Growing Seedlings
Objectives
1. To discover the effects of good soil on plants by growing seedlings.
Materials
3 pots, different types of soil: sand, garden soil and composted soil, seeds of the same type.
Procedure
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1. Show the children the materials you have gathered and allow them time to explore them.
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2. Next, review the previous lesson on soil profiles and how plants need good soil in order to grow. Tell them that plants also need warmth, sunshine, air and water for maximum growth.
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3. Tell the children that today they will discover the effects of good soil on plants by growing seedlings.
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4. Divide the class into 3 groups. Have the children label their pot according to their group and soil type. Plant the seeds of the same type one in each pot. Water them regularly and give them the same amount of light.
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5. Let the children compare the growth of the seeds in each pot.
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6. Allow them to record their findings in their eco-journals.
Suggested Activities
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1. Allow the children to handle soil from several different locations. Encourage them to compare the textures, colors and odors of soil.
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2. Place soil in a sieve and sand in another. Using equal measuring units, pour water over the soil and sand.Let children observe which allows the water to drain through first.
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3. Discuss how people use the land. Let the children make a collage or poster with pictures showing the activities people do on land.
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4. Show pictures of animals. Discuss which animals make their homes on or in the land. Categorize the animals by habitats.
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5. Let the children hold a forum with school administrators to discuss how trash and litter deface the appearance of planet Earth and their school ground. Let the children organize a Clean-Up Day. The children can make posters and send out invitations to parents and neighbors to come join the fun as you clean up the litter and debris from your school grounds.
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6. Locate where hazardous waste is produced and disposed of in your community.
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7. Locate gas stations in your area with an oil recycling program.
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8. Let the children send out a monthly newletters featuring an ecology tip for the month.
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9. Encourage the children to plant a tree.
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10. Learn about your local recycling programs.
Water
Water is the most common substance on earth. It covers three-fourths of the earth’s surface, is the main ingredient in most fruits, vegetables, and meats, and composes 65% of the adult human body. Three quarters of a person’s body weight is made of water while blood consists of 90% water.
Water improves human life in a variety of ways. Without it people would die within a few days. With it, we water our crops and add variety to life through swimming, water skiing, and other recreations. We use water to clean ourselves and the environment in which we live.
Water is the only element known which occurs in all three states of matter: 1.) liquid, the most common, 2) a solid (ice) and 3) a gas or vapor. As an ice, water will float because of the air quantity which makes it lighter than water. It is found as glaciers, ice caps, hail, snow and frost. As a liquid, the molecules are able to slip and slide around each other for they are more loosely bound together. Water in this state is found as rain droplets, and dew. As a vapor, the molecules are moving very rapidly and have little attraction to each other. It is during this state that water evaporates. It is evaporation that causes puddles to disappear while an excess of water vapor in the air causes the air to feel “sticky.” As a gas or water vapor it is seen as fog, steam and clouds.
Freshwater makes up only about three percent of the water found on planet Earth. This is the water used by plants, animals and humans. Freshwater is found in rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams. Researchers have spent much time developing methods of removing salt from seawater as the demands for freshwater have increased. The major problem is the cost of the desalinization process.