Plant Power: Bilingual Growth Adventure

Pre-k, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Grades

Project
4 weeks

Plant Power: Bilingual Growth Adventure

Isidora Salome Cruz Araya

Purpose

Each day, students will explore essential questions to guide their learning, such as "How do plants grow and what role does each part of their environment play in their growth?" This project aims to immerse young learners in an engaging exploration of plant growth and environmental interactions, fostering bilingual language skills through hands-on activities. Students will actively participate in observing, documenting, and discussing the life cycle of plants, while integrating vocabulary and concepts in both English and Spanish. Through collaboration with community partners and experiential learning, students will develop a deeper understanding of the natural world and the impact of words and actions on living organisms.

Learning goals

At the beginning of each day, students will reflect on the essential question: How do plants grow and what role does each part of their environment play in their growth? They will explore the growth process of plants and understand the role of environmental factors such as sunlight, water, and animals. Students will develop bilingual language skills by creating daily phrases in English and Spanish, building a robust vocabulary bank. Through hands-on activities, students will learn to observe, record, and analyze plant growth, fostering critical thinking and reflection. Additionally, they will engage in collaborative art and math projects to reinforce language and mathematical concepts, culminating in a bilingual storybook and a mural exhibition.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.2: Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.
Common Core - CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.1: Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.
NGSS - K-LS1-1: Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.

Products

At the beginning of each day, students will reflect on the essential question: "How do plants grow and what role does each part of their environment play in their growth?" They will create a bilingual storybook that narrates the journey of a plant's growth, incorporating vocabulary words and concepts learned. Additionally, students will engage in a collaborative art project to create a large mural depicting the stages of plant growth, with bilingual labels and descriptions. These products will be shared during the 'Plant Life Cycle Museum' exhibition, allowing students to showcase their learning to parents and peers.

Launch

Begin the project with an interactive "Seed to Sprout Journey," where each student receives a seed to plant in a small pot, introducing the essential question, "How do plants grow and what role does each part of their environment play in their growth?" Guide them to label their pots with bilingual descriptions and encourage initial observations about their seeds. Launch the "Bilingual Plant Detective Challenge," where students embark on a scavenger hunt around the classroom or school garden, using English and Spanish clues to discover how sunlight, water, and soil contribute to plant growth. This hands-on experience sets the stage for their personal plant growth projects and sparks curiosity about the natural world.

