Welcome!

 Hello educators and scholars! 

My name is Katie and I am a pre-service teacher at the University of Mary Washington. As a part of my EDUC 303 - Scientific Inquiry course, I had the ability to create an online resource tool for educators and scholars to use. One of the main goals of this course is to ensure technology integration as a tool, resource, and learning experience for students. Hopefully, I did a decent job in ensuring that the resources providing is as accessible and provides an opportunity to enhance virtual and technological learning. 

For this resource site, I will be focusing on the Virginia Standards of Learning on Plants -- especially on Virginian plants. Take your time looking into the resources and creating ways to integrate these ideas into your lesson plans. 

My professor, Dr. Lewis, emphasized that is important to create lifelong experiences for our scholars. Think outside the box and let your scientists embrace an experience that will last them a lifetime! 

Sincerely, 

Katie 

Activities

 

ACTIVITIES

Hello educators! In this section, I tried my best to create some activities that you can use for your classroom. These activities are designed to be accessible to students while enhancing their learning. I hope they are as useful as they can be, but always accommodate these activities to your student's needs! I would recommend these activities to be used for review!

ACTIVITIES:    

        ·       Activity #1: Chlorophyll Rubbing

·       Activity #2: Cause and Effect

·       Activity #3: Create your own Plant

·       Activity #4: Make your Plant Story

·       Activity #5: Language Cards (Spanish and French)

Google Doc Link to the Activities Mentioned Here

Worksheets

Disclaimer: These resources are not made by me, these are respectfully created by the rightful owner for educational use. It is also recommended that worksheets be placed in engineering notebooks as supplemental resources. 

Teachers Pay Teachers: 

• Twinkl Printable Resource - Parts of a Plant: A simple and easy to identify worksheet for students to label different parents of a plant and flower (Free). 
  
  
• Teaching Today - All About Plants Freebie: Handout that students can label and sort the basic information of plants (Free) 
  
  
• Having a Fields Day - Plants Freebie: What is a Seed?: This file can be converted as a digital activity for students in virtual learning settings. Students will learn about seeds through the informational sheets, worksheets, and also suggestions on hands-on activity (Free). 
  
  
• Smith Science and Lit - Animal and Plant Cell Match and Color: Also a digital activity for students in a virtual learning setting! Students can use a color code chart for the different cell strcutures. Creators recommend the activity as an introductory guide. 

Teach-nology: 

• Plant Acrostic Poem: Students can create acrostic poems that tell something about plants. They can get extremely creative with this worksheet as students create poetry about their knowledge of plants. 
  
  
• KWL chart: At the beginning of the unit have a quick pre-assessment about what students know about plants and what they want to learn. By the end of the unit, have students revisit their charts about what they learned to see the improvements they made over time!
   
• Plant Group Creative Writing: Let your student's creativity go wild with these assignments. In groups, have students come up with a story with the words listed on the worksheet. Students will have 25 minutes to come up with a story, no matter how creative it gets. Encourage students to share their stories with peers to show that not all stories are alike

Twinkl

• Plant coloring pages: Some days require just a coloring day, have students print out and color these sheets! If that's not enough, encourage students to research and write a short story about their plant's life-cycle, maybe they'll learn something new that day! 
  
  
• Colouring Plant Pots: Similar to the plant coloring page, let students color! Better yet, let them create their own plant. Have students come up with a new species of flowers and let them write an informational page on how the plant behaves, adapts, and survives. 
  
  
  

Topics to Discuss in the Classroom

 As educators, it is important to combat real-world issues - after all, they are our future. In this post, there will be a list of topics that educators are encouraged to discuss/integrate into their lessons. Many of these topics can also lead to long-term projects as students can be scholars and solve real-world issues which creates a lifetime experience for them. Many of the issues listed are broad and flexible that can co-exist with the Virginia SOL standards on life sciences. 

