.  Students will learn all about invasives and why they are harmful; they will also investigate some species that have become established in their local community.

Why We Care About Plants (K-4)

Making a Joyful Noise - Students will explore the interdependence of plants and animals. Reading poetry about grasshoppers adds some fun to this activity!

The Wander of Pollen - Students will learn about pollen and explore how insects and animals carry pollen. Using the extension activities outside allows students to observe pollination in action!

Why We Care About Plants (5-8)

Pea Patch Pollination Game – Students will learn how patterns of pollination cause changes in plant populations. This activity combines math and science skills!

Plant and Pollinator Adaptations – Students will learn about the parts of a flower, pollinators, and how pollen transfer happens. To evaluate what they have learned, students will create what they think is the ideal flower for success in pollination.

Why We Care About Plants (9-12)

A Plethora of Pollinators – Students will learn about plant and pollinator adaptations and how these suites of characteristics interact.

Ecosystems and Biomes (K-4)

Ecosystem Exploration – Students will learn about different ecosystems by studying the plants, animals, landforms, and weather that make up each ecosystem.  They will also discuss food chains and how the different components of each ecosystem affect the food chain.

Ecosystems and Biomes (5-8)

Habitat World – By playing this game they will learn ways plant and animal species are adapted to the world’s four basic habitats. Let the games begin!

Ecosystems and Biomes (9-12)

Studying Eco-climatic Domains – Students will research how different plant species might be affected by climate change in the different eco-climatic domains in the United States.

Plants and Climate (K-4)

Pick-a-Plant – Students will explore how different growing conditions affect plants. They will use the information available on seed packets to determine how ranges of conditions determine where plants can grow and succeed.

In the Neighborhood – students will be challenged to find different types of habitats where plants can grow. They will discuss what might happen to the different habitats if the climate changes.

Ecosystems and Biomes (5-8)

Habitat World – By playing this game they will learn ways plant and animal species are adapted to the world’s four basic habitats. Let the games begin!

Plants and Climate (9-12)

How Might Elevated CO2 Affect Plants – Students will plant, care for, and observe the changes in growing plants under conditions of ambient (normal) CO2 and increased levels of CO2. Students will learn about the relationships between CO2, plants, and climate change.

Plant Observation (K-4)

Colors in Nature – Students will create colorful bead bracelets to wear outside while searching for matching colors in the plants they see.  They’ll be surprised at the variety of colors nature provides!

Leafy Combo – Not all leaves are alike!  Students will create a wheel to help them look for leaves with different shapes, colors, textures and edges.

Plant Observation (5-8)

Mystery Plant Identification – In this activity, students will get creative and create field guides for plants they are observing for the first time.  After making their field guides, they will look at published field guides to learn all about the plant they have observed.

Botanical Scavenger Hunt – Send students on a scavenger hunt to seek out various botanical features of plants. Students will document their findings with a digital camera and present what they found to the rest of the class.  Happy hunting!

Plant Observation (9-12)

Using a Key to Classify Plants – Students will learn all about classification and dichotomous keys, first by making a key for their classmates, and then by making one for nearby plants.

Botanical Scavenger Hunt – Send students on a scavenger hunt to seek out various botanical features of plants. Students will document their findings with a digital camera and present what they found to the rest of the class.  Happy hunting!