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Mighty Microgreens

45 min lesson

Enjoy sweet or spicy microgreens with students! Students will explore plant needs and grow a tasty treat for them to enjoy!

Monocots and Dicots

30 min lesson

In this lesson students set up a side-by-side germination experiment of monocot and dicot seeds. They will observe differences and similarities of these two types of flowering plants at the germination level, specifically the number of cotyledons. Students can record their findings daily. This is a great way to begin a flowering plant unit

Nature Walk Journal

60 min lesson

In this activity students make notebooks to both hold materials they find and record their observations on nature walks.

While most plants grow from seeds, many can also be grown from bulbs, tubers or stem cuttings. This is called
vegetative propagation. It is used in agriculture for growing many types of plants in the nursery and greenhouse industry, as well as for raising crops like potatoes and garlic.

Alternative Plant Propagation lesson available on the Curriculum Matrix.

This lesson investigates the miraculous process of air and water combining with seeds, soil and sunlight to create nearly all the food we eat. By having students observe different types of seeds, this lesson takes plant germination one step further by having students record the differing growth rates and other observations in germination journals (template provided).

Garnish your math, literacy and science curriculum with sweet or spicy microgreens! Students will explore a tasty way to learn about life cycles and calculate area through real-life applications.

The Apple Farming Game

45 min lesson

Throughout the years, farmers have dealt with a wide range of challenges. In this activity students will experience the challenges of modern-day farmers through a simulation card game. Students will discover the work required and choices made for the food they eat.

In this activity, students will observe barley seed heads and sort them to compare and contrast traits with parent barleys, showing that offspring are like, but not exactly like, their parents. Lesson developed by Barleyworld, Oregon State University.

Virtual Version of the lesson plan can be found here.

The Bog of Buoyancy

60 min lesson

Discover the law of buoyancy and its importance in the production of cranberries! Students will explore whether or not a cranberry floats and the phenomena of the buoyancy force.

Find virtual learning versions of this lesson here.

Students will explore the use of Punnett squares and rudimentary statistical math through the lens of a real-life barley breeding scenario. Students will be introduced to the genetics of two barley varieties and will work towards an objective using Punnett squares and reasoning. In this activity, students will cross the Buck and Lightning varieties to create an F1, then cross two F1s to create an F2, to satisfy the objective. Finally, they will use a Chi-square calculator to evaluate a set of real-life data in comparison to their results. This lab assumes that students have already had a basic introduction to Punnett squares, their uses, and how to complete them. It is designed as a potential culmination of, and not a replacement for a genetics and Punnett square unit.

Virtual Lesson Plan