Garden Lessons: Peas, Please! (2nd Grade)

Grade(s): 2nd

Lesson Objective(s): Students explore the different stages of a pea plant, helping plant seeds in the garden

Ohio Curriculum Standard: Living things cause changes in it’s environment, Basic needs of living things, Living vs non-living

Supplies Needed

• “Seed School” by Joan Holub

• Pea seeds

• Potted pea sprout(s)

• potted pea plant(s)

• folded labels: Pea Pods, Pea Sprout, Pea Plant, Pea Seed

• 1 sheet blank printer paper (1 per student)

• Colored pencils

• pencils

• Class name label for tray

• tray for planting, prepped with soil

• Snap peas (for snack)

• Hand sanitizer

• Harmonica

Introduction (5-8 mins):

• Check on their “mini greenhouses” that they sprouted last week- which seed won?

• Read “Seed School”

Activity (10-12 mins)

• Explain: today we’re going to look at how plants grow from seeds into plants

• Everyone gets a blank sheet of printer paper

  • show students how to fold into 4ths, so there are 4 quadrants

• In 1st quadrant, write “Seed.” Then in the following, “sprout,” “plant,” and finally “pea pod”

• We’re going to take some time to walk around to each “station” and draw pictures of what the different stages of a pea plant looks like

• At each station: encourage students to look closely at the pea plants/seeds, touch, feel, etc.

Wrap-up (5-8 Mins):

• Plant pea seeds (if in classroom: plant in tray to be transplanted. If in high tunnel/outside: direct seed).

• Enjoy a pea snack!

Classroom Extensions:

Read “From seed to plant” by Gail Gibbons, examine the different stages of plant life.