Experiment with Plants (6th grade)

Students apply the knowledge and skills they have gained in earlier STC® life science units to investigate some of the variables that affect plant growth and development. The main objective of the unit is to enable students to design and conduct a controlled experiment.

They begin by studying the key variables that affect the life, health, and reproduction of the Wisconsin Fast Plant® (Brassica rapa) and how they can manipulate these variables. Working in teams, students formulate a question about the plant and carry out a controlled experiment designed to answer that question. During the ensuing weeks, they observe the plants and record their data. Each team then shares its results with the class. Final activities entail germinating seeds that students have gathered from the plants and exploring tropisms.

Experiment with Plants Storyline (pdf)

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Sponsored By

The Experimenting with Plants unit is generously sponsored by the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, with assistance from the Coca-Cola Vendor Fund.