Level 1
Choose pick/wait/ask in 2/3 turns.
2026–27 • Plants & seasons
Is It Ready to Pick?
Use the known crop’s harvest guide to compare readiness clues, then choose pick, wait or ask. Calendar dates alone cannot establish ripeness.
Classroom lesson: Is It Ready to Pick?Today I can…
use a clue to decide if produce is ready
Words to know
Words for this lesson
CROPREADYPICKWAITSIZE
Follow along
What we will do
- 1
Choose a crop
Look at the adult’s familiar crop example.
- 2
Find the clue
Look at its crop-specific harvest guide.
- 3
Compare
Compare the example with the guide.
- 4
Choose
Choose READY, WAIT or ASK.
- 5
Share
Tell which clue helped you decide.
Speech, sign, point, eye gaze, or AAC
Tell us what you need
PICKWAITASKSAMEDIFFERENTHELP
Teacher & para guideMaterials, learning objectives, access, and safety
Materials
- Known approved crop samples/pictures; crop-specific harvest guide; ruler if relevant; tray; PICK/WAIT/ASK/AAC cards. Adults control harvest tools.
Safety first
No foraging/tasting or unknown plants. Later eating needs separate food approval/screening. No hard squeezing; wash hands.
Follow each student's IEP, health, feeding, allergy, behavior, and mobility plans.
Individual learning objectives
Choose Level 1, 2 or 3 individually in either House group. A House is not an ability level. Watching, directing and communicating a boundary are valid participation.
Level 2
Compare two crop-specific harvest clues.
Level 3
Justify two choices using the crop guide.
Skill focus: Visual/tactile discrimination, decision-making, harvest readiness, comparison
30-minute teaching sequence
Introduce · 5 min
Is It Ready to Pick? Word: Ready. Compare two stages of the same known crop. Ask, "Pick, wait, or ask?" Read its harvest guide; calendar date or color alone cannot establish readiness.
I do · 10 min
Check the identified crop/variety’s guide. Model comparing two relevant clues, such as stated size and color. Choose ASK when evidence is unclear; no universal ripeness rule.
We do · 10 min
Students look, measure or optionally touch screened samples; compare with the guide and select PICK/WAIT/ASK. Adults manage any approved harvest tool. Use cards if identity or conditions are uncertain.
Exit choice · 5 min
L1: "Pick, wait, or ask?" L2: "Which two clues match the guide?" L3: "Why? What is still uncertain?"
Science note: Harvest clues vary by crop and variety and may include size, color, firmness or growth stage. Color alone can mislead; unknown plants are never harvested or eaten based on a guess.
Curriculum connection: CCSS SL.K.2; NGSS LS1.A connection.
Prepare for this learner
Bring samples/pictures to one seated table if short-staffed. Follow allergy/pica/vision/movement plans. Allow no-touch and staff-directed choices; wait. Select levels independently in either House.
Lower-staffing option: Bring known samples/pictures and the crop guide to one table. Students decide by AAC while staff handle objects.
Record the response, access method, opportunities and support used. Record observed, declined or not assessed separately; a communicated refusal is not a failure of participation.
Word lesson plan
Editable classroom source plan. Source files may retain earlier titles. Use the individual level choices and safety guidance above when preparing the session.
Access supports
Communication Model five core words; accept speech, AAC, eye gaze, gestures, object choices, signs, and partner-assisted scanning.
Sensory Present one material at a time. Offer tools, gloves, observe-only, a scent-free choice, and a quiet break.
Motor Stabilize containers, pre-loosen parts, use adapted grips, and offer seated, standing, partner, or directing roles.
Learning Show the finished result, model first, use short visual steps, repeat, and record the least support needed.