Grade 4 Science

Optional Unit: Plant Diversity

Unit overview:

This unit on Plant Diversity examines the variety of plants. Different phyla, classes, orders, and families of plants are examined. Plant classification is very complex. A detailed classification system does not need to be developed.

Plants have adapted to survive under a wide variety of growing conditions. In this unit students should explore ways in which those adaptations can occur.

Related units:

Plant cells can be examined as part of the Core Unit on Cells and Systems. The Optional Unit on Nutrition and Digestion ties in nicely when some emphasis is placed on food that comes from plants.

The unit on Vertebrates and Invertebrates can be considered as being related. Classification schemes for the plant and animal kingdoms can be considered together. Also, the importance of plants to other living things is a theme which can be carried through in the study of a variety of different units.

Suggested themes:

adaptations, agriculture, change, conservation, environment, food, forests, gardening, growing plants, hunger and starvation, indoor plants, living things, plants

Factors of scientific literacy which should be emphasized:

• A3 holistic
• B1 change
• B2 interaction
• B4 organism
• B6 symmetry
• B14 cycle
• C1 classifying
• C3 observing and describing
• C4 working cooperatively
• E1 using magnifying instruments
• E2 using natural environments
• F4 valuing natural environments
• G1 interest
• G3 continuous learner

Common Essential Learnings foundational objectives which should be emphasized:

• To enable students to use language (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) to communicate to each other and to others outside the class what they have observed. (COM)
• To support the development of a positive disposition towards lifelong learning. (IL)

• To develop students' appreciation of the value and limitations of technology within society. (TL)

Science foundational and learning objectives:

1. Appreciate the diversity of plants.
   1. Examine a variety of flowering plants.
   2. Identify the main parts of a flower.
   3. Identify distinguishing characteristics of different types of flowering plants.
   4. Compare the characteristics of plants that produce seeds and plants that do not produce seeds.
   5. Compare the cones and needles of different types of coniferous trees.
   6. Examine the leaves and seeds of different types of deciduous trees.
   7. Investigate how plants are classified by their characteristics.
2. Examine various types of plant adaptations.
   1. Give examples of how plant adaptations help plants to survive under certain conditions.
   2. Examine plant adaptations based on food storage.
   3. Identify plant adaptations based on climatic conditions.
   4. Explain plant adaptations based on seasonal changes, the availability of water, the influence of sunlight, differences in seed dispersal, or differences in soil conditions.
   5. Identify some structural adaptations of plants.
3. Appreciate the value of plants.
   1. Develop a sense of respect for all living things.
   2. Explain ways in which plants enable other living things to survive.
   3. Explain how plants can be affected by changes in the environment.
   4. Simulate changes that occur with the widespread destruction of plants.
   5. Identify plants which are grown for food.
   6. Recognize the importance of plants in agriculture.