How Can We Find the Best Place for a Plant to Grow?
How Can We Find the Best Place for a Plant to Grow?
How Can We Find the Best Place for a Plant to Grow? is part of Smithsonian Science for the Classroom, a new curriculum series by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. It is aligned to a group of grade 2 standards. It has a focus on life science, with a secondary focus on engineering design. In this module, students:
- Ask questions about what plant habitats have that help plants live, grow, and reproduce
- Investigate whether plants need light and water to grow
- Design a hand pollinator based on bee structure and function
- Analyze data about plant and animal ranges to identify patterns
- Engage in argumentation, based on information from a map, about the best place for new plants in a schoolyard
- Construct an explanation for why there are fewer and fewer grand spider orchids every year
Below are digital resources that support teaching this module.
Ada Asks: Introduction (1:17)
This video introduces the module with photos of plants in different habitats.
Download the Ada Asks: Introduction Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Ada Asks: Introduction Video
Download the Ada Asks: Introduction Video transcript
Grand Spider Orchid
This file introduces the module phenomenon of an orchid in Australia that is facing population decline.
Download the Giant Spider Orchid PDF
Tomato Plant Parts
This file shows photos of tomato plant parts.
Download the Tomato Plant Parts PDF
Radish Growth (0:15)
This video shows time-lapse footage of radish seedlings growing.
Download the Radish Growth Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Radish Growth Video
Download the Radish Growth Video Transcript
Taping Labels to Dishes
This file shows students how to tape labels onto their petri dishes so that the labels remain visible throughout the investigation.
Download the Taping Lables to Dishes PDF
Claim and Evidence
This file shows an example of using claim and evidence to answer a question.
Download the Claim and Evidence PDF
Orchid Habitat
This file shows the grand spider orchid habitat and range.
Download the Orchid Habitat PDF
Plenty of Pollinators (1:07)
This video shows different types of animals pollinating flowers.
Download the Plenty of Pollinators Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Plenty of Pollinators Video
Download the Plenty of Pollinators Video Transcript
Orchid Pollinator
This file shows a photo of the specific wasp species that is the only pollinator for the grand spider orchid.
Download the Orchid Pollinaor PDF
Orchid Pollination (0:40)
This video shows a wasp and orchid interacting.
Download the Orchid Pollination Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Orchid Pollination Video
Download the Orchid Pollination Video Transcript
Beautiful Blooms
This website shows stamps of pollinators and plants.
https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/beautiful-blooms/pollination
Ada Asks: A Gardener's Gadget (2:22)
This video introduces the problem of declining native pollinator populations and how hand pollinators might provide a solution.
Download the Ada Asks: A Gardener's Gadget Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Ada Asks: A Gardener's Gadget Video
Download the Ada Asks: A Gardener's Gadget Video Transcript
Design a Hand Pollinator
This file provides the directions for designing a hand pollinator.
Download the Design a Hand Pollinator PDF
Traveling Plants
This file shows photos of habitats with a wide variety of plants mixed together.
Download the Traveling Plants PDF
Mammals (0:41)
This video shows mammals with fur walking around their habitats.
Download the Mammals Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Mammals Video
Download the Mammals Video Transcript
Wind (0:34)
This video shows wind blowing.
Download the Wind Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Wind Video
Download the Wind Video Transcript
Seeds
This file shows images of the three kinds of seeds used in the activity. It also shows images of both kinds of mystery seeds, and images of orchid seeds.
Download the Seeds PDF
Home on the Range
This simulation enables students to explore where animals and plants live and how their ranges overlap.
Play the Home on the Range Simulation
Orchid System
This file shows where the grand spider orchid and wasp ranges overlap and photos of the two different kinds of habitats.
Download the Orchid System PDF
Ada Asks: Science Challenge (1:57)
This video introduces the Science Challenge.
Download the Ada Asks: Science Challenge Video
Download the Accessible Ada Asks: Science Challenge Video
Download the Ada Asks: Science Challenge Video Transcript
Schoolyard Map
This file shows the schoolyard map students will use in the Science Challenge.
Download the Schoolyard Map PDF
Kit Tips & Tricks