The Environment 

Pollution: There are seven types of pollution -- air, water, soil, noise, radioactive, light, and thermal pollution. Students can explore the length of time it takes to recuperate from pollution. They can also explore the consequences of industry and motor vehicle exhaust and how plastic is toxins from pollution. In correlation to plants, students can investigate the effects of soil pollution and how it can alter plant metabolism or how plants become sick and die. Students can observe this especially through acid rain and how important pH levels are to animals and plants. 

Soil degradation: The decline of soil conditions based is another hot topic to talk about with students. As soil degradation is caused by agriculture, industrial, and commercial pollution; there is less arable land now. Students can also observe other facts such as urban expansion, overgrazing, and unsustainable agriculture practices, and their long-term effects. Another discussion can also include the clogging of waterways and the destruction of species' habitat, biodiversity, and soil fertitlity. 

Global Warming: Climate change are a result of human practices. This leads to rising temperatures of the earth's surface and ocean which results in natural disasters. Students can discuss the nature of global warming and the effects they have on a local level. They can create projects observing temperature and notice any changes in their academic years in comparison to temperatures a decade ago. Students can also be involved in news reports and research if rises in flooding, drought, hurricanes occured more frequently in recent years than ten years ago. 

Human Involvement 

Overpopulation: The earth is facing challenges as it is reaching unsustainable levels because of shortages of water, fuel, and food. Due to intensive agriculture practices to produce food, it damages the earth because of the usage of chemical fertilizer, pesticides, insecticides. Students can discuss agricultural practices and how to find sustainable methods of agriculture. The teacher can use this topic as a long-term project where students can explore and plan alternative forms of farming within the classroom and combat issues such as water shortage, food shortages, and affordable sustainable living. 

Natural Resource Depletion: Humans use so many natural resources! As humans advance, we will increase our need for natural resources. One day, we might run out of those resources. Teachers and students can engage in a discussion about alternative methods -- especially through renewable resources. Students can explore the use of renewable resources, cost, benefits, and long-term effects it would have on the earth. 

Local Issues 

Invasive species: invasive species are either accidentally or intentionally introduced by human activity,  which can cause harm to native species, natural resources, and humans. Virginia's Department of Conservation and Recreation has provided a list of invasive species that causes a threat to native species. The DCR created an online database that searches for invasive species based on Virginia's geographic region. Students can explore in their own backyards to see if invasive species live around them. They can also create solutions for eliminating these threats to the native environment in a sustainable way. 

Conservation: Virginia is known to be a land of history, what about our natural history? Virginia's parks, forests, mountains, and oceans define our state. Students can create projects that focus on preserving nature, like picking up trash on their walks. Students can also create discussions about the importance of conservation and tie it with issues like overpopulation and how to preserve nature but also combatting issues like urbanization. 

Deforestation: As urbanization grows (especially in Northern Virginia) more trees are being torn down in order to create more homes. Students can discuss the effects of deforestation such as pollution and how to combat these issues. They can also find alternative methods of preserving forests and integrating programs that encourages more tree growth in Virginia. 

Websites for Research

 Disclaimer: many of these websites are suited for learners of all ages, I attached the recommended grade level based on the Virginia SOL (2018). 

Kid's Valley Webgarden: Kid's Valley Webgarden provides a plethora of information about the process of gardening. Students are able to use this website to research the importance of nutrients and care that plants need. They can also observe the process of germination and how to do it at home. The site list common gardening plants and the conditions they live best in. Students can use this information to research how the environment plays an important role in plant growth. 

Science SOL: K.7, 1.4, 1.7 

Glossary of Botanical Terms: Gardenlifepro's glossary can help students understand botanical definition and terminology. During the unit, students can create their own dictionary of words to refer to throughout the unit. This gives them an opportunity to expand their own vocabulary as well as experiencing the importance of prefixes and suffixes

Science SOL: All Grade Levels 

Photographic Atlas of Plant Anatomy: this site provides realistic images of plant anatomy, including close-up imagery of plant cells. This image is great to use when trying to show students how plant cells look under a microscope. They can observe the shapes, uniformity (or non-uniformity) of cells. The site also provides images of xylem development, cell walls, and phloem. This is a great tool to use in a virtual classroom if students cannot have hands-on experience in a lab. 

