Will you be able to save our town?

Introduction

EMERGENCY:
All of the farmers in the state have mysteriously disappeared! The farms have been left un-taken care of for a few weeks now, the fields are dry and empty.  Without a constant food supply from the local farms we will not be able to survive. You will need to work together to discover how a crop is grown. Once you learn how to grow a crop it will be your responsibilty to teach the community around you! Where are you going to start?  

Task


 




As a group you are going to discover how to grow a crop. In order to grow the crop you will need to learn the process of photosynthesis. Once you learn the process of photosynthesis each of you will be responsible for growing your own crop.  Once you grow your crops it will be your responsibility to teach the rest of the community. Without your help no one will survive.

Process

1. Your first job will be done together as a group to research the process of photosynthesis, you will create a visual to show the rest of the community how the process works. To get started you will watch this video on photosynthesis, to give you an idea of what it is before you start your research:
[video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gLa5EWn9OI] 


2. Each member of the team will grow a crop to help feed the community.

  • Pick from the list below then, complete the tasks in order. 
  • Answer each question in sentence format.

 

Crops:
Carrots, corn, peas, squash, tomato's 

  • Task 1- Crop- First, you will pick the crop you will grow 
  • Task 2- Climate- Second, you will discover the ideal climate to grow your crop in. i.e. temperature, sunlight, 
  • Task 3- Soil- Next, you will find out what is the best soil to plant you seeds in. i.e. minerals, liquid, clay, fertilization
  • Task 4- The growing process- How much and how often should your crop be watered?
  • Task 5-Picking- Lastly, you will pick the crop? What are signs that it is time to pick? How long did it take to grow? 
Evaluation


Group Planning -- Research Project : Will you be able to save our town?

      Teacher Name: 

Elizabeth McVey

       




    Student Name:     ________________________________________
CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Ideas/Research Questions Researchers independently identify at least 4 reasonable, insightful, creative ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research. Researchers independently identify at least 4 reasonable ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research. Researchers identify, with some adult help, at least 4 reasonable ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research. Researchers identify, with considerable adult help, 4 reasonable ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research.
Delegation of Responsibility Each student in the group can clearly explain what information is needed by the group, what information s/he is responsible for locating, and when the information is needed. Each student in the group can clearly explain what information s/he is responsible for locating. Each student in the group can, with minimal prompting from peers, clearly explain what information s/he is responsible for locating. One or more students in the group cannot clearly explain what information they are responsible for locating.
Group Timeline Group independently develops a reasonable, complete timeline describing when different parts of the work (e.g.,planning, research, first draft, final draft) will be done. All students in group can independently describe the high points of the timeline. Group independently develops a timeline describing when most parts of the work will be done. All students in group can independently describe the high points of the timeline. Group independently develops a timeline describing when most parts of the work will be done. Most students can independently describe the high points of the timeline. Group needs adult help to develop a timeline AND/OR several students in the group cannot independently describe the high points of the timeline.
Quality of Sources Researchers independently locate at least 2 reliable, interesting information sources for EACH of their ideas or questions. Researchers independently locate at least 2 reliable information sources for EACH of their ideas or questions. Researchers, with some adult help, locate at least 2 reliable information sources for EACH of their ideas or questions. Researchers, with extensive adult help, locate at least 2 reliable information sources for EACH of their ideas or questions.

I will grade you as a group.
You will have an opportunity to grade and evaulate your partners 

Conclusion

Presentation: 

  • Explain what photosynthesis is to the class

  • Tell the class how you are going to save the community

  • Why is it important to learn the process of photosynthesis?


    • Reflection Questions (Answer in paper format):


    • In detail explain three new facts you learned.

    • Why is it important to learn the process of photosynthesis?

    • How will learning this be helpful to you in the future? 

    • Has this activity affected your outlook on a farmers job?

    • How much do we rely on the supply of locally grown food?
    • Could you do a farmers job for a week? Remember: farmers own up to hundreds of acres of farming land*
    • Did you use fertilization? If so, was it natural or synthetic?

    • How will learning this be helpful to you in the future? 

Credits
Teacher Page

Standard:

4-LS1-1. Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.