Grow Lab
We use our grow lab to extend the knowledge from the science unit "Living Things Grow and Change" that the students learned in second grade. Gardening provides a unique opportunity for promoting personal growth and for demonstrating the value of responsibility, cooperation, and group problem solving. It provides a motivating, hands-on element that can't be found in the text book. Students witness the miracle of life cycles. They gain understanding of ecosystems, food origins, and the internal dynamics of plant growth.
Students are able to choose what type of plant that they would like to grow. There are normally many different types of plants to choose from. This year the students chose tomatoes, corn, squash, and green beans. They filled their pots with soil and planted the seeds. After watering them well, they were placed in the grow lab. The lights were lowered until they were about three inches above the pots. The students were very excited to see that after only two days the plants had germinated. After that, the plants grew quickly and we had to keep raising the lights to give them room to grow. The students soon discovered that the squash, green beans, and corn grew much quicker than the tomatoes. After two and half weeks the plants had gotten really big so the students brought them home to plant.We planted six extra pots to stay at school in the grow lab for the rest of the year. The students can compare their plants with these at school to see if there is a difference in growth.
We also made some "Chia Pet" like guys with googly eyes. The students put grass seed and dirt into a small piece of panty hose and tied off the ends. Then they assisted me in hot gluing the googly eyes on one side. Like with the other plants, they watered them and put them in the grow lab. Within a few days the "hair" (grass) started to grow on to of their heads. After the hair grew for a few weeks the students were able to bring them home. It was a fun project!
Pictures will be added soon!
Students are able to choose what type of plant that they would like to grow. There are normally many different types of plants to choose from. This year the students chose tomatoes, corn, squash, and green beans. They filled their pots with soil and planted the seeds. After watering them well, they were placed in the grow lab. The lights were lowered until they were about three inches above the pots. The students were very excited to see that after only two days the plants had germinated. After that, the plants grew quickly and we had to keep raising the lights to give them room to grow. The students soon discovered that the squash, green beans, and corn grew much quicker than the tomatoes. After two and half weeks the plants had gotten really big so the students brought them home to plant.We planted six extra pots to stay at school in the grow lab for the rest of the year. The students can compare their plants with these at school to see if there is a difference in growth.
We also made some "Chia Pet" like guys with googly eyes. The students put grass seed and dirt into a small piece of panty hose and tied off the ends. Then they assisted me in hot gluing the googly eyes on one side. Like with the other plants, they watered them and put them in the grow lab. Within a few days the "hair" (grass) started to grow on to of their heads. After the hair grew for a few weeks the students were able to bring them home. It was a fun project!
Pictures will be added soon!
