Unit Plan 15 (Grade K Science): Plant Needs & Growth

Focus: Observe patterns in what plants need to survive and grow by investigating water, light, and space through simple classroom garden experiments.

Grade Level: K

Subject Area: Science (Life Science • Inquiry/Skills)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session

I. Introduction

Students become classroom gardeners and learn that plants have predictable needs. Through hands-on planting and simple comparisons (sun vs. shade, water vs. no water), students make careful observations, record changes with drawings, and look for patterns in growth over time. By the end of the week, students explain—using evidence from their plant journals—what plants need to survive and grow.

Essential Questions

• What do plants need to survive and grow?
• What patterns can we observe when plants get (or do not get) water and sunlight?
• How can we use observations to explain what living things need?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Use observations (drawings, labels, and simple measurements) to describe how a plant changes over time.
2. Identify patterns that show plants need water and sunlight to survive and grow.
3. Compare two plant setups (e.g., watered/not watered or light/shade) and describe what is the same and different.
4. Use evidence from a plant journal to explain what plants need: water, light, air, and space.
5. Create a “Plant Needs” poster/model that shows plant needs and includes evidence from class observations.

Standards Alignment — Grade K (NGSS-Aligned)

• K-LS1-1 — Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can draw and describe what I observe about a plant.
• I can tell what plants need: water, sunlight, air, and space.
• I can explain a pattern I notice (example: “Plants with water stay greener.”).
• I can compare two plants and say what is same and different.
• I can share what I learned using my journal and a clear poster/model.