Science SOL: 4.6, LS.2, LS.4 

Biology of Plants: Created by Missouri Botanical Garden, Biology of Plants is a website that allows students an easy introduction to plant parts, plant development, and their adaptations. The site is suited for early readers and provides additional resources such as lesson plants (for educators), songs to sing too, and additional links to explain how other external factors that play into the role of the plant life cycle. 

Science SOL: K.7, 1.4, 1.7, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8

Newsela: A great site for students to research contemporary issues such as climate change, deforestation, and other environmental information. The goal of Newsela is to provide factual information for ALL learners regardless of reading levels. It provides text suited for different readers. In terms of plants, they provide articles about abiotic stress, the importance of native plants, and the role of animals in the plant life cycle. 

Science SOL: All Grade Levels 

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation: On a more local level, the DCR is a great resource for students to explore the importance of native plants in Virginia. The DCR presents issues about native species and invasive species in Virginia. This allows students to be presented with local issues and trying to research/solve these problems. This site also provides brochures that divide native species by region (Coastal Plains, Piedmont, Grasslands, Mountains, Riparian). The DCR also provides a Native Plant Finder where students can research how each region has different soils, elevation, hydrology, and climate. 

Science SOL: All Grade levels

Plant Virginia Natives: This site provides resources for identifying native plants in Virginia. The site provides a list of local species and their scientific names, plant type, foliage, and the environment they enjoy to grow in. Not only does the site establish the importance of preserving native plant species in Virginia, but it also provides preservation at a local level by region or counties. This research can lead to many great projects, especially if students want to build their own school garden using native species as they research and observe the importance of avoiding invasive species and how native plants are important to local organisms. 

Science SOL: All Grade Levels 

Virginia Living Musem - Plants: The VLM provides a listing of native species in Virginia. This site is useful for elementary-age students as they can research plant portfolios and environmental preferences. 

Science SOL: 1.7

Virginia Department of Forestry: Another great site to talk about local issues in Virginia. The DOF focuses more on forest development, but also talks about invasive species and combating those issues. The DOF website provides additional education resources for all grade levels (and adult education). They include webinars, worksheets, videos, and programs educators can get involved in. 

Science SOL: All Grade Levels 

More Scientific Inquiry!

 

In such a technological world, it is important to implement technology in the classroom! In this post, I will list items that can enrich a student's lessons. 

Merge Cube: Merge Cube is a hands-on digital teaching aid that shows the world in the palm of your hands. There are over 1000 digital teaching aids for students and provides engaging activities in remote or in-class learning. It is a foam cube with patterns on the side that you can with a compatible app. The cube will turn into augmented reality and students can experience their object from all angles! 

The best thing about Merge Cube is that you can purchase your own cube ($19.99), or print a FREE paper cube online. 

Epic!: Epic is an online website that has a digital reading platform for students and educators. It has 400,000 books that are built for students ages 12 and under. Epic allows students to read along with one of the audio ebook it has. It helps students track their reading progress and the best of it all, it's free for educators to use. 

Skype a Scientist: Students can meet an actual scientist and hold conversations with them! This is a great opportunity for students to meet professionals in any field and ask questions about their jobs, about the topic you're learning about, and learn that scientist are just like you and me. Of course, you would need to set an appointment in advance but the life experience is priceless. Students can meet scientists from archelogy, engineers, astronomers, to plant scientists! 

Gizmos: Gizmos is a tool that has online simulations for math and science for all grade levels. For life sciences, students are able to grow their own plants, watch germination occur, and observe the steps for pollination. This is a great tool to use especially in virtual learning so students can still explore. Gizmo simulations are created by teachers for teachers! There are also lesson plans that integrate the simulations.  

