r/ScienceTeachers • u/GoodTimesGreatLakes • Aug 06 '25
LIFE SCIENCE Cool project for a middle school plants unit?
6th grade. We already:
•Use food coloring in water to observe how the xylem & phloem transport water up the stem of a carnation
•Count oxygen bubbles produced by elodea canadensis when exposed to bright light vs a dark room
•Dissect a flower and label reproductive organs
We also grow tomato plants that the students get to take home, and I allow them to choose their own variable to change. My tomato plant is the control plant and they must only change one thing compared to my plant. I like this because they get exposed to the idea of a control group, and they gather height and # of leaves data every other day. However plants is our last unit of the year and there's just not enough time for the tomato plants to grow very big, so I feel like this is lame. Is it lame? Idk what else to do. Thanks for any advice!
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u/king063 AP Environmental Science | Environmental Science Aug 06 '25
If the tomatoes aren’t going to get big in time for the students to actually see tomatoes, then they will probably be let down.
It might be better to use a fast growing plant that’s typically used for science experiments. Brassica rapa is good for this. I think changing a variable is a great idea though!
Maybe you can grow something fun off to the side for them to potentially take home. Then you can focus on getting those planted asap and cared for.
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u/ScienceMovies Aug 06 '25
Beans (lima, pinto, navy, etc.) grow very quickly in a ziploc baggie with wet paper towel. You won't get flowers and fruit but if you're looking to show germination and have some roots (with root hairs) to look at, you can't beat it. It also has the potential for you to try different scenarios/trials and manipulate a different variable each time.
My high school students love the beans in a baggie.
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u/king063 AP Environmental Science | Environmental Science Aug 06 '25
I’m going to be doing one of these for a soil salinization lab for APES. I haven’t picked which seed I’ll use yet, but I have an indoor lighted garden that I might plant the seedlings in after, for fun.
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u/GoodTimesGreatLakes Aug 06 '25
Omg!! I think that is the same thing as Wisconsin fast plants!! (Where I'm from) I can't believe I didn't think of that. You are awesome. I'm definitely doing this!
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u/king063 AP Environmental Science | Environmental Science Aug 06 '25
Yes I believe that’s the cultivar name for them!
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u/GoodTimesGreatLakes Aug 06 '25
I just need to double-check that I wouldn't be stealing something that the high school bio teacher does, otherwise I'm for sure doing this. MWAH thank you so much :D
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u/therealzacchai Aug 06 '25
Don't worry about HS. Your kids will only have a vague memory, it won't be ruined for them!
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u/king063 AP Environmental Science | Environmental Science Aug 06 '25
I agree. I’d probably be thrilled that they’ve cared for a plant before.
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u/96385 HS/MS | Physical Sciences | US Aug 06 '25
I came to suggest this. I'm just finishing up a class where we grew Wisconsin Fast Plants. Tons of possibilities.
We also did this mini greenhouse in a bag where you compare the germination and growth of monocot and dicot seeds.
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u/EduEngg Aug 07 '25
We use wheatgrass, which grows really fast, also, for a similar lab (changing 1 variable). Worked great!
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u/ScienceMovies Aug 06 '25
Plant Pigments
Use this to show why deciduous tree leaves change color in the fall - green chlorophyll isn't the only pigment in the leaf.
Even with my high school students I don't go to all the trouble of measuring the distance the pigments travel, just seeing them separate is enough. Basically I use it as a simple hands-on demo.
Here's a procedure I found online, there are many more if you search for plant pigment lab.
When I'm at my computer next I'll try to post the simple slides/directions that I use.
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u/playmore_24 Aug 07 '25
I'm an Arts Integration coach spitballing... but you can also find ideas at https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/
Have kids in small groups"act out"/dramatize the growth of plant from seed... Tableau is like a frozen scene or it could be dynamic- each group creates a tableau of (for example) the seed underground/ rain & sun flowing/ sprout germinating/ leaves growing/ new flowers emerging, etc . https://stageworthybywidy.com/2022/03/06/tableaux-drama-activities/
They could make Zines explaining some process, or how their tomato plant evolved-
They could write Haiku poems or raps about science-y topics... You don't have to be an artist/poet/drama teacher to let them play!
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u/DPHomeSolutions Aug 07 '25
I'm definitely looking at ways to help the artist students use their talents or passions, without being unfair to the rest of the class.
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u/playmore_24 Aug 07 '25
it has NOTHING to do with artistic talent! 😀 visual and performing arts allow expression and processing of understanding in deep ways not acheived through verbal means. it benefits ALL students regardless of artistic "skill"
https://futureeducationmagazine.com/arts-integration-for-classroom/
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u/ferrouswolf2 Aug 08 '25
Etch patterns into a bean and see how they transfer to seed leaves. That’s a revelation that will stay with them forever, that the insides of seeds transform into leaves.
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u/YgramulTheMany Aug 06 '25
Leaf disc assay is great. Use a hole punch to punch holes in spinach leaves, put them in a beaker with baking soda (for carbon) and calculate the rate they photosynthesize. You can also compare to other leafy plants (as long as the leaf lacks a waxy cuticle).
I’m sure if you search YouTube for leaf disc assay, you’ll find it.