Introduction
Ms. V would like to get a class plant but needs help to figure out which plant to get, and which soil would work best for it. Like people, plants don't all need the same thing. Some need different light, some need different soil, and some need different amounts of water. Let's investigate which will work together THE BEST!
Task
While working in a group of 4, Ms. V needs you to help her pick a classroom plant, and pick which soil it will live the best in! As a group, you will pick a plant from a list (provided in the Process tab). One group member will research what it needs to survive, while the other group members will research a different type of soil (a list is provided as a reminder on the Process tab). After everyone has done their part in the research, create a Google Slides with everyone in your group to present what you found out!
Process
Step 1: Pick a class plant from this list that your group agrees on! Click on the name of the plant to see what they look like! Make sure your group comes to a decision together!
Step 2: Determine who will look up information about the plant, and who will look up the different types of soil.
Step 3: Use the links provided on this Webquest to research which soil type the plant you chose would prefer! Would your plant prefer Sand, Loam, or Clay? (Click on the type of soil for some helpful reminders about the types of soil!)
Step 4: Create a Google Slides with your group and add a slide to show what you found out about your topic. Would your soil type be good for plants? What about this plant in particular? Compare your findings, and discuss which soil or what mixture of soil would work best with the class plant that your group chose!
Step 5: Prepare as a group to discuss what you found with the class by presenting your Slides.
Evaluation
By the end of this activity, we will better be able to bridge into our new unit! :
From UNDERSTANDING EARTH AND SPACE SYSTEMS SOILS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
2.3 use scientific inquiry/experimentation skills (see page 12), and knowledge and skills acquired from previous investigations, to determine which type(s) of soil (e.g., sandy soil, clay soil, loam) will sustain life
To UNDERSTANDING LIFE SYSTEMS GROWTH AND CHANGES IN PLANTS
2.5 use scientific inquiry/experimentation skills (see page 12), and knowledge acquired from previous investigations, to investigate a variety of ways in which plants meet their basic needs
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/scientec18currb.pdf
Conclusion
After you have completed the slide show, make sure you double-check as a group to make sure all of the information is there. You need to have:
- A title page
- A page to show us what plant you chose (with a picture!)
- A page to explain what this plant will need
- One page for EACH soil
- A page to explain the decision your group came to
- A page for credits to show where you got your information and pictures
If you have all of this, and your group would like to add additional pictures of your chosen plant, you may have an additional page for more pictures!
If all of this is completed, you can check out this soil game!
Teacher Page
After the presentations, we will test the decisions that each group came to! I will bring in the different types of soil, and the class plants that each group chose and we will see how the different combinations grow!