Exploring Plant Growth
by Lori Bertrand, lori.bertrand@cpsb.org

Content Area(s)
Art
Math
Science

Grade Level(s)
4, 5, 

Overview
The students will participate in a science experiment where they observe, photograph, and document the growth of plants. The final products will be 2 videos showing the growth of a plant using elapsed time and also a generated chart showing plant growth.

Software
Sheet To Go- spread sheet document
Note Pad- writing document
Sketchy

Technology
Digital Camera
Palm handhelds
Movie Maker or Video Blender

Objectives
GLE E-47. Grade Level Expectation: Life Cycles of Organisms: Sequence stages in the life cycles of various organisms, including seed plants (LS-E-B1)
TLW understand the stages in the life cycle of a seed or flowering plant.
TLW record the stages of the life cycle of a plant using a variety of technologies.
TLW reconstruct the life cycle of their plant based on data collected.

Procedures
•The students will begin the project by choosing a researched seed or flowering plant to plant and observe.
•The students will photograph the plant throughout each stage of the growth process using a digital camera and their palm handhelds (spread sheet document to track the growth).
•As the plants begin to grow there should be discussion about the parts of a plant, what makes the plant grow (photosynthesis), and why one may grow better or faster than another (types of soil, nutrients from the soil, water, etc.).
•The Students will continue to document the growth and reflect, using Note Pad, on their observations until the plant has reached a reasonable size or until it dies (to demonstrate the entire life cycle of the plant).
•After all of the data has been collected the student will then compile the photos they have taken to create an elapsed time video including plant measurements that were recorded throughout the project.
•Finally the students will recreate the life cycle of their plant including growth measurements using sketchy and present both products to the class.

Other Supporting Material
Plants:%20Green,%20Growing,%20Giving%20Life%20(Grades%203-5)
How%20Plants%20Grow%20(Grades%201-5)
Plant%20Glossary:%20A-Z

Submitted on: 8/26/2006 11:20:20 AM