University of Houston

Science for ELLs

Teachers Name: Samantha Evans

Basic Lesson Components

Grade Level: Kindergarten

Time Estimate: 20 minutes

Science Content: This lesson is about the life cycle of a plant. More specifically, the students
will be learning the life cycle of a pumpkin. They will learn that before a pumpkin becomes a
pumpkin it is other things before. It is first a seed. The seed is planted in the ground in stage
one. In stage two, it becomes a sprout and plant. In stage 3 it becomes a flower and then finally
it becomes a pumpkin. You can explain to students that first it may be a green pumpkin before
it changes into its final color of orange. Explain that a life cycle is something that happens over
and over. An organism has the same life cycle.

TEKS: (10) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms resemble their parents
and have structures and processes that help them survive within their environments. The student is
expected to:

(D) identify changes that are part of a simple life cycle of a plant: seed, seedling, plant, flower, and
fruit

Content Objective(s): The student will identify the life cycle of a plant.

ELPS:
Listening: (2) (E) Use visual, contextual, and linguistic support to enhance and confirm
understanding of increasingly complex and elaborated spoken language. Pg 27

Speaking: (3) (E) Share information in cooperative learning interactions. Pg 31

Reading: (4) (F): Use visual and contextual support and support from peers and teachers to read
grade- appropriate content area text, enhance and confirm understanding, and develop vocabulary,
grasp of language structures, and background knowledge needed to comprehend increasingly
challenging language. Pg 39

Vocabulary: Definition: Cognate (T or F):

Life Cycle The series of changes in the life of an organism Ciclo Vital: La serie de
or plant. cambios en la vida de un
organismo o planta.

Seed a flowering plant's unit of reproduction, capable Semilla: una unidad de

Domjan & Wong (2016)

 of developing into another such plant. reproducción de una
planta en flor, capaz de
desarrollarse en otra
planta de este tipo.

Misconceptions:
Younger students often think that pumpkins grow on a vine without being a seed first.
They also don’t know that a pumpkin is a flower before it becomes a pumpkin.

Materials/Resources/Technology Needs:
Materials: Book: From Seed to Pumpkin, scissors and glue for each child, anchor chart, magnifying
glass, video of pumpkin life cycle, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin to show

https://www.education.com/download/lesson-plan/from-seed-to-plant/attachments/pumpkin-life-
cycle.pdf (This sheet lets students put the steps of the seed life cycle in order)

Book: From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfefcer

Technology:
If time allows show a video of a pumpkin growing in each stage of its life cycle.

Safety:
Students should not be eating pumpkin seeds or putting them in their mouths. The teacher should go
over safety rules with students before giving them materials or starting the lesson.

5E Instructional Procedures
What Teacher Does What Student Does:
Engage  Have students come to the carpet  Students should walk to the carpet
 Students are going to listen to the story
 Read the story From Seed to
Pumpkin
 Pause to note what happens to the
tiny seed during each stage of its
journey.

Explore  Give Students a magnifying  Students should be exploring the
glass and pumpkin seeds at items (seeds) they are given at their
their tables tables
 Explain to students that they are  They should be thinking with their

Domjan & Wong (2016)

 observing the item pose table groups and to themselves of
questions. what they think this is and thinking
about the questions you are asking
What do you think this is? them.
What do you do with it?
If I plant this pumpkin seed what do
you think will happen?

Explain  After reading the story, have the  Students should be explaining what
students think about what the happened to the seed throughout the
life cycle looked like. life cycle
 Students should give other examples
 Ask the students what of some other seeds that have life
happened to the seed cycles
 summarize the growing stages
of the tiny seed.
 Explain that many plants begin
and end in similar ways.
 Explain that a cycle is
something that repeats over and
over again.
 Talk about different fruits that
have life cycles
Come to carpet and have a discussion
with students about life cycles. Let
them answer questions.

“Did you notice how the seed…”

Elaborate
 Create an anchor chart with
students of what the pumpkin
life cycle looks like
 do an example of the sheet with
students.
 The students should be helping the
teacher fill in the anchor chart
 They will help identify the stages of
the life cycle of the pumpkin to
correctly go on the anchor chart

Domjan & Wong (2016)

Evaluate  Students should be completing the
 Give each student a “How do cut and paste sheet independently
Pumpkins Grow” sheet
 Cut and paste worksheet
pumpkin sheet
 Explain to students that they
should complete this cut and
paste sheet independently
 They can use the example we
did together as a reference

Domjan & Wong (2016)