1. Educating
younger children on growing
plants and encouraging "green
thumbs“ for a better lifestyle
Amna Hussain
2. An outline of the Unit – The theme is encouraging “green
thumbs” in younger students by education about
importance of plants and processes which lead to us
getting food from plants
1.Introduction-
discussion on
energy
5.Host 5th
2.The process
graders from
of
the elementary
photosynthesis
school
Biochemical
Processes and our
Surroundings
4. Enzyme Library
Activity research
3.Energy
Storage in Cells
3. Lab 1- Planting Mint in our class,
and investigating the process of
photosynthesis
Observe impact of
various factors on
plant growth
Test for
photosynthesis in
plants
Investigate different factors
that impact
photosynthesis.
4. This lab activity will lead into the Unit, and the plants will be
used to investigate what is learned in each topic
Investigating Investigating
Growing plants
Photosynthesis Enzyme
Activity
At the end of the Unit, the students will host 5th graders from
elementary school and explain the importance of plants in our
lives and the benefits of growing their own food
5. Students will work in small groups of 4
students each
Initial project of the Unit
Plant the mint in the classroom.
Each group plants two plants.
6. Each group places one plant in direct sunlight and
one in another corner of the classroom. Measure
growth daily.
7. After plants have grown for 10 days, Plant
1(exposed to direct sunlight) is put into darkness
for 24 hours. Leaves of both plants are tested for
starch presence.
Iodine solution used to
test for starch
Blue-clack color indicates starch present
brown indicates no starch
8. What can this mean?
Students analyze data collected using Excel Spreadsheets
and brainstorm what this information can mean
9. Conclusions?
Sunlight is essential for plant growth.
Plants that are exposed to sunlight have starch
present in their leaves.
Plants need sunlight to make starch
Plants use energy from the sun to make food
which can be consumed by humans and
animals.
Plants are essential for our survival
10. Future lessons in the Unit will focus on essential processes
in plants such as photosynthesis, energy storage and use,
and enzyme activity. The mint plants will be referred back
to during the Unit and will be the manifestation of the
topics that are observed.
11. Each group will present one topic from each sub—unit to
the 5th grade guests. The groups will show the 5th graders
the importance of plants in our lives and explain how
plants are producers of food that get their energy from
the sun and convert it to energy we can use. They will
also exhibit the mint plants in the “greenhouses” in the
class
.
12. We have all heard the saying “ the best way
to learn is to teach” , so the class will use
this experience to think over the
biochemical processes through which
plants use energy to make food and how
this affects our lives. This will also help the
class think of “simple” ways to explain
what they have learned and help them
relate this to real life experiences, as 5th
graders will need simpler explanations
