Marcia Dodd

Rogers Elementary School

5^th Grade Science

Rogers, Texas

Overview of Lesson

• Title: Introduction to Grassland Ecosystems
• Audience: 5^th Grade Science
• Timeframe: Ongoing project over 6-week period
• Alignment: TEKS Life Science
• Purpose:
• Make them aware of different types of grasslands and their needs.
• Touch on land management practices like controlled burning.

Where to begin?

• Why this book?
• Prevalent bee farm is in our school district.
• Students could observe bees on our playground.
• Teacher Realization:
• We needed to start with the basics to help them understand the many different roles plants play in our ecosystems.
• Engagement with plants and the growth cycle was critical.

Native Plant Demonstration

• Why two demonstrations?
• Kids could see the seeds interact with soil. They could compare and contrast in two different settings. (water vs. soil)
• We added lettuce and strawberries too. Kids saw some differences.
• Teacher Realization:
• I did not think there would be much difference in what the plants grew in.
• The demonstration proved that the grasses grew better in soil than in water.
• We need to take care of our soil so that it is healthy and can support varied needs.
• Kids were REALLY into the demos!!

Support & Guest Speakers

• Who supported these lessons?
• Seeds: Local farm supply donated seeds
• FFA: High school students
• VFD: Local firefighter
• Bee Keeper: Local business
• Teacher Reflections
• Children enjoyed having a variety of speakers. They were able to ask questions to each representative.

Teacher Reflection Summary:

• Students began the lesson with little to no prior knowledge about native grasses, requiring the teacher to introduce foundational concepts, starting with root systems.
• The hands-on planting activity sparked strong engagement and curiosity. Students enjoyed watching the germination process and became invested in the plant life cycle, asking thoughtful questions and expressing interest in continuing planting at home.
• Through guided exploration and discussions, students developed a clearer understanding of native grasses, plant growth requirements, and the role of pollinators—especially bees (special guest: local bee keeper), which many were familiar with from a local bee farm.
• The visit from the Volunteer Fire Department prompted meaningful discussion, particularly for students with farming or ranching backgrounds. They gained new insight into the purpose and benefits of controlled burns in maintaining healthy grasslands.
• Overall, the lesson successfully built student understanding of grassland ecosystems from the ground up, supported by real-world connections and hands-on experiences.

​

Thank you!