Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Plant Kingdom: Plants

Objectives

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to establish the foundations of what will be addressed throughout the class, ensuring that students are aligned with the main objectives and know what is expected of them to understand and accomplish by the end of the session. These objectives will guide all proposed activities, connecting the pre-studied theory with innovative digital practices.

Main Objectives

1. Understand what plants and vegetation are, differentiating them from other kingdoms by their characteristics.

2. Know the basic structure of plants and the main subgroups of this kingdom.

Side Objectives

1. Stimulate critical thinking and students' ability to conduct independent research.
2. Promote the use of digital tools to deepen knowledge about botany.

Introduction

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to stimulate students' initial curiosity and promote an investigative attitude, preparing them for active participation in the following activities. Additionally, this stage aims to align the students' prior understanding, enabling them to share their discoveries and strengthen the collective knowledge of the class.

Warming Up

Start the class by briefly explaining the theme: Kingdom Plantae: Plants. Emphasize that plants are essential living beings for life on Earth, responsible for producing oxygen and forming the basis of terrestrial food chains. Next, ask students to use their cell phones to look for an interesting fact about plants or vegetation and share it with the class. This moment serves to break the ice and initiate a more personal engagement with the topic.

Initial Reflections

1. What are the main characteristics that differentiate plants from other kingdoms?

2. How does the basic structure of a plant contribute to its vital functions?

3. What are the main subgroups of plants, and what are the distinct characteristics of each?

4. How do plants adapt to different environments, and what are some specific examples?

5. Why are plants essential for life on Earth, beyond oxygen production?

Development

Duration: 70 - 75 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to engage students in practical and innovative activities that use modern technologies, promoting active and contextualized learning. The activities aim to consolidate the theoretical knowledge studied beforehand through immersive and interactive experiences.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - Green Influencers : Creating a Social Media Campaign

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Use social media as an educational tool to disseminate knowledge about plants, stimulate creativity, and enhance digital communication skills.

- Description: Students must create a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of plants using their social media platforms. They should act as 'digital influencers' to educate their followers about the characteristics, structures, and subgroups of plants. The campaign should include posts with images/videos, informative texts, and interactions with followers.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group must create an account on a social media platform (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc.) or use an existing one (with permission).

• Groups should conduct a quick research to collect relevant information about plants that will be shared in the campaign.

• Plan a series of 5 posts, including at least one video and one image, covering different aspects of the Kingdom Plantae (characteristics, structure, subgroups, ecological importance, etc.).

• Encourage the use of hashtags, polls, and questions to interact with followers.

• Students must document their posts and interactions to present to the class at the end of the activity.

Activity 2 - Botanical Treasure Hunt : Exploring Plants in the City

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Encourage observation and identification of plants in the daily environment, integrating technology into the study of botany.

- Description: Students must carry out a virtual and/or in-person 'treasure hunt' to identify and document different types of plants in their surroundings. Using their cell phones, they should take photos, record videos, and make notes about the plants they find, classifying them according to the studied characteristics.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group will receive a list of common plants in the region to look for and document.

• Students must go out into the school environment or nearby areas (if permitted) to find the listed plants, taking photos and/or recording videos.

• Each group should use plant identification apps like PlantSnap or PictureThis to aid in classification.

• Students must create a digital report (presentation or video) detailing the plants found, their characteristics, and classification.

• At the end, each group presents its report to the class.

Activity 3 - Botanical Escape Game 里: Saving the Garden

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Use gamification as a strategy to review and apply knowledge about plants in a playful and collaborative way.

- Description: Students participate in a themed escape game, where they must solve puzzles and challenges related to plants to 'save' a virtual garden. Using digital tools, they must gather information and clues to advance in the stages of the game.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group will receive a link to an online escape game created with tools like Google Forms and riddle sites (e.g., Genially).

• Students must read the instructions carefully and solve each riddle that appears, using information about the Kingdom Plantae.

• The riddles may include plant identification, leaf structure, function of plant parts, etc.

• Groups should document their progress and solution of the riddles to discuss at the end of the activity.

• At the end, each group shares its experience and what they learned while 'saving the garden'.

Feedback

Group Discussion

Promote a group discussion with all students, where the groups share what they learned while carrying out the activities. Use the following script to introduce the discussion:

1. Introduction: Ask each group to briefly present the activity they carried out (social media campaign, botanical treasure hunt, or botanical escape game), highlighting the main aspects and the approach used.
2. Discoveries: Ask about the most interesting or surprising discoveries they made during the activity.
3. Challenges and Solutions: Encourage groups to share the challenges they encountered and how they solved them.
4. Conclusions: Request each group to present their conclusions about the importance of plants and how the knowledge acquired can be applied in everyday situations.

Reflections

1. What are the most important characteristics of plants that you learned during the activities? 2. How do the different structures of plants contribute to their vital functions? 3. In what way did the activities carried out (social media campaign, treasure hunt, escape game) help consolidate knowledge about the Kingdom Plantae?

360° Feedback

Conduct a 360° feedback stage where each student should receive feedback from the other students in the group they worked with on the activity. Guide the class to ensure that feedback is constructive and respectful:

1. Positive Points: Ask each student to mention one positive characteristic of each colleague that helped in the development of the activity.
2. Areas for Improvement: Encourage students to give constructive suggestions on how each colleague can improve their skills in collaboration, research, or presentation.
3. Conclusion: Conclude this stage with a brief thank you to the students for their effort and collaboration, reinforcing the importance of respectful and constructive feedback for everyone's personal and academic growth.

Conclusion

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

✨ Purpose: The conclusion stage aims to consolidate the knowledge acquired during the class, providing a fun and engaging synthesis. This final reflection connects the content learned with the modern world's context, highlighting the relevance and practical applications of the topic. Additionally, it encourages students to recognize the importance of plants in everyday life and encourages them to continue exploring the fascinating world of botany. 

Summary

 Playful Summary: Kingdom Plantae, Ahoy!  Let's imagine a planet without the green guardians:  without oxygen, without food, without diversity. In this journey, we unveiled the mysteries of plants, their survival secrets, and the green subgroups that make life possible. From roots that drink from the soil to leaves that capture sunlight, these photosynthetic friends are true queens of adaptation and innovation. Congratulations, botanical explorers, you now master the Kingdom Plantae! 

World Connection

 Connection to the Modern Reality: In a technological and digital world, understanding plant biology connects us closer to nature and highlights the importance of sustainability. Social media, one of the greatest modern phenomena, has allowed us to disseminate knowledge rapidly and dynamically. Furthermore, technology assists us in identifying and protecting the species around us. Today's lesson demonstrated how essential elements of our biosphere intertwine with digital innovation, promoting greater environmental awareness. 

Practical Application

 Applications in Daily Life: Knowledge about plants is not only fundamental to understanding ecology but also essential for everyday practices like gardening, sustainable agriculture, and even food choices. Being able to identify and appreciate the plants around us allows us to make conscious decisions that favor a healthy and balanced environment. Whether in a home garden or public policies, the impact of plants is undeniable. 