Unit 2:Plants

Essential Questions

How do plants obtain water and nutrients needed for survival?

How do plants minimize water loss through their leaves?

What is photosynthesis and how is it accomplished?

What factors affect the rate of photosynthesis?

Day 1: Mineral and Water Uptake by Plants

Required Readings: 2.22, 2.27

Learning Objectives: To know that plants require minerals and what

their functions are To understand that water can enter and leave

cells by osmosis To understand that dissolved substances may

enter and leave cells by diffusion and active transport

Starter

Read the “Mineral Nutrients” informationChoose 5 minerals and explain why they are

important for plant growth and development.Time: 15 minutes

Activity 1

Design an experiment that would test how different mineral deficiencies affect the growth of a plant

Include: Question – what are you testing? Variables & control Method and materials Expected outcomes

Time: 20 minutes

Activity 2

How do fertilizers have a negative effect on the environment?

Research the various ways that fertilizers can be harmful to the environment and the other organisms that can be effected (with a partner).

Write a 1-2 page paper on the harms fertilizers can cause

Due: September 24Time: 30 minutes

Activity 3

Draw a picture (on paper provided) to show how water and minerals (ions) are taken into a plant.

Include: What processes are occurring? (What mode of

transport? There are 3 different ones occurring.)

The structures needed in order for this to happen

How does the shape of these structures allow the transport of water to occur?

Time: 20 minutes

Closing and Homework

Discuss the following questions: Why would farmers drain fields that are

susceptible to flooding? Why would farmers cover their fields with black

polythene? Why would they not cover it with white polythene?

Homework: Fertilizer paper (September 24)

Day 2

Required Readings: 2.28

Learning Objectives: To appreciate that water and dissolved

substances are transported around the plant in specialized transport tissues

Starter

Look at the microscope slides in the back of the conducting tissues

Draw a picture of what you seeHow do these structures accomplish water

and mineral transport?Time: 20 minutes

Activity 1

Create a slide of a piece of celery to view under the microscope

The celery needs to be thinly slicedDraw a diagram of what you seeTime: 20 minutes

Activity 2

Look at the picture of the potato plant.What is a source and what is a sink in plants?How can a potato be both?Time: 15 minutes

Activity 3

Create a concept map to show how various materials are transported from the roots to the leaves of a plant.

You may include diagrams/pictures as wellTime: 25 minutes

Closing and Homework

Discuss the following questions: What are the two vascular tissues in flowering

plants and what is their job? Why does the direction of sugar transport vary

from season to season? Why must sugar be transported to sinks?

Homework: Fertilizer paper (September 24)