Many students do not have hands-on experience with how plants grow. This can cause misunderstandings about plant life. If we do not fix this, students may struggle with science in the future. Also, they may lose interest in nature and STEM subjects.
Learner personas
1. Aman, Age 10 (Curious Learner): Loves nature and asks lots of questions. Needs pictures and real examples.
2. Jasmin, Age 9 (Hands-on Learner): Enjoys experiments but does not like tests.
3. Harpreet, Age 11 (Needs Support): Likes step-by-step learning and needs more confidence in science.
4. Simar, Age 10 (Tech Lover): Likes learning through videos and apps but has little outdoor experience with plants.
Course Overview
This course will teach:
· What conditions are necessary for plants to grow?
· How do the structures of plants support their growth and development?
What plants need to survive?
The parts of a plant (roots, stem, leaf, flower, fruit, and seed)?
Simple plant experiments?
Learning environment
Students: Different learning styles need a mix of hands-on, visual, and digital activities.
Teachers: Will guide experiments and discussions.
Subject: Matches school science standards and promotes nature awareness.
Technology: Uses videos, apps, and plant tracking tools.
Cost: Low-cost materials like seeds and soil make learning fair for all.
Investigate the growth and development of plants, including the conditions necessary for germination.
CP, SI
Indicators for this outcome
(a)
Pose questions related to plant growth (e.g., How do very young plants look different from grown plants? How much water do plants need to grow? Do all plants grow in the same way?).
(b)
Observe and explain the function of the major structures (i.e., root, stem, flower, leaf, and fruit or seed) of a variety of plants.
By the end of this course, students will:
● Name and describe plant parts.
● Explain what plants need to grow.
● Grow a plant from a seed and track its progress.
● Compare how different plants grow.
Instructional approach
Students will learn through:
Inquiry-based learning: Asking questions and exploring plant growth.
Hands-on activities: Planting seeds, observing growth, and keeping journals.
Visual learning: Watching videos, using diagrams, and labeling plant parts.
Technology-based learning: Using plant growth apps and online simulations.
Collaborative learning: Group discussions and peer presentations.
Assessments
Formative Assessments (Ongoing):
Plant growth journals
Class discussions and reflections
Quizzes on plant structures
Summative Assessments (Final Evaluation):
Final project: Presenting plant growth experiment
Multiple-choice quiz on plant functions
Diagram labelling test
Major platforms
Educational technologies
Technology and Tools
LMS: Canvas for assignments.
Other Tools: Canvas for quizzes, Padlet for sharing reflections, YouTube for learning videos
How Technology Helps:
Google Classroom: Homework, feedback, and group chats.
Padlet: Sharing plant growth progress.
Canvas: Fun quizzes about plants.
Online Plant Simulations: To see how plants grow in different conditions.
Course design pre-planning
Learning objective
Assessment
Learning material
Identify and name the parts of a plant
Label plant picture
Diagrams, videos
Describe the process of plant growth
Keep a plant journal
Planting activity
Demonstrate the ability to grow a plant
Present plant growth
Seeds, soil, apps
Compare and analyze plant growth under different conditions
Hi Gagandeep,
The course overview looks very well-researched. You have important questions that will help students understand what plants need to grow and how their parts work. I love that by the end of the course, students will be able to grow a plant from a seed and track its progress. This will help the students to have a hands-on experience and make the science more interesting to them. The assessments you planned are really well thought out. I like that you have both formative and summative assessments. This way the students can get feedback throughout the course and really understand what they are learning. Overall, your blog post shows a lot of hard work and thoughtfulness. I believe this course will make a big difference in how students learn about plants. Great job, and I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.
This is a wonderfully designed course that makes learning about plants both interactive and engaging!
Your blend of inquiry-based learning, hands-on experiments, and technology integration is fantastic, this allows students to observe, experiment, and reflect in a meaningful way. Using journals, Padlet for reflections, and plant growth apps makes the learning process structured and fun.
The assessments are well-aligned with the learning objectives, and I appreciate the emphasis on collaborative discussions to deepen understanding. Good job, Gagandeep.
Hey Gagan,
you have established a smart and well-considered curriculum framework. The combination of hands-on activities and technology integration in your approach pleases me quite a lot. Students will remain engaged through the combination of inquiry-based learning with videos and experiments. Tools such as Padlet and Canvas enable effective progress tracking which stands as an exceptional idea. The learning experience could become more exciting by incorporating either virtual field trips combined with botanist interviews or both. Your effective design work produces an enjoyable learning environment with active participation
Hi Gagandeep,
The course overview looks very well-researched. You have important questions that will help students understand what plants need to grow and how their parts work. I love that by the end of the course, students will be able to grow a plant from a seed and track its progress. This will help the students to have a hands-on experience and make the science more interesting to them. The assessments you planned are really well thought out. I like that you have both formative and summative assessments. This way the students can get feedback throughout the course and really understand what they are learning. Overall, your blog post shows a lot of hard work and thoughtfulness. I believe this course will make a big difference in how students learn about plants. Great job, and I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.
Thank you Shobarna Islam for your thoughtful reply.
This is a wonderfully designed course that makes learning about plants both interactive and engaging!
Your blend of inquiry-based learning, hands-on experiments, and technology integration is fantastic, this allows students to observe, experiment, and reflect in a meaningful way. Using journals, Padlet for reflections, and plant growth apps makes the learning process structured and fun.
The assessments are well-aligned with the learning objectives, and I appreciate the emphasis on collaborative discussions to deepen understanding. Good job, Gagandeep.
Hey Gagan,
you have established a smart and well-considered curriculum framework. The combination of hands-on activities and technology integration in your approach pleases me quite a lot. Students will remain engaged through the combination of inquiry-based learning with videos and experiments. Tools such as Padlet and Canvas enable effective progress tracking which stands as an exceptional idea. The learning experience could become more exciting by incorporating either virtual field trips combined with botanist interviews or both. Your effective design work produces an enjoyable learning environment with active participation