Plant Growth and Development

Table of Contents

# Lesson Title Date1 Plants KWL

2 Inside a Seed

3 Planting the Seeds

4 Thinning and Transplanting

5 How Does Your Plant Grow?

Date

Lesson 5: How Does Your Plant Grow? (Day 5, 6, 7, or 8)

At this stage of the growing cycle (approximately Day 5, 6, or 7—possibly 8), the plants have grown tall enough for students to measure and record their height in centimeters on a graph. This is an opportunity for students to apply graphing skills to the experiences they are having growing plants.

Materials ListFor each student: Student notebook 1 quad of plants 1 sheet of centimeter

graph paper (see Appendix F of teacher’s guide)

1 strip of paper precut to 1 centimeter wide (see Appendix F of teacher’s guide)

1 pair of scissors

For the class: 1 bag of 500 snap-together

centimeter cubes Glue Crayons

Wisconsin Fast Plants Growth Graph

Glue the Wisconsin Fast Plants Growth Graph into your notebooks. (TH-7)

Choose one plant to measure for the rest of this unit.

Move your name label to that cell of your quad to mark the plant you have chosen.

Write the age of the plant in the appropriate place and measure.

Measuring with paper strips…Mark the height of the

plant by drawing a line on the strip.

Fill in the squares below that line.

Double-check by holding the paper up against the plant again.

Cut off the darkened squares and above the correct day number and glue it in place.

Measuring with centimeter cubes…

Fit the cubes together so you can measure your plant to the nearest centimeter. The bottom of the cube must rest upon either the potting mix or the rim of the quad. Always rest the cubes or paper strip on the same place when measuring your plant.

Lay the cubes on the graph above the correct day number and mark the height of the column.

Darken in the bar graph to that height.

In our training:

Measure one plant in each quad.

Week 1= Day # 7

Week 2= Day # 14

Week 3= Day # 21

7 14 21 28 35 42

Plant Growth and Development

Table of Contents

# Lesson Title Date1 Plants KWL

2 Inside a Seed

3 Planting the Seeds

4 Thinning and Transplanting

5 How Does Your Plant Grow?

6 Observing Leaves and Flower Buds

Lesson 6: Observing Leaves and Buds

Overview

In addition to growing in height, plants also

develop leaves and flower buds. In this lesson,

students will observe the first true leaves and the

buds on their Brassica plants and record their

observations in both words and pictures. These

developments will take place on approximately

Day 7, 8, or 9.

Observe your quad of plants with a hand lens.

Look for the following:

Differences between the seed leaves and the true leaves

Number of both kinds of leaves

Color, size, shape, and number of buds

Draw and label the plant in your Observation Sheet. Your drawing

should show the following:

the age of your plant in daysthe differences between the two kinds of

leavesthe budsthe right number of leaves and buds

How old are the plants today?

Our plants have changed a lot since Day 1. What was the first stage of the plant’s life cycle?

Life Cycle CardsAt about 24 hours after planting, the

embryonic root emerges.

After about 28 hours, the seedling emerges from the potting mix. The seed coat is split and the white cotyledons or seed leaves are visible.

During Day 2 and 3, both the root system and the cotyledons, which are now green,

continue to grow.

On Day 4 or 5, the first true leaves appear at the growing tip of the plant, between the

seed leaves.

From Days 4 through 7, the true leaves continue to emerge and grow at a

remarkably rapid pace.

By Day 8 or 9, the yellow-green flower buds appear in a tight cluster.

What do you think will happen to the plants next?

Write your predictions in your notebook.

Plant Growth and Development

Table of Contents

# Lesson Title Date3 Planting a Seed

4 Thinning and Transplanting

5 How Does Your Plant Grow?

6 Leaves and Flower Buds

7 Growth Spurt

Lesson 7: Growth Spurt (Day 9)

Question: What is a growth spurt?

Students predict and measure their plants

everyday beginning Day 9 to about Day 13.

Growth Graph

Days 9 – 13 are the growth spurt days and dramatic changes happens. Record daily on Growth Spurt Chart.

After day 18 there is very little growth in height. The plant is busy producing buds, flowers, and seeds.

Measure at least once a week to confirm that growth has slowed or stopped. Record this on the Growth Graph.

Plant Growth and Development

Table of Contents

# Lesson Title Date3 Planting a Seed

4 Thinning and Transplanting

5 How Does Your Plant Grow?

6 Leaves and Flower Buds

7 Growth Spurt

8 Why Are Bees Important?

BEESWhat We Know

Date

Lesson 8:Why are Bees Important?

BEESWhat We Wonder

Make a quick drawing of a bee from memory.

Plant Growth and Development

Table of Contents

# Lesson Title Date8 Why Are Bees Important?

9 Getting a Handle on Your Bee

Participant’s Guide TH-9

Not necessary

The Worker Bee

HONEYBEE

Close Up of the Honeybee

The Worker Bee

•Smallest in size, but 90% of hive’s population•Always a female•Works herself to death- takes care of larvae, build and clean nest, collect nectar and pollen•Lives 3-6 weeks

•Largest, only one in hive •“Egg Factory”-can produce 1,500 eggs each day•Lives 3-5 years

•Makes up about 10% or hive’s population•Strong flier, male•Purpose in life- to catch the queen during nuptial flight and fertilize her. Winner dies•Lives 1-2 seasons (spring, summer, or both)

Foldable

The Worker Bee

Self-Assess: Fill in the sheet without your notes.