Objectives and Lesson Plan Unit 4 Plant Applications

LESSON PLAN WITH OBJECTIVES – PLANT APPLICATIONS

I. AND II. SEEDS AND SEED GERMINATION

OBJECTIVES: 1. Describe the structure and formation of a seed. 2. List the three requirements for germination of most seeds. 3. State the effect of humic acids on germination and where they can be found.

LESSON PLANS: 1. Use Unit 4 power point presentation slides 1-8 to discuss the structure of a seed and the factors which effect germination.

2. Have a variety of seeds displayed at the front of the room. Hold up various seed and ask students to identify. Be sure to include some big seeds like avocado. 3. Cut open one of the large seed and talk about the seed parts. Pass the seed around the room. Use the picture of the seed to help students identify the parts. 4. Ask students if they have seen seed that have started to germinate inside the fruit. Talk about dormancy requirements for some seed. 5. Labs - Effect of light on germination, Effect of moisture on germination and Effect of temperature on germination. Discuss the results with the students. 6. Have students design an experiment to measure the effect of humic acids on germination. Carry out the experiment if possible.

II. PLANT PROPOGATION

OBJECTIVES: 1. List three benefits to starting seeds in flats in a greenhouse. 2. Describe three ways to get an acceptable organic soil mixture. 3. Identify the hormone important in stimulating rooting of cuttings and where it can be found. 4. List three other ways to asexually propagate plants

LESSON PLANS: 1. Ask students to identify three important factors in germination they learned in the last lesson. Ask how these factors can be controlled to get the best germination. Use their answers in a discussion of the advantages of starting seed in the greenhouse. 2. Use Unit 4 power point presentation slides 9-22 to introduce sexual and asexual propogation, and soil mixes. 3. Have a bag of commercial sterile seed starting soil mix at the front of the room. Read the label that tells the contents. Ask students if this would be suitable for an organic operation. 4. Have students look up the price for organic seed starting mixes, including the shipping. This can be done from catalogs you have available or the internet. Have them compare the cost with the cost of home-made soil mixes. 5. Lab – soil mixes 6. Demonstrate taking a stem cutting from a house plant. 7. Demonstrate cutting a potato tuber into two pieces, each with an eye as another method of asexual reproduction. 8. Demonstrate layering to discuss this method of reproduction. 9. Explain tissue culture. 10.The powerpoint presentation Asexual propagation lab presents a simple lab of taking 4 types of cuttings.

III. TRANSPIRATION STREAM APPLICATION

OBJECTIVES: 1. Describe why wilting occurs in young tender plants like lettuce, when there is water available to the roots. 2. Identify a method to prevent wilting.

LESSON PLANS: 1. Review the transpiration stream and ask students to visualize what would happen if the water lost by a large leaf surface like a lettuce leaf was greater than the water taken in by the roots. 2. Ask students what could be done to slow the transpiration stream, having them recall that the stoma open to take in carbon dioxide, but in the process they also lose water. 3. Slide 23 lists the highlights and 24 is a conclusion to the unit.