Transcript AMSTI Plant Growth PPT Lessons 3-4

Date
Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds
Inside of Planter Quad
Participant’s GuideTH-5
Step 1: Pick up all of your supplies from the
distribution station. Be sure you have these items
before you begin planting:
 1 planter quad
 8 Wisconsin Fast Plants seeds
 1 spoon
 1 toothpick
 1 cup of potting mix
 1 planter label
 4 wicks
 1 pair of forceps
 12 fertilizer pellets
 1 paper towel
Step 2: Place one wick in each section
of the planter quad. Use your forceps
to pull the wick through the hole until
the tip sticks out about 1 centimeter.
Step 3: Fill each section of the quad
halfway with potting mix.
Step 4: Add three fertilizer pellets to
each section. Look closely. The
fertilizer pellets are much larger than
the seeds.
Step 5: Fill each section of the quad to
the top with potting mix. Press it down
a little with your fingers.
Step 6: Put a drop of water on your tray and
dip your toothpick in it. Use the wet
toothpick to pick up one seed. Place the seed
just below the potting mix and cover it. Plant
a second seed in this section in the same way.
Repeat until there are two seeds in each
section of the planter.
Step 7: Water very gently, a drop or
two at a time, until water drips from
the bottom of each wick.
Step 8: Write your name and today’s
date on the planter label and place it in
the planter.
Step 9: Place your quad under the light bank
with the label facing out. Double-check to
see that your planter is completely on the
water mat and that the quad is about 2 to 3
inches from the lightbulbs. If you could see
the inside of each planter this is what it
would look like.
Watering System:
Wisconsin Fast Plants require constant moisture. The watering
system delivers water from the tank by capillary action.
Keep a
sign on
the
lighting
kit for
others.
Keep lights on 24 hours a day!
• 10. Return all leftover supplies to the
distribution station.
• 11. Clean up your work space!
Begin Plant Diary Observation Sheet TH-6
What do you think will happen
to the seeds over the next 24
hours?
Write your predictions in your
science notebook.
What happens
to a seed as it starts to grow?
Germination- the process by which seeds swell up,
begin to sprout, and develop stem and roots.
Environmental Matters
• Seeds need water, air, and warmth
to germinate.
• Plants need water, air, warmth,
nutrition, light, and space to grow.
Plant Growth and Development
Table of Contents
# Lesson Title
1
2
3
4
Plants KWL
Inside a Seed
Planting the Seeds
Thinning and Transplanting
Date
Date
Lesson 4: Thinning and
Transplanting (Day 4 or 5)
Question: What do ALL living things need?
Have you ever had experience
thinning or transplanting plants?
Why is it important to thin
plants?
Why is it sometimes necessary
to transplant plants?
Observe your plant with a hand lens.
How are the plants different from one
another?
Are all the seedlings the same size?
The same color?
Where are the differences, exactly? In the
shape or size of the leaf? In the length of
the stem?
Did every seed sprout, or germinate?
Materials List
For each student:
 Student notebook
 1 toothpick
 1 pair of scissors
For every 2 students:
 1 hand lens
 1 pair of forceps
(optional)
For the class
Potting mix
Surplus planter quads
1 large or several small containers for the class plot (egg
cartons, milk cartons cut lengthwise, margarine tubs)
Wicks for above containers (if none available, use cotton twine)
Decide which one plant from each cell you
will keep and which one you will thin out.
You will end up with four plants, one per cell.
Thinning and Transplanting
Before Thinning:
Gently loosen the
soil with a
toothpick.
Plan to set aside one
of the extra
seedlings to draw
later.
You may thin your plants by…
Cutting them close to the soil and
discarding them.
or
Uprooting the plants and transplanting
them.
If you choose to uproot your seedlings
you have the following choices:
Transplant then into one of their own cells
where no seeds germinated.
Donate them to a classmate for
transplanting.
Transplant them into the prepared class
pots.
Draw and label the parts of one of your
uprooted plants in your Plant DiaryObservation Chart.
Be sure to include:
The seed leaves, the stem and the roots.
Stake and Clip