Urban Gardening; Part I: What Plants Need to Survive, Thrive, and Produce
Summary:
This lesson is a precursor to subsequent lessons comparing how garden growing techniques determine plant growth/production. Students will be activating prior knowledge in the life sciences including how plants produce their own food through photosynthesis. They will gain new knowledge about how plants get the proper nutrients to grow healthy and strong from nutrient-rich organic composted soil.
Materials:
Who Can? You Can! Maker Comics; Grow a Garden by Alexis Frederick-Frost pp.1-29
Discovery Education
Science journals
Pencils
Chart paper
Whiteboards & markers
Printed Z-Chart (link on slide 13)
A clear 2ltr plastic bottle with a lid
Some garden soil- not shop bought stuff.
Some shredded paper, (not glossy stuff though)
Any of your fruit and vegetable peelings. (Not citrus and onion skin)
Some green grass clippings, hedge trimmings and leaves.
Some water
Clear packing tape
Sharp scissors
Permanent markers
Agenda: 90 minutes
Activate prior knowledge (5 Minutes)
KWL: How do plants get nutrients?
Lesson Opening: (10 minutes)
Vocabulary preview
Video/Think-Pair-Share
What and How do Plants Eat? (15 minutes)
Maker Comics; Grow a Garden pp 1 – 12
Review Photosynthesis: Discoveryeducation.com Video: Introduction to Photosynthesis
What is Compost? (15 minutes)
Maker Comics; Grow a Garden pp 12 – 29
Discoveryeducation.com video: Composting: From Garbage to Gardens
Lesson Closure (15 minutes)
Vocabulary Review
Assessment: Z-Chart
Culminating Activity (30 Minutes)
Engineering an indoor composting container