Unit Plan 28 (Grade 1 Science): Light & Plant/Animal Needs

Focus: Connect light and seeing to how plants and animals meet their needs, and design a simple solution by mimicking an organism’s external parts.

Grade Level: 1

Subject Area: Science (Life Science • Physical Science • Engineering Design)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

Students explore how light helps living things and people function in the world. They investigate the idea that objects can be seen only when illuminated, then connect this to plant and animal survival—how animals use external parts (eyes, whiskers, fur, shells) and how plants use parts (leaves, stems) to meet needs like safety, water, and sunlight. The week ends with a mini biomimicry challenge where students design a simple tool (shade, glare-blocker, “night-vision” style viewer, shelter cover) inspired by a plant or animal part to solve a human problem related to light.

Essential Questions

• How does light help us see objects?
• How do plants and animals use their parts to help them survive and meet needs?
• How can we mimic plant or animal parts to solve a problem that involves light?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Make observations showing that objects can be seen only when there is light (1-PS4-2).
2. Describe how different amounts or directions of light can change what we can see (bright/dim, glare/shade) (1-PS4-2).
3. Identify external parts of plants and animals and explain how those parts help them meet needs (1-LS1-1).
4. Describe a simple human problem involving light (too bright, too dark, hard to see) and connect it to a plant/animal example (1-LS1-1, 1-PS4-2).
5. Design and build a simple solution inspired by a plant or animal external part, then explain how it helps solve the problem (1-LS1-1).

Standards Alignment — Grade 1 (NGSS-Aligned)

• 1-PS4-2 — Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that objects can be seen only when illuminated.
• 1-LS1-1 — Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can show with observations that I can only see objects when there is light.
• I can explain how bright light, dim light, or shade changes what I can see.
• I can name plant or animal parts and explain how they help the organism.
• I can design a tool that uses an idea from nature to solve a light problem.
• I can explain how my design works using words like light, see, mimic, and parts.