A guide for using our resources
Children will examine how goats help new trees grow.
Science Focus: seed dispersal
CCSS (and states that have similar standards): RI.1.1, RI.1.3, RI.1.8, L.1.6, W.1.2, RL.1.1
Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.
Paired Text: Who Will Plant a Tree? by Jerry Pallotta
Paired Text: Who Will Plant a Tree? by Jerry Pallotta
- This beautiful picture book is a perfect match for the issue! In it, different animals disperse seeds and plant trees without even knowing it.
Shared Writing: Plant Words
Shared Writing: Plant Words
- Create a chart of plant-related words that children can use in their writing or while observing plant life.
- You can start with words from the issue, such as seed, soil, and sunlight. Then add more words, like flower, leaf, roots, and stem.
Hands-On Activity: Seed Comparison
Hands-On Activity: Seed Comparison
Skills: observation and recording
Materials: Investigating Seeds skill sheet, variety of fruits, plastic knives, pencils, crayons
- Divide children into groups of two or three. Give each group three fruits with different kinds of seeds, such as a lemon, an apple, and a peach. If possible, include a fruit with a pit.
- Have children use plastic knives to cut open each fruit and scoop out the seeds.
- Let kids look closely at the seeds and compare them, taking turns describing the seeds.
- Finally, hand out the skill sheets and let children record their findings.