Classroom Resource

PBS KIDS Scratch Jr.: How Plants Grow Lesson Plan

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science
Science

Grade(s)

1, 2, 3

Overview

Tally Ho! Inspired by NATURE CAT, in this activity children will explore cause and effect relationships and what plants need to grow and thrive. Children will be challenged to create projects in PBS KIDS ScratchJr where they make their own plants and trees grow.

Children will learn how to use the PBS KIDS ScratchJr programming blocks to make animated stories and interactive projects. They will explore coding and computational thinking practices as they utilize technology as a tool for creativity, expression and learning with the PBS KIDS ScratchJr app.

Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 1

DLCS18.1.3

Construct elements of a simple computer program in collaboration with others.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.1.3

Knowledge

Students know:
  • blocks of programs associate with an action.
  • blocks of programs can be combined to create a set of actions or a task.
  • robotic devices can respond to blocks of programs.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • determine the order of paper/pencil pieces for a tasks.
  • understand that blocks of code represent an action.
  • drag and drop blocks of programming in online activities to complete tasks.
  • use blocks of programming to control robotic/digital devices.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • pieces of a task can be represented in parts by words or pictures.
  • code can be put together into blocks that can be manipulated.
  • blocks of code together create a task.
  • blocks of code can be used to operate robotic/digital devices.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 2

DLCS18.2.3

Construct elements of a simple computer program using basic commands.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.2.3

Vocabulary

  • program
  • code

Knowledge

Students know:
  • programming blocks represent a set of codes.
  • block based programs can be used to design a task.
  • block based programs can be interpreted by machines.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • drag and drop blocks of code.
  • drag and drop blocks of code to complete a tasks.
  • run a block based program after sequencing tasks to complete a desired process.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • blocks of code can be moved around and combined into an order that completes a task or process.
  • sets of block coding can be run to perform the task/process.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 3

DLCS18.3.7

Test and debug a given program in a block-based visual programming environment using arithmetic operators, conditionals, and repetition in programs, in collaboration with others.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.3.7

Vocabulary

  • test
  • debug
  • program
  • block-based visual programming environment
  • arithmetic operators
  • conditionals
  • repetition

Knowledge

Students know:
  • strategies for debugging a given program.
  • arithmetic operators create a single numerical solution from multiple oprations.
  • conditionals are "if, then" statements that direct the program.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • test a given program in a block-based visual programming environment using arithmetic operators, conditionals, and repetition in programs, in collaboration with others.
  • debug a given program in a block-based visual programming environment using arithmetic operators, conditionals, and repetition in programs, in collaboration with others.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • a given program must be tested and debugged to run correctly.
  • block-based visual programming uses arithemetic operators, conditionals, and repetition to function.
Science (2015) Grade(s): 2

SC15.2.5

Plan and carry out an investigation, using one variable at a time (e.g., water, light, soil, air), to determine the growth needs of plants.

Unpacked Content

UP:SC15.2.5

Vocabulary

  • Investigation
  • Variable
  • Water
  • Light
  • Soil
  • Air
  • Nutrients
  • Causes
  • Effects
  • Isolate

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Basic growth needs of plants include water, nutrients, light, and air.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Conduct an investigation to produce data used as evidence.
  • Determine the growth needs of plants.
  • Collaboratively develop an investigation plan that describes key features of the investigation and isolates variables as needed.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • There are observable patterns present in the growth of plants that can be used to determine the needs of plants.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect
Link to Resource
https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/how-plants-grow-lesson-plan-scratchj…

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

PBS
Accessibility
License

License Type

Custom

Custom License Type (URL)

https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/help/terms-of-use/

Comments or Notes

PBS KIDS Scratch Jr. app is now available for free from the App Store on iPad and from the Google Play store on Android tablets.

Approved Date

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