Create a Carnivorous Plant
Author: Sarah Pounders
Overview
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This photo of Nepenthes bicalcarata is from the Web site sarracenia.com.
The site is among a selection of resources below that will help students
prepare to create their own carnivorous plant!
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All plants have evolved strategies for surviving in their various
habitats, but carnivorous plants have done so in ways that are not
only unusual, but also far from subtle and incredibly fascinating, making
them excellent ambassadors in the exploration of plant adapatations.
Objective: To expand students’ understanding of the
interdependence of organisms by having them study carnivorous plants
and “create” their own new species.
Standards (Microsoft
Word document)
Materials:
-
Web sites or books with pictures
of carnivorous plants
-
Assorted craft materials such as construction
paper, markers, pipe cleaners, paper towel tubes, pompoms,
paper clips, etc.
Background
Introduce students to carnivorous plants. If possible, visit a site
with live specimens such as a botanical garden or nature center.
If a field trip isn’t possible, find examples in books and on the
Internet using the resources listed above.
Bugs
Beware! Exploring Carnivorous Plants
Peter's
Savage Garden (Exploratorium's Science of Gardening Videos)
Carnivorous Plant
Pages (Botanical Society of America)
Carnivorous
Plant FAQ at Sarracenia.com (Representing the International Carnivorous
Plant Society)
Laying the Groundwork
Ask students:
Exploration
1. Challenge students to create their own carnivorous
plants. Here's what they need to decide in order to begin:
- What prey does
your plant attract?
(It can be a real organism,
such
as an
insect,
or
they
can
make up
a new animal)
- How does your plant attract its prey?
- How does
your plant trap its prey?
- What happens after prey is trapped?
- What is the name of your
plant?
- Describe the habitat your plant lives in.
Provide them with craft materials and watch their creations come
to life!
2. Ask students to share their new creations. If
possible, put them on display for others to see, including a sign
that indicates answers to the questions in Step 1.
Making Connections
- Ask each student to write a press release announcing the "discovery"
of the species they've created to the world.
- Learn about other plant adaptations
such as those of desert plants (arid conditions) or mountain plants
(high altitudes). The
Missouri Botanical Garden has great resources.
- Invite
a guest speaker from a local carnivorous plant society or botanical
garden to visit your class.
Branching Out
-
Explore current events related to carnivorous plant
using
Bugs
Beware! and
What’s
Up with Wetlands? Find out what's happening in your own watershed
or community related to wetland conservation.
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© 2009
National Gardening Association