Autodraw: is a website that allows students to draw! Autodraw not only allows students to freehand their own art, but it also provides models and premade pictures that students can use as references. This site can relate to a plant unit as students can create their own plant model and label the parts on their own. They can use Autodraw as an activity where they create their own plants while creating an official guide of their plant's information. 

Scratch/Scratch Jr: a perfect tool to introduce programming to students. Scratch uses block-based programming that students can use to create games, animations, or other tools and resources! For an activity, students can use Autodraw to create an animation of the plant life cycle or create a game that labels the plant parts. There's so much to be done, do not underestimate what students can create using Scratch! (link)

Experiments

 

Disclaimer: Many of these ideas come from other education sources, they will be attached as a link so you will be able to go and check out thorough instructions! All I provide is a small summary of these projects. 

Can Plants Stop Soil Erosion? - Science Buddies 

Students will be posed the question, can plants stop soil erosions? This project is a great way to introduce students to erosion as well as how plants are a vital and necessary part of the environment. Teachers can later enrich students with questions asking how plants impact the human environment. 

Celery Experiment - KiwiCo

Through the celery experiments, students can observe how roots absorb water! This experiment allows students to explore through vocabularies such as xylem and capillary action as they watch dyed water being absorbed. Alternatively, you can have students use paper towels for a similar learning effect! 

Do Seeds Need Light and Dirt to Germinate? - LifeWithMooreBabies

This experiment helps students learn what seeds only need to grow, it could be a very fascinating experiment for your student especially when they think seeds need sunlight and soil to germinate. It is a cost-efficient experiment that will have students discussing it throughout the week. It will create discussions in your classroom about how seeds survive. 

What Soil is the Best Type for Growing Seeds

The goal of this experiment is for students to learn the growth of seeds and the effect different soils have on this growth. Just like the title of this experiment, students will be exploring how seeds grow in different soil. Once the experiment is conducted, this would be a great opportunity to discuss with students about plant adaptation and climate change--as soil changes due to environmental concerns, what will happen to our plants?  

Algae and Pollution Experiment 

The goal of the experiment is to talk about how pollutants affect algae growth. This experiment also provides student research material that educators can use. This experiment layout embraces enhanced learning as it provides questions that students can really think about by using real-life scenarios. Students can learn and observe how pollutants affect plant life and how it can damage our ecosystem. 

Sprouting Sweet Potato Experiment 

A fun experiment to teach young scholars about plant growth. Students will be amazed to see a half-cut sweet potato grow roots and sprout! The experiment is very simple to do and does require some time, this is a great opportunity for students to be involved in daily writing and observation in their engineering notebooks. 

Parts of a Plant Lollipop 

Okay maybe it doesn't involve actual plants, but it involves plant parts! Students can create their own model of parts of a plant. This is a fun and easy experiment to introduce (or reintroduce) part of a plant to students. Students then can draw this model in their notebooks to use as a reference for later (because we all know that lollipop is going to disappear). 

Growing a Self-Sustainable Plant Ecosystem 

This experiment teaches about plant growth, the water cycle, and the ecosystem. Students will create their own self-sustainable ecosystem in the classroom. All that you need is some soil, a plastic soda bottle, water, and some seeds. Throughout this project, students can do weekly observations on changes they notice in their self-sustaining ecosystem. 

Films and Documentaries

Children's Films

The Lorax (2012): Of course, Dr. Seuss published The Lorax in 1971 and the message remains important to this day. The theme in the 2012 film edition of The Lorax does not hide the underlying theme of the destruction of our plants and trees and the impact it has on our lives. Students can create a discussion about sustainable living and seed preservation. 

MPAA Rating: PG 

Moana (2016): The Disney film shows a clear message about sustainable communities. The island community grows taro, bananas, and coconuts which are important crops of the people. When something threatens the health of the crops, Moana takes it upon herself to save her people. It creates a positive message about how everything we do impact our natural world. 

