Topic: Dangerous pot plants

Author: Zyta Sendecka

Target group

Students of the 4th grade of an elementary school.

Core curriculum

4th grade

V. Me and my surroundings. The student:

5) gives the rules of behaviour and first aid in case of bites, stings, consumption or contact with poisonous plants;

The general aim of education

The students identify common, poisonous pot plants and name precautions that need to be taken when caring for dangerous plants.

Criteria of success

• you will identify three poisonous pot plants,

• decide what to do with dangerous pot plants,

• demonstrate how to care for poisonous pot plants.

Key competences

• communication in the mother tongue;

• communication in a foreign language;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn;

• social and civic competences.

Methods / techniques

Work with text and the problem method - „Once upon a time...”.

Individual work and work in groups.

Teaching aids

• abstract;

• interactive or traditional board;

• tablets/computers;

• descriptions of situations;

Lesson plan overview (Process)

Introduction

1. The teacher gives the topic, the goals of the lesson in a language understandable for the student, and the criteria of success.

Realization

1. The teacher presents selected poisonous pot plants. The teacher asks the students to indicate features by which these plants can be identified.

2. Then, the students perform an interactive task themselves.

3. The teacher divides the students into teams of several people and presents the students a problem that requires a decision: should poisonous pot plants be found in a natural laboratory or at home?

4. The teacher gives the teams a set of materials to be analysed and discussed (Enclosure No. 1), and writes down the auxiliary questions for discussion:

• What conclusions can be drawn from the presented descriptions of the situation?

• What were the reasons...?

• What should be done to...?

• What would you advise...?

• What position would you take...?

5. The discussion is aimed at developing a solution for the analysed problem (work time – 15 minutes).

6. After time a representative of each group presents results on the class forum.

7. The teacher and the students summarize the work by choosing the best solutions.

8. The teacher plays the students a film entitled „How to care for dangerous pot plants safely” and asks the students to indicate further arguments - for or against - the cultivation of poisonous pot plants in our immediate environment.

Summary

The teacher displays the sentence and asks the selected students to finish it:

I believe that poisonous pot plants should ... because ...

Enclosure No. 1

Description No. I

„Some time ago, on Facebook user posted a dramatic appeal - his cat was poisoned by a pot plant called zamia, very poisonous for animals and small children, which contains calcium oxalate, which has a strong effect on kidneys and liver. “A few days ago, I kept this plant for my friends who had a renovation at their home, without realizing how dangerous it is for my cats” - Kuba wrote. - “Unfortunately, one of them ate this plant, now we are fighting for his life... Today he will have a blood transfusion. Do not make the mistake I made!” - he appealed. Unfortunately, the cat could not be saved.”

Description No. II

„Although some plants are called poisonous, they rarely cause death. If we wanted to clarify this concept, it could turn out that almost all domestic plants are dangerous to some extent, certainly if eating large quantities of them. A part of a leaf or a flower petal can only cause indigestion and nausea.”

„However, we cannot underestimate their harmful properties, especially when there are children in our lives. Nevertheless, it is good to keep common sense and not throw away all the flowers to the garbage dump.”

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Dangerous pot plants

Some pot plants contain highly poisonous substances that may cause eye and skin irritation. Those substances may stay on your skin and be transferred into your body, for example when you eat some food after touching a poisonous plant. That is why it is important to use rubber gloves when handling plants and to wash hands before meals.

• Some potted plants are poisonous – be careful when taking care of them.

• In case of plant poisoning, immediately induce vomiting and seek medical attention.