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Plants are an interesting, enjoyable, and practical part of all
students' lives. From the time they awaken in the morning to the
time they go to bed, students see, smell, taste, and touch a variety
of plants and products of plants.
Although most students already have a familiarity with and natural
interest in plants, often they have not observed them carefully,
and they may have questions about how plants grow, what the parts do,
and where plants come from. This module provides a series of
experiences that begin to answer these questions, while building on
and extending students' current understanding. The module begins with
a guided field trip that gives students the opportunity to observe,
describe, and record the many different plants in the school
neighborhood. They then turn to a series of experiences that focus
their attention on the growth and development of plants, from seed
to seedling to small plant. They make careful observations and
drawings of germinating seeds. They plant beans and record and
measure their growth and change. They design and conduct simple
experiments to explore the factors that affect plant growth, such as
light, moisture, and space. As they work together in groups, students
are encouraged to reflect on what they are learning about plants,
how it relates to their original questions and ideas, and what
questions they still have.
The module condudes with a student exhibit of their experiences.
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