Exhibition

Each day, students will begin by discussing the essential question, "How do plants grow and what role does each part of their environment play in their growth?" before engaging in the exhibition activities. Students will host a 'Plant Life Cycle Museum' where they showcase interactive exhibits featuring their plant growth drawings, bilingual vocabulary word banks, and detailed observations. Parents and peers will be invited to explore the exhibits, engage with the students' bilingual storybooks, and participate in guided tours led by the students. The museum will include a collaborative mural and a gallery walk of reflection journals, allowing visitors to experience the students' learning journey and provide feedback.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Introduction to Plant Growth - Discuss the essential question: How do plants grow and what role does each part of their environment play in their growth? (15 min) Seed Planting Activity - Each student plants a seed in a small pot, labeling it with bilingual descriptions and making initial observations. (30 min) Bilingual Vocabulary Building - Introduce and practice phrases using English and Spanish verbs (can, like, see) related to plant growth. (20 min) Reflect and Draw - Students draw their planted seeds and discuss what they notice in both languages. (25 min)	Understanding the Environment - Discuss the essential question and explore how sunlight, water, and soil contribute to plant growth. (15 min) Sunlight and Water Exploration - Conduct a simple experiment to show how plants need sunlight and water, recording observations in bilingual journals. (30 min) Bilingual Phrase Practice - Create daily phrases using English and Spanish verbs (have, do, make) to describe plant needs. (20 min) Observation and Drawing - Students observe their plants and draw any changes, adding new vocabulary words to their journals. (25 min)	Role of Weather - Discuss the essential question and examine how weather affects plant growth using real-world examples. (15 min) Weather and Plant Growth - Use a weather chart to track daily weather and predict its effect on plant growth, recording findings bilingually. (30 min) Vocabulary Expansion - Practice making sentences in English and Spanish, incorporating weather-related verbs and plant vocabulary. (20 min) Reflection and Prediction - Children discuss and draw what their plants might look like in the future, using new vocabulary. (25 min)	Community Partner Introduction - Introduce Fort Bragg Botanical Garden and discuss how community partners help us learn about plants. (15 min) Plant Life Cycle Exploration - Discuss the essential question and start learning about the stages of a plant's life cycle with visual aids. (30 min) Bilingual Sentence Building - Create sentences using new vocabulary about plant stages in both languages. (20 min) Draw and Describe - Students draw their interpretation of the plant life cycle and label each stage bilingually. (25 min)	Words and Plant Growth - Discuss the essential question and how words affect plants, introducing the plant labeling activity. (15 min) Labeling Plants - Assign and label plants with positive, negative, neutral, and no words for a growth comparison experiment. (30 min) Phrase Creation - Develop phrases in English and Spanish to use with each plant, focusing on the power of words. (20 min) Reflection and Discussion - Students share thoughts on how words might impact their plants, using bilingual vocabulary. (25 min)
Deliverables	1. Reflection journals with initial seed planting observations and bilingual phrases. 2. Drawings of plant parts from the botanical garden visit. 3. A collaborative mural depicting plant growth stages with bilingual labels.
Preparation	1. Procure seeds, pots, and soil for each student. 2. Prepare bilingual labels and reflection journals. 3. Organize a scavenger hunt with English and Spanish clues around the classroom. 4. Coordinate a visit to the Fort Bragg Botanical Garden and prepare observation sheets. 5. Set up soil and water exploration stations. 6. Collect materials for the collaborative mural, including large paper, paints, and brushes.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Essential Question Discussion - Begin with a class discussion on 'How do plants grow and what role does each part of their environment play in their growth?' (10 min) Bilingual Vocabulary Building - Introduce and practice using this week's English and Spanish verbs related to plant growth in sentences, such as 'can', 'like', 'see', 'have', 'do', and 'make', and add them to the word bank (20 min) Plant Growth Observation - Observe and record the growth of personal plants, discussing the role of sunlight and water using bilingual vocabulary (20 min) Art Activity: Plant Growth Stages - Create drawings of the different stages of plant growth, labeling each stage in English and Spanish (40 min)	Essential Question Discussion - Reflect on how the weather affects the growth of plants using bilingual vocabulary (10 min) Weather and Plant Growth Exploration - Conduct a hands-on experiment to understand how different weather conditions (sun, rain, wind) impact plant growth, using observations from the Botanical Garden field trip (30 min) Role-Play: Plant and Environment - Engage in a role-play where students act out the roles of different elements like animals, insects, and fungi in the ecosystem and their impact on plants (30 min) Reflection Journal - Write and draw about what was learned from the weather experiment and role-play in English and Spanish (20 min)	Essential Question Discussion - Explore what we can learn from observing the life cycle of a plant from seed to full growth (10 min) Bilingual Storybook Creation - Begin creating a bilingual storybook illustrating the journey of a plant's growth, incorporating vocabulary and observations from the project (40 min) Graphing Plant Growth - Measure and graph the growth of plants, using bilingual terms to discuss changes and patterns (20 min) Community Partner Sharing - Share observations with Fort Bragg Botanical Garden via a virtual call or message, discussing plant growth and environmental roles (20 min)	Essential Question Discussion - Investigate how the actions of insects and animals help or harm plants in their environment (10 min) Insect and Animal Role Exploration - Watch videos or read stories about insects and animals that interact with plants, discussing their roles using bilingual vocabulary (30 min) Collaborative Mural Project - Continue working on a large mural depicting plant growth stages, adding details about insects and animals and their impact (30 min) Reflection and Sharing - Reflect on learning about insects and animals, sharing insights in small groups and adding to the reflection journal (20 min)	Essential Question Discussion - Summarize this week's exploration of plant growth and environmental interactions (10 min) Final Touches on Bilingual Storybook - Complete the bilingual storybook with illustrations and text, preparing it for sharing with peers and family (30 min) Growth Observation Gallery Walk - Set up a gallery walk with student drawings, storybooks, and reflection journals, providing feedback and celebrating learning (30 min) Positive Words and Plant Growth Reflection - Discuss the effects of positive and negative words on plant growth, comparing observations from labeled plants to conclude the week (20 min)
Deliverables	1. Weather Observation Journal documenting daily weather and its impacts on plant growth, with entries in English and Spanish. 2. Collaborative Art Project: A mural depicting weather conditions affecting plant growth with bilingual labels. 3. Growth Measurement Graph: A graph showing plant growth measurements over the week, labeled in both languages. 4. Plant Growth Timeline: A bilingual timeline of their plant's growth stages with integrated math skills. 5. Bilingual Plant Detective Log: Findings from the 'Bilingual Plant Detective Challenge' detailing environmental factors affecting plant growth.
Preparation	1. Gather materials for weather observation journals, including paper, pencils, and bilingual word lists. 2. Prepare art supplies such as large paper, paints, markers, and labels for the collaborative mural project. 3. Provide rulers for measuring plant growth and graph paper for plotting results. 4. Create bilingual templates for plant growth timelines and ensure access to measuring tools. 5. Set up the classroom with clues and materials for the 'Bilingual Plant Detective Challenge', including magnifying glasses and vocabulary cards.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Essential Question Discussion - Begin with the question: How do plants grow and what role does each part of their environment play in their growth? (15 min) Interactive Story Time - Read a bilingual story about plant growth, discussing key vocabulary words in English and Spanish. (25 min) Plant Observation and Recording - Observe the plants and record growth changes, focusing on bilingual vocabulary for plant parts. (25 min) Collaborative Art Project - Begin creating a mural depicting the plant life cycle stages, labeling parts in both languages. (25 min)	Essential Question Discussion - Begin with the question: How do plants grow and what role does each part of their environment play in their growth? (15 min) Role-Playing Activity - Students act out the plant life cycle stages, using bilingual vocabulary to describe their actions. (30 min) Growth Measurement - Measure and record plant growth, graphing results in English and Spanish to reinforce math skills. (20 min) Mural Art Continuation - Continue working on the collaborative mural, adding details and vocabulary labels. (25 min)	Essential Question Discussion - Begin with the question: How do plants grow and what role does each part of their environment play in their growth? (15 min) Weather and Growth Exploration - Use weather charts to discuss how different weather conditions affect plant growth. (25 min) Bilingual Phrase Practice - Create daily phrases using English and Spanish verbs that relate to weather and plant needs. (20 min) Plant Observation and Journal Reflection - Observe plants and write reflections in bilingual journals, focusing on weather impacts. (30 min)	Essential Question Discussion - Begin with the question: How do plants grow and what role does each part of their environment play in their growth? (15 min) Community Partner Exploration - Virtual tour of Fort Bragg Botanical Garden, discussing plant growth and environmental factors. (30 min) Vocabulary Expansion - Practice constructing sentences in English and Spanish using new vocabulary from the tour. (20 min) Drawing and Describing Activity - Students draw scenes from the botanical garden and describe them bilingually. (25 min)	Essential Question Discussion - Begin with the question: How do plants grow and what role does each part of their environment play in their growth? (15 min) Words and Plant Growth Reflection - Discuss the impact of positive, negative, and neutral words on plants, reflecting on their own plants. (25 min) Bilingual Storybook Creation - Begin drafting a bilingual storybook about their plant's growth journey, incorporating learned vocabulary. (30 min) Reflection and Sharing - Share thoughts and bilingual phrases about the project so far, preparing for the final week. (20 min)
Deliverables	1. Weather Journal with daily observations and predictions 2. Insect Observation Drawings with bilingual labels 3. Wind Experiment Report with measurements and conclusions 4. Bilingual Story on Animal Roles in Plant Growth 5. Updated Bilingual Storybook with this week's learning
Preparation	1. Prepare weather-themed vocabulary cards in English and Spanish 2. Provide magnifying glasses for insect observation 3. Set up fans and lightweight objects for wind experiment 4. Gather materials for role-playing animal activities 5. Ensure access to plant observation journals for reflection

