Hydroponics to Understand Plant Needs

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Hester Eleanor Montgomery
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Hydroponics to Understand Plant Needs For further information contact Karie Insua Lake Alfred Elementary Route B 550 E. Cummings Street Lake Alfred, FL 33850 (863) 295-5985 Karie.insua@polk-fl.

Students will also debunk the old myth that plants need soil to live. The students will get a clear and visual example of how a plant works with a culminating activity of growing a full scale garden.

1 Hydroponics to Understand Plant Needs For further information contact Karie Insua Lake Alfred Elementary Route B 550 E. Cummings Street Lake Alfred, FL (863) Karie.insua@polk-fl.net n PROGRAM OVERVIEW Students will have an opportunity to use a hydroponic growing system to show exactly how a plant uses what it needs to live. Students will also debunk the old myth that plants need soil to live. The students will get a clear and visual example of how a plant works with a culminating activity of growing a full scale garden. Much more hands on than just reading it out of a book or growing a seed in a plastic bag in the window. This program was created for a third grade inclusion classroom but can be adapted easily for any grade and ability level. n OVERALL VALUE This program was an Ah Ha moment for most of our kids because they learned exactly what their plants needed using visual models. They also got to apply their learning with their own garden that the entire school can see on a daily basis. This program is also successful because students can show what they have learned by keeping their own garden plants alive until harvest. Each student has their own garden box planter and plants to maintain. n LESSON PLAN TITLES Plant Needs Let it Grow! How Does Your Garden Grow? n ABOUT THE DEVELOPER Karie Insua is a third grade teacher at Lake Alfred Elementary where she has been for the last six years. Karie graduated from Florida Southern College with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education and is also Exceptional Student Education Certified. In her spare time Karie loves to run and camp with her husband, son, and two dogs. H H H n MATERIALS See individual lesson plans for specific materials needed.

2 Lesson Plan No 1: Plant Needs n SUBJECTS COVERED Science, Plants Topic n GRADES Third n OBJECTIVES Students will label the parts of a plant, define plant vocabulary, and construct tree maps of plant needs. n NGSS SC.3.L.13.1 Describe structures in plants and their roles in food production, support, water and nutrient transport, and reproduction. SC.3.L.14.2 Investigate and describe how plants respond to stimuli (heat, light, gravity), such as the way plant stems grow toward light and their roots grow downward in response to gravity. n MATERIALS Paper Crayons Science book or trade book with diagram of a plant Dictionary n DIRECTIONS Students will use trade books or Science text to get examples of plant parts. Students will then draw a diagram of a basic plant and label its parts. After labeling is completed, students will use a dictionary or glossary to define vocabulary and create a tree map of the needs of a plant. n EVALUATION/ ASSESSMENT Attached is the rubric for each lesson plan. H H H

3 Lesson Plan No 2: Let It Grow n SUBJECTS COVERED Science n GRADES Third n OBJECTIVES Students will plant a pea seed in a hydroponic tray. start Hydroponic Garden Observation Sheet. observe celery and food coloring experiment. n NGSS SC.3.N.3.2 Recognize that scientists use models to help understand and explain how things work. SC.3.N.1.6 Infer based on observation SC.3.N.1.3 Keep records as appropriate, such as pictorial, written, or simple charts and graphs, of investigations conducted. SC3.N.1.1. Raise questions about the natural world, investigate them individually and in teams through free exploration and systematic investigations, and generate appropriate explanations based on those explorations. SC3.L Recognize that plants use energy from the Sun, air, and water to make their own food. n MATERIALS pea seeds black tray-solid black tray-with slotted bottom for water to flow through 3 feet of cotton batting Water compost tea ruler Hydroponic Garden Observation Sheet You will need double the trays and seeds if you plan on placing one in the closet and one in the sun. One bag of cut celery food coloring clear cups (one for each color you use) n DIRECTIONS Place slotted tray inside solid tray. Place batting on the bottom of slotted tray. Sprinkle the bottom of the slotted tray with pea seeds until tray is covered. Add water to soak the batting. Draw observation on observation sheet. Place tray in the sun, or place one in sun and one in shade if you are doing both. Observe every day for 2 weeks drawing observations (attached). As plants grow, point out to students the color differences of the plants in the two different locations. After one week add compost tea to both sets of plants to watch how plants use nutrients. At this time do celery, food coloring, water experiment to show students how the roots absorbs nutrients/ water and carries them throughout the plant. Three days before end of unit, put plants from the closet in the sun and observe and record how the plants use the light in photosynthesis. n EVALUATION/ ASSESSMENT Attached is the rubric for each lesson plan. H H H

