Download Plant Growth & Development

Photo courtesy WFP
Plant Growth & Development
Initial Use Training for WA LASER
prepared and presented by Mary Moore
Goals for Plant Growth &
Development: Concepts
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Many plants follow a life cycle
that begins with growth from a
seed and proceeds through the
production of seeds.
Plants have distinct stages in
their life cycle.
To live and grow plants need
light, water, and nutrients from
the soil.
Flowering plants must be
pollinated in order to produce
seeds.
Many plants are pollinated by
bees.
A flowers pollen sticks to a bee,
but some rubs off when the bee
feeds at other flowers.
One seed produces one plant;
one plant can produce many
seeds.
Goals for Plant Growth &
Development: Skills
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Planting and caring for Brassica
plants.
Observing, describing, and
recording changes in plants.
Comparing and discussing
changes occurring in plants over
time.
Measuring and recording the
growth of plants.
Using graphs to display and
compare growth patterns.
Predicting future growth from
observations and measurements.
Reading to learn more about
plants.
Communicating results and
reflecting on experiences through
writing, drawing, and discussion.
Goals for Plant Growth &
Development: Attitudes
• Developing interest in
studying the life cycle
of plants.
• Developing sensitivity
to the needs of plants.
• Developing an
awareness of the
interaction between
plants and animals.
What Is Inside a Seed?
Students observe how the bean seed has changed
after being soaked in water overnight. Students record
their observations, open the bean seed and observe
the inside, and draw and label the parts of a bean seed.
Graphic courtesy WFP
Day 0
Each seed contains a
tiny, new plant, called
an embryo. The
outside of the seed is
called the seed coat.
A seed can remain
dormant (sleeping)
for years, as long as
it stays dry and cool.
Photo courtesy WFP
Planting the Seeds
Students collect and
organize their own
materials for planting.
Students set up their
planters with wicks,
fertilizer, potting mix
and seeds.
Planting the Seeds - continued
Students pick up the tiny
Brassica seeds with a damp
toothpick and place them in
the soil. Students write their
names on plant markers
and insert them into the soil
near the edge of the quad.
Day 1 - 2
Photos courtesy WFP
A day or two after planting and watering, the tiny
seed germinates. During germination, the seed
takes up water and swells until its seed coat
cracks. The embryonic root emerges first, followed
by the stem and two cotyledons (seed leaves).
Day 2 - 3
Photo courtesy WFP
The stem pushes through the soil, pulling the
cotyledons along with it. No longer needed, the
seed coat drops from the cotyledons to the soil.
Day 4 or 5
Photo courtesy WFP
The stem elongates as the plant
reaches upward for light. Students
discuss the purpose of thinning and
transplanting and learn how to carry
out these two tasks.
Day 5, 6, 7, or 8
Photo courtesy WFP
The true leaves emerge once the plant has
used up the energy stored in the
cotyledons. Students learn how to measure
their plants to the nearest centimeter.
Students begin keeping records of their
plant growth on a bar graph
Day 7, 8, or 9
Photos courtesy WFP
Stems elongate at the internodes, which is the space
between the nodes (where the leaves attach).
Students observe two major developments: the true
leaves and the flower buds. Students record their
observations in their notebooks and review the life
cycle of a plant through this stage of development.
Observing the Growth Spurt
Days 9 to 13
Students measure plant height in
centimeters and record it on a graph
every day for one week. Students
predict how much their plant will grow
each day and analyze their data on the
growth spurt.
Why Are Bees Important?
Students use a hand lens to observe dried bees. Students
make bee sticks to be used as a tool for pollination.
The Anatomy of a Bee
Looking at Flowers
Photo courtesy WFP
Students observe details of the flower’s
anatomy and identify the major parts.
Students learn more about the crucifer
family.
Pollinating Flowers
Day 12 -18
Students use the bee sticks to cross-pollinate
their plants. Students read more about the
interdependence of bees and flowers.
Observing Pods
Day 17 to 35
Photo courtesy WFP
Students observe the development of the fertilized
pods between Day 17 and Day 35. Students record
their observations by drawing, writing, and graphing.
Harvesting and Threshing
the Seeds
Photo courtesy WFP
Students harvest and thresh the seeds. Students count
the seeds and compare that number with the original
number of seeds planted to determine their profit or loss.
Students think about additional questions they have about
plants and experiments that might help answer them.