A newsletter explaining a 3rd grade botany project

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Mrs. Joy’s 3rd grade
Botanists!
What is our Botany Project all about?

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Questions we will be addressing
Essential Question Unit Questions Content Questions
 What is Life? • How do plants • Why do plants need
grow and survive? sunlight?
• Do plants help the • Why does a
World? greenhouse help a
• How is the plant life plant to grow?
cycle similar to • What are the names
other life cycles? of the reproductive
parts of a flower?
• How does
pollination occur?

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UNIT SUMMARY
Our class’s botany project covers many of the 3rd grade science
objectives in a fun and interesting way! At the beginning of the
school year, we will talk about what we already know about plants, in
hopes of learning more and understanding. We will use the
greenhouse by the playground to begin growing our plants as young
“botanists.” Students will be responsible for growing these plants and
doing experiments to discover the importance of each element
required for plant life. As our lovely plants grow, we will get to learn
about the life cycle of plants, and how reproduction occurs. We will
even help pollinate and collect seeds! Our class will enjoy a guest
speaker from the Tuscaloosa Master Gardener’s Association and we
will be working in groups and using journals to mark our progress. At
the end of the year, each group will prepare a report or presentation
for the class, and just before the school year ends, we will have a
plant sale! So clear out some space in your child’s mind and your
garden for an exciting botany adventure!

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MY ROLE
As your child’s teacher, my role will be to
guide these students as they learn. I will have
frequent meetings with the groups and monitor
their progress through conferences and a
project timeline. I will take special care to
accommodate when appropriate. This is a
project however, and I will encourage the
students to think and learn on their own.

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PARENT’S ROLE
As a parent, your help is greatly needed and
appreciated. Please encourage your child and
participate in this project with them. There will
be times during the year when we may need
supplies and volunteers, or even audiences. It
will be more impactful to your son or
daughter’s education if you join the botanist
trend with them!

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STUDENT’S ROLE
The students will be asked to brainstorm at the beginning of the
unit. As they are broken into smaller groups, they will assign
tasks to each member and be responsible for those duties. The
class will agree on a reasonable project timeline and set goals for
each day and week. It will be their responsibility to complete
tasks and requirements by the appropriate dates. Students will be
collecting data and applying information they have learned in
class. They will be expected to be respectful, attentive, and
responsible for their work load. They will also be required to
complete and turn in journal entries. At the end of the project,
each group will decide on whether to make a report or
presentation to demonstrate what they have learned.

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BENEFITS OF THE UNIT
This unit will encourage students to be hands
on in their approach to learning. Being
“botanists” is a fun way to make meaningful
connections to the outside world and how it
works. Since the project will be conducted
over a longer period of time, it will require
students to retain knowledge and truly absorb
it. Plus, we will grow some pretty flowers.

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STANDARDS THAT WILL BE MET
3rd grade science objectives:
 Describe the way energy from the sun is used.
 Describe the life cycle of plants, including seed, germination,
growth and reproduction.
 Determine habitat conditions that support plant growth and
survival.

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OBJECTIVES
 Students will be able to identify the different parts of a plant’s
reproductive system.
 Students will understand why sunlight, water and soil are an
important part of plant health.
 Students will understand how plants grow and reproduce
 Students will learn the necessary parts of a supportive plant
environment and their importance.
 Students will be able to use 21st century skills and self-directed
learning.

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WHAT IS PROJECT LEARNING?
 Project-Based Learning is learning through...well...projects!. Its
different from conventional teaching strategies in that it is
hands on, and designed in an open-ended way to allow
students freedom to discover and learn, not find the "right
answer". It is student-centered, rather than teacher-centered,
and it appeals to many more senses. PBL gives students an
opportunity to develop meaningful understanding of a topic by
actually performing an activity. It has the tendency to teach in a
more effective way. Student's will often work in groups and
develop new approaches and ideas to solving a problem; PBL
lends itself to effective and creative problem solving. We will be
using this technique in our class to make science, one of the
probably more difficult subjects, fun and inviting.

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CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to
contact me!
malyssajoy0807@gmail.com
334-806-5739