Lesson Plan
Wheat Varieties Lesson Plan (4th - 8th grade)
Estimated Time: 45 minutes
Purpose of the Lesson
To introduce students to wheat varieties and explain characteristics.
Lesson Objectives
As a result of this lesson, students will be able to:
Identify distinct characteristics of four different wheat varieties
List three facts to explain why the variety’s colors are present
Produce a variety report with relevant data
Suggested CDE Standards
Grade 4:
4-LS1-1 Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
Grade 5:
ELD.PI.5.6a.Em Explain ideas, phenomena, processes, and text relationships (e.g., compare/contrast, cause/effect, and problem/solution) based on close reading of a variety of grade-level texts and viewing of multimedia, with substantial support.
Grade 6-8:
MS-LS1-5 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes; Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
Lesson Activity
Time 0-10 min:
Worksheet and Background Information
Pass out worksheets (students will be primarily filling out the “Wheat Variety” side)
Show CWC minute video Link: https://youtu.be/qxb-zyE5sQE
As video is playing, students fill out the table with the wheat variety labeled and jot down relevant characteristics (make sure they leave space for observations made in the later portion of this lesson)
Ask students to recap key points of the video. What information was interesting? Which parts were hard to understand?
Time 10-25 min:
Worksheet and Observations Part A
Students will head out to the wheat plot with their worksheet
Students work independently to fill in observations made on all 5 sections of the plot
Time 25-35 min:
Worksheet and Observations Part B
Ask students to select one variety to sketch and collect data on.
Students can fill in the last two questions on the “Variety Analysis” in the classroom
Time 35-45 min:
Closing - Class Discussion
Ask a few student volunteers to share which variety they selected and any observations they made.
Adaptations
Divide groups based on the bi-weekly collection groups– Analysis of their respective wheats
Allow students to take magnifying glasses to the plot for better observations
Students can search online to explore the hard-to-understand topics
Assessment
What colors are associated with barley?
What colors are associated with soft wheat?
What colors are associated with blue wheat?
What colors are associated with durum wheat?
What colors are associated with red wheat?
Printable Version:
