Challenge small groups of students to choose one of the predicted factors for growing the tallest bean plants generated in the interest approach (light, water, temperature, good soil, etc.).Summary of Content and Teaching Strategies How might limitations of nutrients, sunlight, or water (plant needs) affect a consumer's price for the product?.How might limitations of nutrients, sunlight, or water (plant needs) affect a farmer's profit?.How does a farmer apply this knowledge (of what plants need) when he/she is growing a crop?.What happens to a plant when any of its needs are limited?.Ask students how they might explore which of these conditions would help grow the tallest bean plants.If students need help finding ideas, have them look through Unearthing Garden Mysteries: Experiments for Kids by Ellen Talmage. Accept all student suggestions whether or not you think they are correct. For example, if sunlight is a factor perhaps students predict ten hours per day. Next to each factor, ask students to predict what specific conditions they think might result in the tallest bean plants.As a class, generate a list of general factors (light, temperature, water, growing space, etc.) that students think green plants need to stay alive.Hand out some “magic” beans ( see materials) and ask, “What do you think is the secret to growing tall bean plants?” Explain that although magic may have influenced the growth of Jack’s plants, scientists do know that other important factors contribute to plant growth.Tell your students a version of the story, Jack and the Beanstalk or read the optional book.Although these minerals are important supplements for health and maintenance, they cannot replace the sugars produced in the leaves, which can also be stored as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. While humans get these minerals from plants, animals, or in the form of supplements, plants take these minerals from the soil (dissolved in water) or through fertilizers applied by humans. Mineral nutrients are formed by the breakdown of rocks and other materials in the earth. Plants require mineral nutrients for growth, repair, and proper functioning. They use carbon dioxide to make food (photosynthesis), and they use oxygen, as do humans and other animals, to release the energy from that food (respiration). Plants require two of the components of air. It is an important component in the cells of all living things. Water transports nutrients and gasses into, around, and out of the plant. Water pressure in plant cells, which are 65 to 95 percent water, supports stems and leaves. It is one of the key ingredients in the process of photosynthesis, and helps the plant release energy from stored food when needed. Water is necessary to carry dissolved nutrients into the plant through the roots. Light also triggers changes, particularly flowering, in certain plants. Light energy is required for photosynthesis, in which plants make sugars in the leaves. If light, water, air, nutrients, and an adequate temperature range are not available, plants cannot thrive and grow. Like all living things, green plants have basic needs.
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