4 Lesson Plan No 3: How Does My Garden Grow? (optional lesson plan) n SUBJECTS COVERED Science n GRADES Third n OBJECTIVES Students will plant a container garden. observe and record plant growth. problem solve any illnesses plants may contract. n NGSS SC.3.L.14.2 Investigate and describe how plants respond to stimuli (heat, light, gravity), such as the way plant stems grow toward light and their roots grow downward in response to gravity. SC.3.L.14.2 Investigate and describe how plants respond to stimuli (heat, light, gravity), such as the way plant stems grow toward light and their roots grow downward in response to gravity. SC.3.N.1.1 Raise questions about the natural world, investigate them individually and in teams through free exploration and systematic investigations, and generate appropriate explanations based on those explorations. SC.3.N.1.3 Keep records as appropriate, such as pictorial, written, or simple charts and graphs, of investigations conducted. SC.3.N.1.7 Explain that empirical evidence is information, such as observations or measurements, which is used to help validate explanations of natural phenomena. n MATERIALS containers (we used empty boxtype recycling bins and grow box set-up through an organization called Hope Growers, although this is not necessary) soil (organic if possible) Plants water source plants of different varieties depending on season garden observation sheets n DIRECTIONS This will take about an hour to plant. Using pots, soil, and plants, students plant the garden with desired spacing. Begin observations every day using Garden Observation Sheet. Once garden begins to grow use Growing Garden Observation sheet to record plant growth. If problem like mold or fungus arise, use these as teaching moments and research symptoms and treatments. Have students record all recipes and findings using observation sheets. n EVALUATION/ ASSESSMENT Attached is the rubric for each lesson plan. n ADDITIONAL INFORMATION When building grow boxes line one bin with plastic sheeting to block water flow. Drill 1-1/2 inch hole in a bottom corner of another bin. Stack bin with the hole on top of the first bin and insert PVC pipe cut to 3 ft. for water system. Drill ½ inch holes through both bins about 5 in. from the top on one side for overflow drainage. Fill top bin with soil and add plants. To water (after plants have become established) add water through the pipe until it starts to overflow through holes. Water only as needed after. H H H

5 Lesson Plans Materials Budget Materials Budget SUPPLIER ITEM # AND DESCRIPTION COST QTY TOTAL COST Johnnyseeds.co field peas /2 lb 7.30 Joanns Fabric 6Oz x 48 In x 30 Yd Poly - by the yard greenhousemegastore.com 1020 black plastic trays Home Depot 0.71 gal. Plastic Nursery Container Home Depot Miracle-Gro 1.5 cu. ft. Moisture Control Garden Soil* ebay.com GH Flora Blend-Vegan Compost Tea quart /plant as needed & Home Depot Plant Assortment * (estimated) funding allows Home Depot 10 ft x 25 ft Clear 6 mil Polyethylene Sheeting * /2 in x 10 ft PVC Sch. 40 DWV Plain End Pipe * cu. ft. Organic Garden Soil * pcsb green team dept 14 gal. Recycling Bin - keep environmentally or donations friendly & find some no longer in use * * OPTIONAL Karie Insua Teacher Lake Alfred Elementary School Subtotal $ Tax if applicable Shipping if applicable 5.55 TOTAL BUDGET AMOUNT $400.00

6 Rubric Student Name Category Plant Parts Drawing Complete drawing including stem, flower, leaves, roots Complete drawing but missing one or more plant part. drawing with some plant parts labeled drawing with no labels. Hydroponic Garden Observation Sheet Complete pages thru day 8 Completed pages with missing information pages with some missing information pages with frequent missing information Plant Needs Tree Map Complete Tree May with all 4 needs listed and described Complete Tree Map with all 4 needs listed but incompletely described Tree Map with one or more needs missing Tree Map with some needs missing and incomplete descriptions Garden Observation Sheet Complete thru end of unit. No missing information Most days completed, but with some missing information Most days missing with missing measurement data daily measurements and not keeping track of plant growth. Growing Plant Observation Sheet Complete thru end of unit. No missing information Most days completed, but with some missing information. Most days missing with missing measurement data daily measurements and not keeping track of plant growth

7 Observation Record Sheet Plant name and observation date Length of Stem (in cm) Number of Buds on Stem Number of Leaves on Stem General Observations about plant

8 Growing Garden Observation Sheet Plant Name: Day / Date Length of Stem (cm) # of Buds Number of Leaves Soil Next Step Plant Name: Day / Date Length of Stem (cm) # of Buds Number of Leaves Soil Next Step

9 Growing Garden Observation Sheet (cont.) Plant Name: Day / Date Length of Stem (cm) # of Buds Number of Leaves Soil Next Step Plant Name: Day / Date Length of Stem (cm) # of Buds Number of Leaves Soil Next Step

10 Name: Garden Observation Record Sheet - Hydroponic Garden From the Greek language: Hydros- meaning water, Ponos- meaning work Day Planted: What it looked like: Day One Observations: Day Five Observations:

11 Garden Observation Record Sheet - Hydroponic Garden (cont.) Day Six Observations: Day Seven Observations: Day Eight Observations:

12 Name: Garden Observation Record Sheet Wk 2 - Hydroponic Garden What it looked like: From the Greek language: Hydros- meaning water, Ponos- meaning work Observations: Explain why the plans look the way they do. What is happening? What it looked like: Observations: Explain why the plans look the way they do. What is happening?

13 Garden Observation Record Sheet Wk 2 - Hydroponic Garden (cont.) What it looked like: Observations: Explain why the plans look the way they do. What is happening? What it looked like: Observations: Explain why the plans look the way they do. What is happening?

2 nd Grade Lesson Plan: Plant Life Cycle

2 nd Grade Lesson Plan: Plant Life Cycle Objective: Teach students about the different steps of the plant life cycle: seed, germination (sprout), seedling, and growth into an adult plant. Materials: Sandwich