The concept of growing was integrated into the science unit fairly neatly in that we studied how pumpkins grow, its sequence of growth, planting bean seeds and examining different parts of seeds and plants.

In the Pumpkin Growth lesson, there was a focus on developing vocabulary of the sequence (First, then, next, finally) and the stages of growth (seed, buds and blossoms, small green pumpkin, big orange pumpkin) primarily through embodied learning. Every phase had a corresponding action that the students could do while saying the stage of growth. Embodied learning, especially for ESL learners is especially engaging and provides an alternative platform for learning.

The students expressed what they learned through a visual representation -- the panel activity. The panel was another way for the students to show me what they know about pumpkin growth. Phonemic awareness also plays a role in this lesson, for the stages of growth were verbally recited in a way that can very easily be recalled.

This lesson is especially important upon reflection as a student teacher because I planned this lesson unconsciously in an "I do, we do, you do" format. This format is especially effective (as I learned in a later lesson in which "I do, we do, you do" was not practiced as effectively as possible).