LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Sorting Seeds

This lesson will engage students in manipulating, sorting, counting, and graphing seeds. The students will be involved in the creation of a graph using the computer.

A lesson plan for grade 2 Mathematics

By Mary Jackson

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Learning outcomes

The student will:

  • observe and collect data to produce a graph.
  • analyze and interpret information using the graph.
  • draw conclusions based on their observations.
  • collect data by sorting and then counting the number of each type of bean in their cups.
  • conclude and define the factors contributing to the life cycle and growth of a plant.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

90 minutes

Materials/resources

  • Literature Selection: Anno’s Magic Seeds by: Mitsumasa Anno (Philomel Books; ISBN: 0399225382, 1995)
  • student journals
  • mixture of various beans
  • small cup or scoop (dental cup)
  • Teachers will need a bean chart labeled with the names of each bean for students to identify the various types of beans.

Technology resources

Students will use a spreadsheet or graphing program such as Excel or Graphers (Sunburst) to record the number of seeds in their cups.

Pre-activities

This lesson is part of a four week unit on plants.
The students will explore the various strategies for counting through the reading selection, Anno’s Magic Seeds by Mitsumasa Anno.

First the teacher will read and discuss Anno’s Magic Seeds. Then the students will discuss the process of a plant life cycle and note the cycle of plants during the different seasons. The students will pose possible how and why questions in order to better understand the related concepts in the story to the growth of a plant. (ex. What does a plant needs in order to grow?)

Activities

  1. After reading Anno’s Magic Seeds and discussion of the reading selection has taken place, the students will manipulate a mixture of beans and explore the different types. Each student will scoop out a mixture of beans and begin sorting them into the different types according to the presented teacher chart/table entitled Seeds: Data Collection Table.
  2. Each student will count the number of beans in each group and then record their data using tally marks. This collected information will be used later to create a graph.
  3. The students use multiple strategies to find the total sum of beans in their scoop. The students will add the addends of each group of beans then use other strategies such as grouping and counting by 2, 5, 10, 3, 4, and repeated addition to find the sum. (Teacher may also reinforce the concept of odd and even at this time.)
  4. The students will use their completed tally marks data sheet to create a graph on the computer using a program such as Excel or Graphers (Sunburst). Excel Users click here. This spreadsheet can be recreated using any spreadsheet program where students can graph their seed totals.
  5. The students will use their math journals to write conclusions/facts about their data collection. (ex. My cup of beans had two more lima beans than kidney beans.)

Assessment

The teacher will monitor students’ work as they complete their journal entries. Informal observation will be used to determine if the concept of “typical” number and average number of beans is understood.
The Rubric will be used as an indication that students have mastered necessary objectives. Seeds: Data Collection Table will be used to help determine that rubric objectives have been met.

Supplemental information

Teachers might want to visit relevant websites to gain additional support.

Extra practice is available for counting strategies and graphs on the web.

Related websites

http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/themes/plants.shtml
This is a wonderful site for elementary teachers looking for resoures on this and many other topics. It includes lesson plans, craft ideas, printouts, and much much more.

This site has good background information about various kinds of seeds.
http://www.wsu.edu/~wsherb/edpages/delicious/seed.html

http://www.educate.org.uk/teacher_zone/classroom/science/unit1b_lesson6.htm
This web site gives great ideas for cross-curriculum integration. Go into the Teacher Zone for a great experience.

http://www.aaamath.com/
This is a superb site to give your students extra practice on almost any math objective taught. Great!

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North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Computer Technology Skills (2005)

Grade 2

  • Goal 1: The learner will understand important issues of a technology-based society and will exhibit ethical behavior in the use of computer and other technologies.
    • Objective 1.07: Identify spreadsheets as a tool to organize, calculate, and graph data to make predictions. Strand - Spreadsheet
  • Goal 2: The learner will demonstrate knowledge and skills in the use of computer and other technologies.
    • Objective 2.04: Use spreadsheet software in content areas to enter, display, and identify sources of data as a class. Strand - Spreadsheet

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 2

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will read, write, model, and compute with whole numbers through 999.
    • Objective 1.04: Develop fluency with multi-digit addition and subtraction through 999 using multiple strategies.
      • Strategies for adding and subtracting numbers.
      • Estimation of sums and differences in appropriate situations.
      • Relationships between operations.
  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use data and simple probability concepts.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, describe and display data using Venn diagrams (three sets) and pictographs where symbols represent multiple units (2's, 5's, 10's).