WHAT CAN WE GROW? KS3 SCIENCE LESSON PLANS OBJECTIVES OTHER CURRICULUM LINKS PRIOR KNOWLEDGE KS3 SCIENCE CURRICULUM EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES

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Erin James
6 years ago
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1 KS3 SCIENCE LESSON PLANS WHAT CAN WE GROW? TERM: SEPTEMBER HALF TERM OBJECTIVES By the end of the lesson pupils should be able to: Recall that the ph scale is used to show how acidic or alkaline a substance is Use a narrow range ph colour scale to measure the acidity of a liquid Collect and label samples in the field for later testing in the classroom Decide whether a soil is suitable for growing a particular vegetable KS3 SCIENCE CURRICULUM 1.1b Critically analyse and evaluate evidence from observations and experiments. 2.1a Use a range of scientific methods and techniques to develop and test ideas and explanations. 2.1b Assess risk and work safely in the laboratory, field and workplace 2.1c Plan and carry out practical and investigative activities, both individually and in groups. 2.2a Obtain, record and analyse data from a wide range of primary and secondary sources, including ICT sources, and use their findings to provide evidence for scientific explanations. 3.2c Elements and compounds show characteristic chemical properties and patterns in their behaviour. 4.a Opportunities for pupils to research, experiment, discuss and develop arguments 4.c Opportunities for pupils to use real-life examples as a basis for finding out about science OTHER CURRICULUM LINKS ICT, PSHE (global warming, sustainable farming) PRIOR KNOWLEDGE Pupils should have used wide range ph paper and be familiar with the colour matching technique. EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES Per student: Garden plan, vegetable list (page 4) student worksheet (page 5), graph paper, mini whiteboard and marker. Per group: 3 sample jars, 3 spatulas, 3 sticky labels, test tubes, test tube rack, distilled water bottle, filter funnel, filter paper, ph paper. EVERY CHILD MATTERS Be healthy, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution, achieve economic wellbeing 3.3d All living things show variation, can be classified and are interdependent, interacting with each other and their environment.

2 PREPARATION Divide class into small groups, preferably mixed sex and ability. Test ph of soil beforehand to check it is within the range expected. Make a plan of the vegetable garden area and photocopy. Make sufficient copies of the student worksheet (page 5). WHAT TO DO Settling activity Odd one out Pumpkin, Carrot, Orange and Tomato (page 3). Put on the board for pupils to consider, take a few ideas when everyone is in the room. Starter Pair/Share activity: What do vegetables need to grow well? Use mini whiteboards or verbal feedback to draw up a list. Bring in the idea of soil type if it hasn t been mentioned. Extension Produce a graph showing the ph range of the vegetables on the list. Draw a line (or lines) to show the ph results for the school garden. Plenary Groups feedback on their findings, results and choices compared, improvements suggested. HOMEWORK Research the other growing conditions required for one of the vegetables that you chose. What else would be needed to ensure a bumper crop? Write a list including time to plant, spacing between plants and rows and any other special instructions. Do you still think that this is a good plant for the school to grow? Explain your answer. Main teaching phase 1. Introduce task, put students into their groups and hand out garden plans and vegetable lists (page 4). Explain that these are the vegetables that we would like to grow next year and their preferred soil ph. As there is limited space in the garden it is important to only grow vegetables that will produce good yields so the soil ph must be tested and only suitable vegetables chosen. 2. Hand out the instructions and equipment. In their groups, ask them to decide where they would like to collect their samples from, mark the locations on the plan and label their sample bottles in advance. Follow the student worksheets (page 5). 3. When they are ready, go into the garden and collect small samples from their chosen location. 4. Bring the samples back into the lab and carry out the tests as described on the student worksheet. 5. Students record their results and select 3 vegetables from the list that would grow well in your school garden. 6. Tidy up.

3 WHICH IS THE ODD ONE OUT?

4 VEGETABLE LIST Preferred soil PH Asparagus 6 8 Beetroot Carrots Courgette Cucumber Leek 6 8 Lettuce 6 7 Pea Potato Pumpkin Radish 6 7 Runner beans Spinach Spring Onion 6 7 Sweet Potato Tomato

5 WHAT CAN WE GROW? Plants need the correct growing conditions to produce the best crop. You are going to test the ph of the soil to find out which vegetables will grow best in our school garden. PLANNING 1. In your group, decide where you want to collect soil samples from. Mark and label the places on your garden plan. 2. Write labels to go on the sample containers. Decide what information you should include. Make sure that your containers won t get mixed up with another group s. 3. Check with your teacher before going on to the next step. TESTING 1. Put a few spatulas of the first sample into a clean boiling tube. 2. Add distilled water (NOT tap water). 3. Shake for one minute to mix with the soil. 4. Allow the soil to settle for a few minutes then pour the liquid gently into the filter funnel. Take care not to tip the soil in as this will clog up the filter paper and slow things down. 5. Collect the clear liquid (filtrate). 6. Test using the ph paper. 7. Record your results in the table. 8. Repeat with the other samples. COLLECTING THE SAMPLES 1. Take your labelled sample containers, spatulas and plans into the garden. 2. Collect a small sample from your first location. Put it in the correct container. 3. Go to the second and third places and collect samples there. Use a clean spatula for each sample. 4. Take the samples back to the lab for testing. RESULTS Sample number Location ph ANALYSIS Look at your list of vegetables. Can you choose 3 vegetables that could grow in the school garden? The three vegetables that I would choose to grow in the school garden are:

6 HOMEWORK SHEET Using the internet or library, research the growing conditions needed for one of the vegetables that you chose. What else would be needed apart from the right ph to ensure a bumper crop? Use the information you find to answer the questions below. The vegetable that I have chosen is: When should this vegetable be planted? Can you sow the seeds straight outside? How far apart should they be? Any special instructions? Any pests or diseases? When is it ready to pick? Do you still think that this vegetable is suitable for school? Explain your answer Which website or book did you use to find out this information?

Room to Grow. Purpose. Background Information. Time. Materials. Procedure

Room to Grow. Purpose. Background Information. Time. Materials. Procedure Room to Grow Purpose Students will plant 5-6 different seeds of different sizes to investigate if seed size directly corresponds to the size of the plant the seed produces over time. Students will learn