MPAA Rating: PG 

WALL-E (2008): A film that takes place 700 years into the future, the Earth becomes a deserted, trash-covered ghost town. The film's protagonist, robot WALL-E finds his way into space and tries to convince humans to return back to Earth. The film urges viewers to notice how their actions affect the environment. 

MPAA Rating: G

Films for Older Kids/Teens

The Martian (2015): An astronaut's sole colonization of Mars is not a far-fetch tale anymore. Older students can discuss the potential of life on Mars and how humans can succeed in survival. This film can bring in a discussion about how the basic necessity to ensure human life and the potential reality of humans living in space. 

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for strong language, serious injury, and partial nudity. 

 Documentaries 

Nature: What Plants Talk About (2013): Do plants behave like animals? You're not crazy if you think they do! In this documentary, viewers will observe how plants behave in their environment. Students will be mind-boggled as they watch plants interact with one another in order to survive. This is a great documentary to talk about adaptation for plants. 

Rating: TV-G 

BCC - Life (Episode 9) - Plants (2009): Viewers will watch how plants endure daily struggles for water, nutrients, and light. This episode shows how some plants adapt to environmental extremes, through timelapse videos. 

Rating: TV-PG

TV Programs 

The Magic School Bus Series: You can never go wrong with Ms. Frizzle's magic school bus! Based on the book series, viewers will take outrageous (but educational) field trips with Ms. Frizzle and her class. Here is a list of specific episodes that talk about plants: 

• "Goes to Seed" (Season 1, Episode 11): The class is planting a garden and Phoebe is in need of plants. The topic of this episode is seeds and the life cycle of plants. 
  
  
• "Get Planted" (Season 3, Episode 10): The topic of this episode is photosynthesis. 
  
  
• "Tim and the Talking Tree" (Season 6, Episode 10): The topic of this episode is how plants and animals interact and communicate in their environment. 

Bill Nye the Science Guy: Another timeless classic in the classroom. Viewers will be intrigued by Bill Nye's quirky explanations of concepts. Here is a list of specific episodes that talk about plants: 

• "Flowers" (Season 4, Episode 10): viewers will learn how plants reproduce, get pollinated, and the types of flowers that exist. 
  
  
• "Plants" (Season 3, Episode 3): Bill Nye explains to views how plants breathe, make food, and defend themselves. 

Applications

PLANTSNAP 

PlantSnap is ideal for students who do not recognize certain plants. First, students will take a photograph of the plant and the app will do its best to recognize it. Once it figures it out it provides the name of the plant. One of the cool features of PlantSnap is Augmented Reality Plant Identification where students can watch AR animations over the plants. It also has a library where students can save their images while realizing how many different plants they are able to identify! 

Application download: App Store / Google Play

LEAFSNAP
Similar to PlantSnap, LeafSnap can use photography to identify plants, mushrooms, and cactae! Students are able to pick up a leaf, take a photo of that leaf, and LeafSnap will identify which tree it comes from. The app claims 90% accuracy but it allows students to become familiar with leaves and trees. At the moment, LeafSnap focuses on plants in the Eastern United States. 

Application download: App Store / Google Play 

STARTING WITH SOIL
This app allows users to plant seeds, build compost piles, drag a microscope to view different organisms in the soil, and see how symbiosis works in various plants. Starting with Soil also allows users to observe slow-motion pollination along with a time-lapse video of plants starting as seeds to adults.    

Application download: App Store 

iNATURALIST 
This app takes observation to a whole new level. Students can take pictures of local plants and record them. Students can help or ask for identification through a local botanist. Otherwise, students can also travel the world and observe plants in different parts of the world. They can observe how plants differ from their community based on the need for adaptation and environmental differences. 

Application download: App Store / Google Play 

FLORA MOBILE APP 

This is a local app created by the Flora of Virginia Project. Similar to its printed guide, the application identifies and provides information of native species not only in Virginia but also surrounding states such as West Virginia and Maryland. The app also tells users information about rare or threatened species, species invasion, and conversation ranks. 

