GARDENZ 4 GROWTH
Inside the classroom.
Gardenz 4 Growth can customize the classroom visit according to the needs of the group.
Activities
- All different kind of plants and different life stages for hands on interaction
- Papers to label plant parts and life cycles (or color for younger kids)
- Books about plants, garden helpers, and the environment
- Planting station if this is an option
- Varying levels of worksheets: label parts of plants or bugs, insect inventor, “Good Guy Bugs” coloring sheet
- Bug station with one or more of the following: caterpillars, butterflies, salamanders, worms, praying mantis, tadpoles, frogs.
- A “Good Guy Bug” vs “Bad Guy Bug” game
Lesson Topics
-Where does food come from? (Farms, Gardens, planters)
-Who can name some of the foods we eat?
-Is our food grown above or below ground (both)
-Where do plants come from?
-Plants (autotrophs) need several things to grow:
1.Sun 2. Water 3. Air-CO2 4. Most need a medium (soil)
-Hydroponic: tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, kale, cucumbers, strawberries
-How do plants make their food to grow? PHOTOSYNTHESIS
•Roots take in water and vitamins/minerals
•Leaves take in CO2
•Plants use the energy of the sun (light energy converts to chemical energy) to convert these ingredients into food (carbohydrates or simple sugars) and release oxygen.
Lab: bean in a bag science experiment
The bean in a bag experiment is a simple science experiment that shows kids the life cycle of a bean seed up close and personal. This project takes a few weeks to complete so make sure to allow enough time to grow the bean seeds from sprout to plant.
Supplies:
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Green bean seeds
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Potting soil
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Jar or cup
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Plastic baggie
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Paper towels
Directions:
First, dampen some paper towels and put them inside a plastic baggie. Place a few seeds inside the bag and close it. Attach the plastic baggie to a sunny location, like a window.
Wait until the seeds start to sprout. This stage is known as “germination.”
Once the seeds germinate, they are ready to plant. Plant the seeds in a cup or jar filled with potting soil. Place in a sunny location and keep the soil damp.
Over the next few weeks, the sprout will grow into a seedling and eventually a mature plant. Once the seedling has multiple leaf shoots, it is ready to be transplanted outdoors or into a jar.
Plant outside in a sunny location and continue to monitor its growth. In a few months, you’ll see the green bean pods appear!