Educatingyounger children on growing

plants and encouraging "greenthumbs“ for a better lifestyle

Amna Hussain

Biochemical Processes and our Surroundings

1.Introduction-discussion on energy

2.The process of photosynthesis

Library research

3.Energy Storage in Cells

4. Enzyme Activity

5.Host 5th graders from the elementary school

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

Lab 1- Planting Mint in our class, and investigating the process of photosynthesis

Observe impact of various factors on

plant growth

Investigate different factors that impact

photosynthesis.

Test for photosynthesis in

plants

This lab activity will lead into the Unit, and the plants will be used to investigate what is learned in each topic

Growing plants Investigating Photosynthesis

Investigating 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

Initial project of the UnitPlant the mint in the classroom.

Each group plants two plants.

Students will work in small groups of 4 students each

Each group places one plant in direct sunlight and one in another corner of the classroom. Measure

growth daily.

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

What can this mean?

Students analyze data collected using Excel Spreadsheets and brainstorm what this information can mean

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

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.

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

.

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