| NEW
PLANTS MODULE MATRIX |
 |
SYNOPSIS |
SCIENCE
CONTENT |
THINKING
PROCESSES |
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|
1. |
BRASSICA
SEEDS
|
|
Each
student plants tiny rapid-cycling brassica seeds in a planter
cup. The cups are kept in a tray under continuous light. The
brassica plants grow and develop for a month while students
care for them, observe, and record the complete life cycle. |
•
Plants are alive.
• Seeds are alive and grow into new plants.
• Plants need water, air, nutrients, and light to grow
and develop.
• As plants grow, they develop roots, stems, leaves, buds,
flowers, and seeds in a sequence called a life cycle.
• Bees and other insects help some plants by moving pollen
from flower to flower. |
•
Observe the growth of seeds.
• Record and communicate observations in words and drawings.
• Compare the development of brassica plants.
• Identify the parts of growing plants as they develop. |
|
2. |
GRASS
AND GRAIN SEEDS |
|
Students
plant miniature lawns with rye grass and alfalfa. Periodically
they mow the lawns and observe the response of grass and alfalfa
to cutting. They plant individual wheat seeds in clear soda
straws and observe in detail how grain seeds germinate and grow. |
•
Seeds are alive.
• Seeds need water and light to grow into new plants.
• Some plants die and some plants continue to grow after
they are mowed.
• Wheat and other cereals that we eat come from seeds
called grains.
• Plants have different structures that function in growth
and survival. |
•
Observe plant development.
• Record and communicate observations in words and drawings.
• Compare the development of different kinds of plants.
• Organize representations of lawns to show the sequence
of events during growth and mowing. |
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3. |
STEMS |
|
Students
make new plants from stems of houseplants. They put sections
of stems from mints, ivies, and other plants into water and
look for evidence that a new plant is forming. Stem pieces that
develop roots are planted to make new plants. Students also
plant pieces of potatoes (modified stems) and observe them grow
into plants. |
•
New plants can grow from stems of mature plants.
• Plants need water and light to grow.
• Leaves, twigs, and roots develop on stems at the nodes.
• Potatoes are underground stems. |
•
Observe the development of roots on stems.
• Record and communicate observations in words and drawings.
• Compare the development of cuttings from different plants.
• Identify evidence that a cutting will develop into a
new plant. |
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4. |
BULBS
AND ROOTS |
|
Students
plant onion bulbs or garlic cloves in moist cotton and observe
as they develop into new plants. They plant parts of roots—carrots
and radishes—to discover which parts will develop into
new plants. |
•
Bulbs are alive.
• Bulbs need water to start growing.
• Parts of roots will grow into new plants. Other parts
will not. |
•
Observe the growth of roots and bulbs.
• Record and communicate observations in words and drawings.
• Compare the development of different parts of plants. |
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