Application download: App Store 

BEESMART

This app is used as a guide to selecting what plants are best for pollinators in your area. It includes regionally specific plant lists and identifies plants based on your preference of pollinator type, flower color, soil type, sunlight, and plant type. This app is good to use in the classroom when discussing the importance of pollination and researching types of pollinators vital to your local area. 

Application download: Google Play 

VIRGINIA WILDFLOWERS 

This app is similar to other identification apps. It includes 3,266 species of plants found in Virginia. It is easy to navigate as users can narrow down plant preferences based on plant type, color, petals, leaf arrangement, and location. This is great for students learning about what qualities make certain plants types group together. 

Application download: Google Play

Books!

Children's Book 

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle 

The Tiny Seed follows a tiny seed as it faces dangers throughout its journey to becoming a flowering plant. The book is great for the classroom as it introduces to students the lifecycle of a flower through the adventures of a tiny seed. 

Not only does the book share the life cycle of a flower, but it also shows the ways that a seed may not end up becoming a flower. Which is a great way for students to learn the importance of the environment and how it affects growing. 

Grade Level: K-1

Purchase on Amazon / AbeBooks 

Oh, Say Can You Seed by Bonnie Worth

You can never go wrong with Cat in the Hat! In this Seussical rhyme and presentation, students can follow a journey with Cat in the Hat to learn about the various parts of seeds, flowers, and plants. 

Oh, Say Can You Seed is a great science-based text to teach students about plants especially as children learn about photosynthesis, plant life-cycle, and pollination! Near the end of the book, there is a glossary of scientific terms that will be incredibly helpful for students to recognize. 

Grade Level: K-2 
Purchase on Amazon / AbeBooks

Wiggly Worms at Work by Wendy Pfeffer 

It may not be about plants, but the Wiggly Worms at Work talks about the relationships between worms and plants and why plants need them. The book is a great way to have students connect their units on plants and habitats and how all living systems rely on one another in order to survive. 

Purchase on Amazon

The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds by Joanna Cole

Alongside The Magic School Bus video series, kids can experience the journey through this book. Ms. Frizzle and the kids explore the cycle of seeds and plants as they go through Phoebe's flowers. They will also learn what it takes to grow the seeds (maybe a little bit of sunshine here, a little bit of soil there...). 

Grade Level: 2-4 
Purchase Amazon / Abebooks

From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons

This book uses simple language that students can understand! Pollination, seed formation, germination are introduced to students through illustrations. This book is a great way to introduce young readers to the plant life cycle.

Grade Level: 1-3
Purchase on Amazon 

We Plant a Seed by Sharon Gordon 

We Plant a Seed follows the journey of an elementary class as they learn how seeds grow! This book is a great book to introduce a project relating to growing seeds in the classroom. This can be a prototype of expectations and observations students can do in a classroom project. 

Grade level: K-2

Purchase on Thriftbooks / Free online 

Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life by Sallie W. Chrisholm 

Living Sunlight allows students to learn about photosynthesis and the importance of the sun as an energy resource. Light is an important resource to all living creatures on earth, students can create discussion on how light plays a role in their classroom and in their lives. 

Grade level: 1-4 

Purchase on Amazon / Abebooks

How a Plant Grows by Bobbie Kalman 

How a Plant Grows has full-color photos and illustrations of plants! It introduces to students the life of a plant from the beginning to the end. The most exciting part of this book is that it introduces carnivorous plants that students would be in awe about! 

Grade level: 3-5
Purchase on Amazon / Abebooks

Native Plants for Northern Virginia - Plant NoVA Natives 

A guide that focuses on the plants native to Northern Virginia. The guide provides information about each species of plant as well as fun facts that students can learn about. There are images of each plant as well as their scientific and common name. Plant NoVA Natives provides a free PDF file on their website but a hardcopy can be purchased online or selective locations.

