Deliverable
🗺️ Sunny vs. Shady Plant Map
K-ESS3-1
K-PS3-1
Community Partners
Essential Question
Submission Required
Students draw a simple map of the playground showing one plant in a sunny spot and one in a shady spot. They add picture symbols (sun, water drop, soil) and arrows to show what each plant needs. The teacher scribes one sentence frame: “This plant lives here because ___.”
Plan day
Day 2
Duration
—
Grouping
Individual
Steps
5 steps
Lesson plan
5 steps| # | What teachers do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Gather at the designated meeting spot outdoors and explain the task. (5 min) |
| 2 | Walk around the playground and identify one sunny spot and one shady spot. (10 min) |
| 3 | Choose a plant in each spot and observe what it looks like and how it might be getting sunlight, water, and soil. (10 min) |
| 4 | Draw a simple map showing the sunny and shady spots, and draw the plants you chose in each area. Add picture symbols like sun, water drop, and soil. (10 min) |
| 5 | Use the sentence frame “This plant lives here because ___.” Fill in the blank based on your observations. (5 min) |
Preparation (3 items)
- Create visual aids illustrating symbols for sunlight, water drop, and soil.
- Prepare simple map templates for children to use.
- Check the playground for accessible sunny and shady spots.
Student-facing instructions
Your task is to explore outside and find one plant in a sunny spot and one in a shady spot. With your group, observe and think about what each plant needs to survive. Draw a map of where each plant is and add symbols like the sun for sunlight, water drop for water, and soil for where it grows. Write a sentence using 'This plant lives here because __.' to explain your thoughts.