Kidsgardening Home — Store — News Archive

For a printer-friendly version, click here

 

Lesson 1: Why Root for Roots?

This activity is from NGA’s GrowLab®: Activities for Growing Minds. This curriculum brings plant-based explorations to life through 46 lesson plans and hundreds of extension activity ideas that spark students' curiosity about plants and invite them to think and act like scientists. Developed by NGA and written and field-tested by educators, this complete curriculum uses fun, illustrated activities to explore plant life cycles, examine plant diversity, and investigate the interdependence of plants, humans, and other living and non-living things. Visit here for more information or to order this guide.

Standards Addressed: click here

Time

Materials

Laying the Groundwork

Objective: To consider how plants take in water.

1. To stimulate thought about plants and water intake, either draw students' attention to plants outside in the rain, or simulate a rain shower with a watering can. Ask: How do you think plants take in the water they need to thrive and grow? If students respond that plant roots take in water, ask: What makes you so sure that it's roots that take in water and not some other part of the plant? After all, the rain falls directly on the leaves and stems also.

2. Ask: How many of you have actually seen roots take in water? Discuss that we must often make assumptions and inferences about what is true based on things we observe, experience, read, or are told by others – for example, that unwatered houseplants wilt because they need water. Ask: How might we design an investigation to test our assumption that roots, and not another plant part, take in water?

Exploration

Objective: To conduct an investigation to test assumptions about the role of roots in water intake.

1. Have small groups of students discuss how they might design an experiment, to examine whether roots or other plant parts are more important for water intake. Ask a reporter from each group to describe their proposed exploration.

Have the class review the proposed experiments and choose one that is possible to do in the classroom, which would enable them to infer an answer to their question. Have students consider what type of observations will indicate whether or not the plants are taking in water.

Refine and choose an experiment to conduct. An example experiment: obtain 4 potted plants. Apply water to the soil of 2 of the plants using a watering can and only apply water to the leaves of the other two using a spray bottle by covering the soil with a plastic 'bib' that prevents water from running into the soil.

2. Keep records of daily observations.

3. After two weeks, review observations and discuss findings. Discussion questions may include:

July 2006
Kids Garden News

Contents

Lesson Feature:
Wise Watering

Introduction

Background Information

Lesson 1:
Why Root for Roots?

Lesson 2:
Catching the Rain

Program Spotlight:
Brownwood Hydroponics -
Lettuce Rise Up

News Items:
Free classroom resources, funding opportunities, more