← Back to lesson

Science Lesson Kit · Teacher Resource

Where Does Plant Growth Come From? — 5E Lesson Plan

Life Science · 55 minutes

Grade 5

5E lesson flow

  1. 01

    Engage

    7 min

    Teacher Does

    Present three competing claims.

    Students Do

    Record an initial prediction.

    Ask

    • Where could added matter come from?

    Look For

    Predictions without answer reveal.

  2. 02

    Explore

    14 min

    Teacher Does

    Provide plant and dry-soil mass data.

    Students Do

    Calculate and compare changes.

    Ask

    • Can 5 g explain 500 g?

    Look For

    Quantitative comparison.

  3. 03

    Explain

    10 min

    Teacher Does

    Model water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight inputs.

    Students Do

    Label matter and energy arrows.

    Ask

    • Which inputs are matter?

    Look For

    Water and carbon dioxide.

  4. 04

    Elaborate

    15 min

    Teacher Does

    Provide a soilless-growth evidence card.

    Students Do

    Compare two evidence cases.

    Ask

    • What claim becomes weaker?

    Look For

    Soil-only claim challenged without dismissing minerals.

  5. 05

    Evaluate

    9 min

    Teacher Does

    Facilitate argument review.

    Students Do

    Use two evidence pieces and address an alternative.

    Ask

    • Why is the alternative weaker?

    Look For

    Relevant evidence and reasoning.

Student goal

I can use evidence and a model to explain where plant-growth material comes from.

Learning objectives

  • Use mass evidence to evaluate the claim that most new plant material comes from soil.
  • Build a model showing water and carbon dioxide from air as chief material sources for plant growth while keeping sunlight labeled as an energy input.
  • Support an argument with at least two relevant pieces of evidence and explain why a competing claim is weaker.

Materials

  • Mass-data cards
  • Plant input model cards
  • Balance or mass visuals
  • Argument organizer

Before class

  • Prepare competing claims and neutral data cards.
  • Keep sunlight labeled as energy.
  • Open Teach Mode.

Prior knowledge

  • Plants need water and light.
  • Gases are matter.

Vocabulary

matter
Anything that has mass and takes up space.
material
Matter used to make or build something.
mass
A measure of how much matter is in something.
carbon dioxide
A gas in air that supplies matter used in plant growth.
evidence
Data or observations that support a claim.
model
A representation used to explain a system.
argument
A claim supported with evidence and reasoning.

Differentiation

  • Use MATTER and ENERGY arrow cards.
  • Provide a claim-evidence frame.
  • Allow oral rehearsal.
  • Extension: propose another measurement.

Assessment

  • Check mass comparison.
  • Check model arrows.
  • Require two pieces of evidence.

Exit ticket

Name two material sources and one energy input.

Extension

Design another evidence test of the soil-only claim.