Let's begin with a WebHunt!

1. One way that plants can be classified is by how they reproduce. What is a seed? http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case3/c3m1.html ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ What is germination? http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/app/germination.html ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ What do seeds need in order to germinate? http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case3/c3facts3.html ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ If plants don't have seeds, how do they reproduce? http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case4/c4facts1c.html ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ What do we call the first parts visible after a seed germinates and what is its function? http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case3/c3facts2.html ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Plants are classified based upon the number of seed leaves (cotyledons) in the seed. What names do we give to these two classifications and explain the differences between each. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case3/c3facts2.html ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Plants can also be classified by how long they live, or how long it takes them to grow, flower, or set seed. Use this Internet link http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case1/c1facts1b.html to answer the followings questions. What is an annual?  ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ What is a perennial? ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ What is a biennial? ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Now that you know what annuals, biennials, and perennials are, can you find two of each kind of plant and briefly describe some characteristics of each plant? http://www.bhg.com.au/gardening.nsf/content/z_gardening_plant_a-z and http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/categories/perennials.html ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ 4. List the three main parts of a seed and describe each part. http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/botany/seeds.html ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________  4. List the four main parts of a plant and, in your own words, describe each part. http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/science/plants.htm ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ Click on this link to download a "printer friendly" Adobe Acrobat version of the WebHunt. - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing.  Plant Activities Introduction: In this phase of our unit, we are going to examine some seeds and grow some plants. In addition to taking care of our plants, we will be using them for math activities. The Parts of a Seed Soak a lima bean in water overnight. Take your soaked lima bean and remove its coat. What do you think the purpose of this seed coat is? Now open the seed up and what do you see inside? On a piece of paper, draw what you see and label the parts. Growing Math Plants The Grade 4 Botanists and their Beans Two plants that are easy to grow are the Calendula (Pot Marigold) and Beans. Use the Observation Sheet for this activity. Material needed: Peat pots, seeds, potting soil, supports (popsicle sticks) to train the bean plants. Planting Instructions: Calendula (Pot Marigold) The seeds are sown .5 cm deep and prefer moderate watering Beans - Plant bean seeds 2 to 5 cm deep Math Activities: Math Concepts - average rate of growth per week, weight of a seed - averages, linear measurement (metric), change to different units of measurement (mm, cm, dm, m), decimals. Use a scale to weigh the seeds. As the seeds are too small to get an accurate weight for each seed, we can calculate the average weight of the seeds by weighing a precounted bunch of seeds and dividing by the number of seeds to get an average. It might be interesting to have the students estimate the mass of each seed before weighing and comparing the estimate to the average mass. Bean seeds germinate quickly if you wrap them in a moist towel and check after a few days. Students can can observe the germination of the seed and record the changes that take place as the seed germinates. Weigh the seeds again to measure the change in mass as the seed germinates. After a few days, plant the seed in soil. Students should observe their plantings daily for the next few weeks and record their observations on the Observation Sheet. Make sure to measure the growth of the plants and record the average growth after each week. Why did some seeds not germinate? Take a look at this site for some possibilities. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case3/c3facts3.html Observation Log You can use this log to record your observations about your plants. Record the date that you made your observation, the amount of water added to your plant in milliliters, change from previous observation, and the differences between plants. To download a printer friendly version of this Observation Log, CLICK HERE for a pdf version - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing. OBSERVATION #__ MARIGOLD DATE:__________ AMOUNT OF WATER__________ CHANGE FROM LAST OBSERVATION_______________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ BEAN AMOUNT OF WATER__________ CHANGE FROM LAST OBSERVATION_______________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS___________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________   Language Arts and Art Activity: Keep a journal about your plant activity. After each plant observation, write a journal entry describing what you did, what you observed, and what you think is happening. Draw a picture of your favourite plant. You may include your picture in your plant journal. You can find information about many different types of plants at the Garden Web or the Online Plant Encyclopedia . You can make an oral presentation about your plants and show the class the pictures that you made of your plants. You can use Microsoft PowerPoint or ClarisWorks Slide Show to create a presentation about your plants. Use a scanner to put your plant drawings into the slide show.   This WebHunt and Plant Activity was created by Gerald Robillard and Dee Charbonneau of Our Lady of Peace School. You may contact the authors at grobillard@swlauriersb.qc.ca . Selected by the SciLinks program, a service of National Science Teachers Association. Copyright 2001 This activity was last updated on January 18, 2003