http://www.oercommons.org/browse/keyword/gardening daily 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://www.oercommons.org/courses/do-plants-need-light In this food science activity, learners conduct an experiment that demonstrates the importance of light to plants. This 1-2 week activity allows learners to learn about the needs of plants and plant growth. This lesson guide includes background information, variation ideas, and bilingual (English/Spanish) handouts. Barbara Z. Tharp Nancy P. Moreno Science and Technology 2013-01-02T14:02:03 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/film-canister-farming In this hands-on botany activity, learners sprout vegetables in film canisters. Learners grow nine seeds each of cabbage, radish, and parsley, experimenting with changing one variable (light, water, or temperature) to explore differences in the germination preferences of the plants. If film canisters aren't available, other small, opaque containers with lids can be substituted. Science and Technology 2012-12-07T13:45:38 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/the-dirt-on-dirt In this fun gardening activity, learners discover their soil type. There are three basic soil types: sand, silt, and clay. Using only a jar, water and a bit of water softener, learners will sort their soil into its parts. The activity includes a "What's going on" section as well as information about what makes a soil ideal for gardening. Science and Technology 2012-12-07T13:45:36 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/make-a-friend-from-soil-and-seeds Learners assemble a figure from a nylon stocking or sock stuffed with soil and seeds. The ends of the nylons inside the jar absorb water, which feeds the grass seeds. The seeds grow to become grassy hair for the figure, and the rest of the stuffed nylon becomes the body of the figure. Use this activity to illustrate the process of seed germination. Science and Technology 2012-11-07T13:17:30 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/gardening-with-less-water This fact sheet teaches students how to garden with less water, creating a xeriscape. Humanities Science and Technology 2012-11-01T15:13:00 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/roots-and-shoots In this outdoor activity, learners discover that plants aren't just shoots (stem, branches, leaves, and flowers) growing above ground, but contain plenty of roots growing underground--more than half the mass of a plant can be its roots. Learners dig up "mystery" plants to investigate their root structures, and match them to different types of root systems. Learners also learn about animals found near plant roots and how humans use roots. Science and Technology 2012-10-31T12:03:36 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/flower-powder In this outdoor activity, learners use artificial bees and paper models of flowers to find out how bees transfer pollen from one flower to another. Background information discusses bees and other pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies, and describes the way bees move pollen around. Learners use pollen boards to pick up pollen from real flowers, make paper flowers to learn how real flowers are structured, use model flowers and artificial bees to act out bees visiting flowers for pollen, and use artificial bees to collect real pollen. Learners are asked to consider other kinds of pollination (wind, water or larger animals) and the impact on pollination when bees are killed with insect poison. Science and Technology 2012-10-31T12:03:36 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/tobacco-mosaic-virus-2 In this four-part laboratory exercise, learners investigate properties of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) including (1) symptoms induced by the virus in susceptible plants at the macroscopic and microscopic levels, (2) its stability at high temperatures, and (3) its small size. Learners first propagate tomato and pinto bean plants, and then inoculate their dried leaves with TMV. Learners observe the TMV-infected leaves as well as use a heat treatment to inactivate the virus. Learners also filter the infected sap with a bacteria-proof filter to investigate size. This lesson guide includes background information, tips for educators, and discussion questions with answers. Adult supervision is recommended. Note: The Tobacco mosaic virus is available from biological suppliers, but approval for shipping of the virus across state lines must be obtained from the USDA prior to shipment. Rosemary Ford Tom Evans Science and Technology 2012-10-31T12:03:28 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/make-a-terrarium In this activity, learners make a miniature greenhouse or "terrarium" to explore the greenhouse effect. Learners will first construct their model greenhouse using a clear, tall airtight container, potting soil, small plants, pebbles, and filtering charcoal. Then, learners will observe the terrarium closely for several days, record how the plants grow, and chart temperature readings inside and outside the container. Learners are encouraged to compare their findings with each other. This activity can be used to introduce learners to climate change issues. Science and Technology 2012-10-31T12:03:28 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/community-garden-inventory In this field trip, learners visit a community garden, take a tour, and interview the gardener. In-depth lesson plans include guidelines for how to prepare for the trip, from logistics to discussions with youth. A comprehensive inventory form focuses learner observations during the tour. The collected information can be uploaded to the Garden Mosaics site if all the proper forms for permissions have been filled out. Cartoon-like