In our lower room classroom (grades K-3), we do a three-year cycle in science which covers different topics from year to year. This year’s cycle includes seeds and plants, the human body, and animal habitats.

We began the year with our seeds and plants unit. It coincided with our Bible lessons on the creation story as we learned that on day three, God created everything in the plant world which included its own “fruit-bearing seed.” We have been amazed at God’s creation as we investigated bean seeds and saw tiny little plants inside. We predicted how long bean seeds would take to germinate inside a wet paper towel and couldn’t believe it was only two days. After each planting a different bean seed and giving them the necessary things to grow, only three out of the seven grew which was disappointing to some of us.

The lower room also learned how important each part of the plant is to make the plant grow and thrive. The fruit or flower of the plant makes the seeds for more plants to grow again and we discovered that what we thought were vegetables are actually fruits, such as peppers, cucumbers, and zucchini, because anything with seeds inside is a fruit! As we learned about the stem, we compared it to a straw and observed the process of a celery stem “sucking up” colored water all the way to the leaves. We learned about roots and finally leaves with the intricate process of photosynthesis necessary for the plant’s food but also for our oxygen. What a wise God we have!

We also incorporated our science unit into our art projects. Using various beans and seeds, we created mosaic patterns. As we were working, we learned how mosaics picture the lives that God has planned for us. Though we can’t see the final picture yet, he’s working each piece into our lives for our good and His glory into a beautiful masterpiece! Another art project included using vegetables and fruits as “stamps” to paint some abstract art.

Finally, the lower room took a field trip to the Lake Pahoja Education Center on Friday, October 1, and were able to explore different animal habitats and learn even more about plants. We still will be learning about trees in the next couple of weeks but we realize how fun seeds and plants are to study so far!

For a writing assignment, the students had to imagine being a plant and how their parts would work together. Here’s what they wrote:

If I were a plant, I would be a venus fly trap. I would soak up water with my very own roots. would bring water up my stem. I would make food with my leaves and I would make seeds with my flower.      – Constance – First Grade

If I were a plant I would be a bush. I would store food and water with my roots. I would suck up water with my stem and make food with my leaves. I would make seeds with my flowers. – Vera – First Grade

If I were a plant, I would be grass. I will get water from the soil with my roots. I would suck up the water with my stem. I would make the food with my leaves and seeds with my flower if you don’t mow me up. – Colby – Second Grade

If I were a plant, I would be an apple tree. I would soak up water with my roots and drink up water with my stem (trunk). I would make food with my leaves, and seeds with my fruit. – Gideon – Second Grade

If I were a plant I would be a lemon tree. I would store my food and suck up all the nutrients with my roots. I would drink all the water I can with my stem (trunk). I would make the best food I can with my leaves and seeds with my ripe lemons. – Josiah – Third Grade

If I were a plant, I would be a crab apple tree. I would suck up water and minerals with my roots. I would suck up the food, water, and minerals with my trunk. I would make food with my leaves, and seeds with my crab apples. – Alice – Third Grade

If I were a plant, I would be a venus fly trap. I would soak up water with my very own roots. would bring water up my stem. I would make food with my leaves and I would make seeds with my flower. – Constance – First Grade

If I were a plant I would be a bush. I would store food and water with my roots. I would suck up water with my stem and make food with my leaves. I would make seeds with my flowers. – Vera – First Grade

If I were a plant, I would be grass. I will get water from the soil with my roots. I would suck up the water with my stem. I would make the food with my leaves and seeds with my flower if you don’t mow me up. – Colby – Second Grade

If I were a plant, I would be an apple tree. I would soak up water with my roots and drink up water with my stem (trunk). I would make food with my leaves, and seeds with my fruit. – Gideon – Second Grade

If I were a plant I would be a lemon tree. I would store my food and suck up all the nutrients with my roots. I would drink all the water I can with my stem (trunk). I would make the best food I can with my leaves and seeds with my ripe lemons. – Josiah – Third Grade

If I were a plant, I would be a crab apple tree. I would suck up water and minerals with my roots. I would suck up the food, water, and minerals with my trunk. I would make food with my leaves, and seeds with my crab apples. – Alice – Third Grade