Environmental Science Activities Manual: 3-5

Life Science Plants F5.00
Habits of Mind Methods 3.4 d

CURRICULAR CORRELATIONS

GRADE: ESAM: 3-5

CONTENT STANDARD: Life Science

CONTENT TOPIC: Plants

CONCEPT: A plant's growth is influenced by the environment.

CONTENT OBJECTIVE: F5.00 To understand how green plants make and store their own food

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES: The learner will:

    5.01 explain how green plants make their own food.
    5.02 demonstrate that plants store their own food.
OUTLINE OF CONTENT:
    I. Plants make their own food
      A. Must contain chlorophyll
      B. Must be exposed to light, water, air, minerals
    II. Plants store food. Starch is stored in green plants.

TN COMPONENT OF SCIENCE:

    Habits of Mind
TN GOAL:
    To enable students to demonstrate ways of thinking and acting inherent on the practice of science; and to exhibit an awareness of the historical and cultural contributions to the enterprise of science.
TN THEME:
    METHODS - A variety of techniques is used by scientists to classify and solve problems.
TN STANDARD(S): The learner will understand that:
    3.4d Each scientific domain uses various methods of inquiry.

    BENCHMARK: Investigations may involve, but are not limited to, observation, specimen collections and experimentation

CLASSROOM CONNECTORS

TIME REQUIRED:

    One class meeting
MATERIALS:
    Iodine, vegetable and fruit display, cornstarch
SET:
    How are plants used as food? (response) Green plants are used as food by many living things. Many of the foods you eat are parts of green plants. Let's name some. (response) As you know, plants make their own food.
INSTRUCTION:
    (Have children bring various green plants. Categorize them into plant leaves, stems, roots, fruits. Let the children list plants in each of these categories.) The most important job of a leaf is to make food for the plant. In order to do this, leaves use energy from the sun. The process by which green plants use energy from sunlight to make food is called photosynthesis. Plants need four things in order to make their own food. These are light energy from the sun, chlorophyll located inside the chloroplasts of green plants, water, and carbon dioxide. The chlorophyll of green plants uses energy from sunlight to combine water and carbon dioxide. The result of this is oxygen, water, and food in the form of sugar. The sugar that is formed often combines to form starch. Starch is stored food in seeds. It may also be stored in roots, stems, and leaves. Plants must store energy in order to grow and reproduce.
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION:
    "How can you show there is starch in a plant?." Iodine is used to test for starch. Place some cornstarch on a paper towel. Place a drop of iodine solution on the cornstarch. This can be done as well with a green leaf.

    Have students describe the results of the iodine test. Have them compile a list of foods containing starch.

CLOSURE:
    In your own words, explain what a plant must have to make its own food.

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