Photosynthesis is at the center of the building and continuation of life in the planet. The process of photosynthesis is essential for the growth of most plants on land and in the oceans of the world. The growth of plants is key to the maintenance of life on the planet. Humans depend on plants and animals for survival. Photosynthesis is directly connected to the growth of gardens. This curriculum unit is designed for students of the fifth grade elementary level in an urban or suburban environment. This could also apply for any other environment where plants could grow. One of the objectives of this unit is to have students describe and explain the process of photosynthesis. Students will also be able to connect photosynthesis to other fields of science and the disciplines in the curricula of the fifth grade. Students will also plan, design, set up, maintain and evaluate several types of urban gardens in the school environment.
Writing, reading, mathematics and social studies are directly connected to the exploration of photosynthesis in this unit. A garden is an effective motivator for students to learn how to love science and how to present their findings in writing and in oral presentations. Measurements and proportions involved in the growth of plants also apply to the planning and construction of gardens in the school grounds and in the community. The context of this unit is the ecological reality of our time. There is a pressing need for better management of our environment, food and resources used in a modern economy. Students will be able to conduct research and experiments related to the environment and to learn the value of a balanced ecology. The classroom will be the center of operations, expanding from there into the school gardens and finally into the local community garden. The experience gained in the classroom and the school is applied in the community garden.
Human beings at the present time of history are at the center of the production and control of the environment more than any other being alive in the world. We depend both on flora and fauna to survive and to continue our species on earth. As we advance and encroach into the areas of the world that have been under-explored and practically untouched by western technology, the need for conservation becomes of utmost importance. To be sure, there are many ecological areas in the world today that are under attack by the penetration and indiscriminate destruction by humans. For instance, rain forests of the tropical areas of the world, some of the wooded areas of the northern latitudes, and marshes all around the world are under direct jeopardy of disappearance. Students in an urban setting could approach the problem of the destruction of these endangered ecological enclaves by studying about the importance of conservation. It is necessary to understand the role of these endangered ecological systems in the maintenance of a healthy earth. In this sense, photosynthesis could bring us into a discussion of issues of a multidisciplinary nature.
For this curriculum unit, the study of plant growth and the role of photosynthesis are further tied to development of gardens in the school and the community. Urban and suburban gardens are healthy and beautiful to look at and admire. The rain forests and the natural environments of the world are, by and large, the producers of soil and oxygen needed for the growth of plants and the perpetuation of animal life on the planet. Farmers in the world produce the necessary foods for people. Students should understand the basic principles involved in photosynthesis and its relationship to the natural environments and the production of foods and oxygen.
New Haven lends a myriad of opportunities to pursue this kind of project in the classroom, the school environment and the community. Since many people in the world live in cities, it is necessary to develop a sense of the balance involved in the cycles of life. Further, it is important for students and the community to make an effort to have a closer contact with the forces of nature by growing plants in school and the community. This is an opportunity for people to work together for a common cause. This exercise would increase the interest of students to study science and to become aware of problems in urban environments and the world itself. In schools, teachers should encourage students to develop sensitivity for gardens and life in neighborhoods. This kind of outlook is particularly important since in the neighborhood of the schools in the New Haven area there is always an empty lot, or a patch of land, that could be turned into a useful garden.