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Daily Reflection - Begin with the essential question: How do plants grow and what role does each part of their environment play in their growth? (10 min) Final Plant Observations - Conduct a detailed examination of the plants, documenting growth and changes in bilingual journals. (30 min) Bilingual Vocabulary Storytelling - Create a short bilingual story using the week's vocabulary, focusing on the life cycle of plants. (25 min) Plant Drawing and Description - Illustrate the final stage of plant growth and write a bilingual description. (25 min)	Daily Reflection - Begin with the essential question: What are the different ways we can describe and understand the world around us using both English and Spanish? (10 min) Growth Observation Gallery Walk - Set up a display of plant growth drawings and observations for peers to tour and provide feedback. (40 min) Sentence Building Challenge - Craft complex sentences using newly acquired vocabulary in both languages, focusing on plant and environmental interactions. (20 min) Collaborative Mural Planning - Begin planning the layout and design of the collaborative mural, including stages of plant growth. (20 min)	Daily Reflection - Begin with the essential question: How does the weather affect the growth of plants and the animals that live around them? (10 min) Mural Creation - Collaborate to paint and label the mural depicting the plant life cycle with bilingual descriptions. (50 min) Interactive Word Bank Game - Engage in a game to review and reinforce vocabulary learned throughout the project. (30 min)	Daily Reflection - Begin with the essential question: What can we learn from observing the life cycle of a plant from seed to full growth over time? (10 min) Storybook Completion - Finalize the bilingual storybook, ensuring it includes illustrations and vocabulary from the project. (40 min) Plant Life Cycle Museum Setup - Arrange exhibits and prepare presentations for the 'Plant Life Cycle Museum' exhibition. (40 min)	Daily Reflection - Begin with the essential question: How do the actions of insects and animals help or harm plants in their environment? (10 min) Exhibition Day: Plant Life Cycle Museum - Host the museum exhibition, guiding visitors through interactive exhibits and storybooks. (60 min) Reflection and Celebration - Reflect on the learning journey and celebrate achievements with peers and family. (20 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed bilingual storybook illustrating and describing the plant's growth journey. 2. Collaborative mural depicting stages of plant growth with bilingual labels and descriptions. 3. Set up and participation in the 'Plant Life Cycle Museum' exhibition.
Preparation	1. Gather art supplies such as markers, paints, and large paper for the mural. 2. Prepare materials for the storybooks, including blank pages, binding tools, and coloring supplies. 3. Arrange the classroom or exhibition space for the 'Plant Life Cycle Museum,' ensuring space for exhibits and visitor movement. 4. Coordinate with the Fort Bragg Botanical Garden for any additional resources or support they can provide for the exhibition. 5. Create invitations for parents and peers to attend the 'Plant Life Cycle Museum'.