Lesson Plan for Girl Scout Plants Try it

Objective: Girls will learn about plants and their uses. Girls will experiment and grow their own plants, molds, and pea sprouts. Girls will earn the Plants Try it by completing the meetings activities.

Materials
Pea seeds
Ziploc bags
Paper towels
Stapler
Water
Leaves
Paper
Crayons
Markers
Marigold seeds
Potting soil
Containers to grow plants in
Spoons
Bread
Aluminum foil

Procedure:
1. Girls will meet in the Girl Scout circle and recite the Girl Scout Pledge and Law. Girls will then take part in a discussion about the uses of plants and trees. Leader will generate a list of the different uses plants have in our world. Leader will remind girls about the uses they may have forgotten. The list will include: for use as wood, for use as food for humans and animals, plants and trees can be homes for animals, trees make shade for keeping cool in hot weather, plants make oxygen, plants make the world beautiful.

2. Girls will attempt to grow pea seedlings. Girls will wet a paper towel and put it into a Ziploc bag. Each girl will then put 2-3 pea seeds into the bag and staple right under the seed so that the seed has something to “sit” on. Each girl will make two bags. Girls will be instructed to take the bags home and place one in a light place and one in a dark place. They will be instructed to check on them daily to see the growth or lack thereof. Girls will be asked to report findings at the next meeting.

3. Girls will then learn a few facts about mold. Each girl will then be given a slice of bread and a moist paper towel. They will wrap the bread in the moist towel and then wrap that in aluminum foil. They will again be instructed to take this home and check on it daily. Girls will be asked to report findings at the next meeting.

4. Girls will plant a flower seed in a decorated container. Each girl will be given a container to decorate with markers. They will then fill the container with potting soil and marigold seeds. Girls will be asked if they know what plants need to grow. Answers will be taken and then girls will give the new plantings some water. They will take these home and asked to water daily and then report back at the next meeting whether or not they have seen any growth.

5. Girls will go on a walk around the site with the leaders. They will observe trees and other plant life. Girls will gather a few leaves but will be told that in the end, they will only keep one favorite leaf. Girls will bring their one leaf inside after the walk and will observe the leaf and talk about observations. Girls will then use the leaf to make a leaf rubbing with crayons. Girls can trade leaves to get a variety of different rubbings.

6. Girls will meet in the Girl Scout circle. Leaders will ask girls about the uses of plants. Leaders will ask girls to remember to check on their take home projects, the take home mold, the pea seeds, and their marigold plants. Girls will join hands and sing the end of Scout songs.