Grade level: 3-12 

Field Trips

 Field Trip Ideas 

    Green Spring Gardens - Alexandria, VA 

Green Spring Gardens is a public park located in Alexandria, VA. It is open year-round and provides plenty of activities for students to learn and experience. As of Fall 2020, they introduced a new program known as the "Choose Your Nature Walk" where tours are customized based on the eductors liking and what their classroom is learning about. Other programs they include is a tour with a Historian, Nature Scavenger hunts, and Field trips for All. Field Trips for All focuses on the Virginia SOL as teachers can pick a trip to Green Springs Gardens for K-5. 

     Hahn Horticulture Garden at Virginia Tech - Blacksburg, VA 

Hanh Horticulture Garden is located in Blacksburg, VA. They offer formal tours for youth and adult groups. 

    Norfolk Botanical Garden - Norfolk, VA 

Norfolk Botanical Garden is located in Norfolk, VA. Due to COVID-19, the team at Norfolk Botanical Garden has changed their programs to ensure that teachers and students remain safe but can still experience their garden. They provide Self-Guided Programs, Outreach Programs (via Zoom), LearningLabs, and digital activities for students, all guided by Virginia SOLs.

    Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden - Richmond, VA 

The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is located in Richmond, VA. They offer a range of programs for elementary to high school students as well as teacher workshops. Due to COVID-19, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden has yet to release a program for activities for the classroom. At the moment, they offer virtual trips. 

Prince William Forest Park - Triangle, VA 

Prince William Forest Park is located in Triangle, VA but extends to as far as Dumfries, VA. They hold Ranger-Led programs that vary from learning about invasive species to learning about the works of habitats. The activities range from lower elementary to high school students. 

Virtual Field Trips 

United States Botanical Garden

Through Google Street View, there is 360-degree imagery throughout the garden. The classroom explores inside and outside the gardens. This virtual trip works best through a screen projector or smartboard. 

Norfolk Botanical Garden 

Norfolk Botanical Garden uses short 2-4 minute clips and tour guides to share about the wonders of the garden. They also provide an online plant database so students can learn about the different plants they nurture. 

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden 

The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden provides real-time virtual tours as well as video tours that can be done anytime in the classroom. On top of virtual tours, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden also has virtual activities for the classroom such as Virtual Story Time. For teachers, they provide PDF resources such as book listing, guides, and identification tips for students. 

Links

Additional Resources

Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora 

The Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora was created by the Virginia Botonical Association (VBA). The goal of the Digitial Atlas of the Virginia Flora is the online successor to the Atlas of Virginia Flora (1977-1992). The information provided in the Digital Atlas is on the flora of Virginia and out-of-space herbaria. New information and taxonomic/nomenclatural changes are updated when they are found. The Digital Atlas also updates on invasive species in Virginia as well as new discoveries found in herbaria. 

The Digital Atlas also provides information on plants based on county. For example, if I searched for plants in Prince William County, the Digital Atlas will provide a list of herbaria that were found in that county. They also categorize the plants through Group, Family, and Genus. 

Virginia Native Plant Society

The Virginia Native Plant Society was founded in 1982 as the Virginia Wildflower Preservation Society. The website offers publications such as brochures, checklist, nursery source information, as well as a list of invasive plants in Virginia. They also list field trips that are available throughout the state as well as programs that talk about the native species in Virginia (some programs are available through Zoom). 

Virginia Department of Education's Natural Resources Education Guide 

The VDOE has designed and created lesson plans for teachers that revolves around Virginia's natural resources. The lesson plans are designed for elementary and middle school SOL requirements. 

Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom 

Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom focuses on providing resources for teachers. They provide lessons based on the Virginia SOL for PreK-5. Instead of only focusing on science, the site also integrates history, language art, and math with a focus on agriculture. They also have an interactive region map, where students can learn the prominent crops, plants, and animals in each region of Virginia.