From Seed to Plant

How a Seed Grows

Written by: Helene J. Jordan

Illustrated by: Loretta Krupinski

Published by: HarperCollins, 2015

32 Pages

Nonfiction

   This picture book teaches children the process a seed goes through as it grows into a flower, tree, or plant. This nonfiction book is complete with pictures of the different kinds of seeds and the different things they grow into.

   Colored pencils were used to display beautiful, detailed, and realistic portrayals of the real-life things students see daily when they take a walk outside.

   

5 ) Plan and carry out an investigation, using one variable at a time (e.g., water, light, soil, air), to determine the growth needs of plants.

   Using the above science standard, I would put pictures with some facts on the corresponding flower or tree before class. I would read this book to second graders. Then, I would give different students different pictures of plants and seeds. We would take a nature walk, and students would match their pictures to the pictures on the plants outside. After all students have found their correct station, each group would take turns visiting other stations, learning new facts about each.

  I like this book because it is factual, but it doesn't feel like a textbook. Realistic pictures can often feel boring to students, while illustrations and paintings feel like another fun story.