Mississippi Science L.K.3A.1
The Standard
- L.K.3A
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of what animals and plants need to live and grow.
With teacher guidance, conduct a structured investigation to determine what plants need to live and grow (water, light, and a place to grow). Measure growth by directly comparing plants with other objects.
2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Ecology and Interdependence
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Children help set up young plants so one condition changes at a time: water, light, or room for roots. They check the plants over several days and compare their heights with stacks of cubes.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A child can say whether a plant got water, light, and room to grow. They can hold a cube stack beside each plant, show which grew taller, and explain what was different.
Common Misconceptions
- Some children think plants must grow in dirt, rather than having a place for roots. Others think more water always helps. When comparing height, they may count the cup as part of the plant.
How to Assess It
- Give each child two seedlings of different heights and linking cubes. Ask them to show which plant is taller with the cubes, then name three things both plants need to grow.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Water two same-size seedlings equally; keep one by a window and one in a dark box, then compare their growth with cubes.
Show a crowded pot of seedlings and ask, "What might happen to their roots as they grow? Where could we move them?"
Give pairs picture cards showing dry soil, no light, or crowded roots; have them match each to water, a window, or a bigger pot.
Have children pick a pot for a bean seedling, find a sunny classroom spot, and mark a watering day on the calendar.
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