TITLE: From Seed to Plant GRADE: 6,7,8 TIME: One week + (Time should be extended as needed to accommodate student learning styles and necessary background information) OBJECTIVES

OBJECTIVES: To develop questioning strategies promoting higher order thinking skills by using a sequence of observation, draw, make analogies and theorize. To provide information promoting an awareness of plant science pertaining to seeds and related concepts, such as structure and germination. To provide information promoting the conditions contingent for plant growth: sunlight, water, nutrients To introduce alternative methods of growing techniques: specifically, hydroponics.

1. To develop questioning strategies promoting higher order thinking skills by using a sequence of observation, draw, make analogies and theorize.
2. To provide information promoting an awareness of plant science pertaining to seeds and related concepts, such as structure and germination.
3. To provide information promoting the conditions contingent for plant growth: sunlight, water, nutrients
4. To introduce alternative methods of growing techniques: specifically, hydroponics.
   
   

ACTIVITY: Students will begin by adopting a seed. Each group of four students Will share a packet of mixed seeds consisting of radish, mung bean, lentil, and alfalfa. The "seed" style is adopted by the student. (Each student will be expected to keep a notebook of the week's progress with respect to his or her adopted seed.) Once the seeds have been adopted, the students should use jeweler's loupe's (5X) to look, form analogies (it looks like a...., or, it's similar to a...), write them down, and draw the seed as it appears through magnification. During the second class, students will assemble the appropriate conditions and apparatus for seed germination. Using reference texts and encyclopedias, students will determine as a group what conditions are needed in order for seeds to germinate. These conditions will be written on paper and posted in the room for the remainder of the unit. Once determined, students will be handed work boxes containing an assortment of plastic bags, paper towels, baby food jars and clear plastic containers. Students should them assemble a simple device intended to serve as a seed germinator. Each student should attempt to germinate at least 10 seeds. The germination should take approximately 2 to 4 days. In the successive classes, students will receive instruction pertaining to alternative methods of plant growing, hydroponics. By the fourth day most seeds should be germinated. At this time students should repeat their loupe activity being careful not to damage the seeds that have been germinated. Seeds can be removed from the apparatus by using plastic tweezers and viewed. The same process should occur: observe, analogies, record and draw. On the fifth day, students will "plant" their seedlings using the aggregate method hydroponically. Each student will be given the appropriate materials, diagram sheet with directions and instructed to create the "garden" for their adopted seeds. Suggested aggregates for use are aquarium gravel placed on top of plastic mesh screen. The hydroponic solution can be mixed for the entire class and added by each student to promote individual measuring skills.

ASSESSMENT: Students are expected to maintain a notebook/journal recording their week long journey with germination. Once the plants begin to grow, students can record the data for growth in metrics and create the necessary graphs and data tables throughout the year as the plants survive.

RESOURCES: The Private Eye, Looking and thinking Project, Kerry Ruef, 1992 Hydroponics Projects, 4-H Plant Science, Unit 3 It's Your World, Prepared by the New England Sprout Growers Association, Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, University of Massachusetts Life Science, Merril Publishing, 1989

MATERIALS: lentil, radish, mung and alfalfa seeds paper towels plastic baggies, sandwich size plastic containers (recyclables from food are fine---must be clear) baby food jars water plant fertilizer 5-11-26 gallon jugs jeweler's loupes aquarium gravel plastic screen plant trays