LESSON PLAN

Subject: Science
Grade: 6
Critical Inquiry Question:
Lesson:
2
SLOs: From the Program of Studies
o E6.10 E6.10.4

Date: September 9, 2015

Time: 1 Hour

Identify general characteristics that distinguish trees from other plants, and
characteristics that distinguish deciduous from coniferous trees.
Key Questions:
What is the focus question for this lesson? What are some related questions?
What is a tree?
What is a plant/shrub?
What is the difference between the two?
Materials:
Chart Paper, White Board, Markers, Computer, Master 9
Preparation: Have computer set up for what is a tree notes.

Lesson Procedure:
1. Have students come to the carpet in room 13
2. Today we are going to start our trees and forests unit.
3. Ask the students what is a tree?
4. Write down the students answers on the smart board
5. Explain to students that now they will go outside and as a group make a tchart. The t chart will have plants on one side and trees on the other. Ask
students to write down the characteristics of trees on one side and plants on
the other.
6. Explain that they will need their journals and a pencil
7. Explain that they will be expected to have at least 5 characteristics for each
8. Explain that they must stay by the plant park and forest. They have 15-20
minutes.
9. Have students come back to the carpet to debrief in room 13
10. Have students tell what they got for both sides
11. Make a class definition for what is a tree

a woody perennial plant, typically having a single stem or trunk growing to

a considerable height and bearing lateral branches at some distance from
the ground.
In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk,
supporting branches and leaves in most species.
A tree is defined as meeting the following criteria:
1. It must be perennial.
2. It must have a self supporting trunk.
3. The trunk must be made of woody material.
Anything else is a shrub. As well, a tree usually attains a height of 5 to 7 metres. A
young tree which has not yet reached adult height is called a sapling.
Edmonton Public Schools, 1996
Do Not Copy

39

Sample T-chart:
Tree
perennial
trunk
woody material
leaves or needles
flowers, fruit, seeds
Plant
perennial, annual, or biennial
stem
woody or non-woody material
leaves
flowers, fruit, seeds
Assessment:
Class T-Chart and Defintion