instruction sheets are kid-friendly. Supplementary pages in both English and Spanish provide a history of U.S. community gardening, and the PDF versions have extension activities. Science and Technology 2012-10-30T11:51:56 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/lupine-and-butterflies In this two-part activity about the connection between the lupine plant and butterflies, learners first read "Miss Rumphius," a storybook about lupine by Barbara Cooney. Then learners plant their own seeds that can be transplanted into the wild. Learners discuss what plants need to grow. Next, learners review the butterfly life cycle and create a butterfly puppet that emerges from a pupa. Educators can also use this activity to introduce learners to endangered species (the Karner Blue butterfly is endangered in Wisconsin because of the decreased lupine population). Paula Rogers Huff Science and Technology 2012-10-30T11:51:53 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/from-the-ground-up In this plant science activity, learners conduct four experiments to observe how plants respond to sunlight and gravity. Learners record their observations on a data table for five days to note changes in plant growth under different conditions. This activity can be used to introduce learners to seed germination and plants as well as the scientific process. Science and Technology 2012-10-30T11:51:52 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/a-balancing-act In this plant science activity, learners role play as vegetables and weeds competing for nutrients. The object of the game is for the weeds and vegetables to gather as many colored squares as they can. Each paper square represents a different type of nutrient (i.e. green squares represent nitrogen). If a vegetable or a weed does not have at least two of each color square, they ‰ŰĎdie‰Ű from not getting enough nutrients and must step out of the garden. Use this activity to simulate survival and competition in nature and plant-life. Science and Technology 2012-10-30T11:51:52 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/a-journey-to-usa Join students at the Dunbar School in Little Rock, Arkansas as they learn about compost and healthy gardening practices. Science and Technology 2012-10-11T16:16:45 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/10-sustainable-garden-products-for-a-more-earth-friendly-garden A garden that is kinder to the earth can be achieved through the selection of products and tools that are sustainably manufactured or given new life through recycling. It's never been so easy to build a garden that's green from the moment you plunge that spade into the soil. Here are 10 garden products to get you started on a path to an earth-friendly garden. Ramon Gonzalez Science and Technology 2012-10-11T16:16:31 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/creating-the-perfect-compost Composting can be a good way for gardeners to reuse food scraps and yard trimmings while making their gardens healthier. In order to work properly, a compost pile needs the right balance of air, moisture, carbon and nitrogen. In this experiment, you can test different types of compost piles to see which kind recycles materials most effectively. Science and Technology 2012-10-11T16:16:30 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/crops-2-what-plants-need-to-grow This Science NetLinks lesson is the second of a two-part series on where food comes from. In this lesson, students explore how to grow plants and learn what kinds of things promote growth (warmth, sunlight, water, soil). Their activities involve learning about how seeds and plants grow and participating in a simple, in-class gardening project. Science and Technology 2012-09-25T18:58:59 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/crops-1-where-does-food-come-from This Science NetLinks lesson is the first of a two-part series on where food comes from. In this lesson, students learn that most of the food they buy in stores originally comes from farms. Students sing a song about growing crops on a farm and learn from the lyrics the kinds of things that farmers do and need to grow plants. Science and Technology 2012-09-25T18:58:58 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/start-a-school-garden-part-i Chrissa Carlson, the Garden and Nutrition Educator at Baltimore's Hampstead Hill Academy, shows us the steps needed to start a school garden. In Part 1 of this 2-part series, Chrissa shares her school garden knowledge and experience with UME's Jon Traunfeld. Part 2 (http://www.growit.umd.edu/FoodGardeningVideos/Video%20-%20SchoolGardeningPt2.cfm) will cover "Components of a Successful School Garden" and garden design. Science and Technology Social Sciences 2012-04-17T12:11:21 Course Related Materials http://www.oercommons.org/courses/how-many-little-seeds Task Description: Students explore the concept of addition and subtraction combining and dividing seeds in a pot. Students pretend to be busy gardeners, adding seeds to the pot to plant and grow, or hungry birds, swooping down from high above to subtract seeds from the pot to eat. Students will explore plants, including their attributes and growth cycle, over the course of one month or longer. This interdisciplinary unit on plants consists of 4 sequence learning plans. Each activity or learning plan works best with a small group of 4-5 students, in centers, over the course of one week. Duration of student engagement in tasks will vary, but the recommendation for each activity is 20 minutes or less. This Common Core-aligned task for mathematics is to be used in correlation with the Common Core-aligned task for literacy, Plants Are All Around Us. Mathematics and Statistics Science and Technology 2011-12-26T18:52:45 Course Related Materials