New Plants
New Plants NJ Science Standards
Not all seeds are alike
Click on pics to see seeds inside cup.
From left to right. Rye grass seeds, alfalfa weeds seeds, brassica seeds, oats seeds, and wheat seeds
Are plants living things?
Yes, plants are living things because they:
grow
eat
drink
grow seeds to have new baby plants
Are seeds alive?
Yes, seeds are alive, otherwise they would not grow if they were dead.
What do plants need?
Plants need:
light - to make food
water - to drink nutrients from the soil
nutrients
air (space) - to grow
Don't plants need soil too?
See Investigation 2 - planting wheat seeds
Parts of a Plant
Investigation 1: Brassica Seeds
NJ Science Standards for Investigation 1
5.2.2.A.1 Sort and describe objects based on the materials of which they are made and their physical properties.
5.3.2.A.1 Group living and nonliving things according to the characteristics that they share.
5.3.4.A.2 Compare and contrast structures that have similar functions in various organisms, and explain how those functions may be carried out by structures that have different physical appearances.
5.3.2.B.1 Describe the requirements for the care of plants and animals related to meeting their energy needs.
5.3.2.B.3 Explain that most plants get water from soil through their roots and gather light through their leaves.
5.3.2.D.1 Record the Observable characteristics of plants and animals to determine the similarities and differences between parents and their offspring.
5.3.2.D.2 Determine the characteristic changes that occur during the life cycle of plants and animals by examining a variety of species, and distinguish between growth and development.
5.4.2.E.1 Describe the relationship between the Sun and plant growth.
Planting Brassica Plants
Planting Brassica Seeds
Brassica Seedlings - 2 days old
Brassica Seedlings - 6 days old
Brassica Seedlings - 6 days old & Grass 5 days old
Brassica plant - 10 days old
Brassica plant - 15 days old
Brassica flower blooming - 15 days old
Brassica Plants - 21 days old
Investigation 2: Grass and Grain Seeds
NJ Science Standards for Investigation 2
5.2.2.A.1 Sort and describe objects based on the materials of which they are made and their physical properties.
5.3.2.A.1 Group living and nonliving things according to the characteristics that they share.
5.3.4.A.2 Compare and contrast structures that have similar functions in various organisms, and explain how those functions may be carried out by structures that have different physical appearances.
5.3.2.B.1 Describe the requirements for the care of plants and animals related to meeting their energy needs.
5.3.2.B.3 Explain that most plants get water from soil through their roots and gather light through their leaves.
5.4.2.E.1 Describe the relationship between the Sun and plant growth.
Planting Rye Grass and Alfalfa Weeds
Planting Rye grass with Alfalfa weeds
Five days after planting Rye grass and Alfalfa weeds.
Do all plants die when cut near the ground?
Some plants, when cut near the ground, will die but others grow back. This grass and weed planting investigation shows that the grass will grow back when cut, but the alfalfa weeds will die and not grow back.
Grass right after cutting on day 5.
Grass one day after cutting on day 6. - about 1 inch
10 days after cutting - about 3 inches
Do plants need soil?
No. Plants do not need soil. Soil is only necessary to hold the plant in place. Plants get nutrients from soil but they could also get nutrients from other things, like plant food.
Where does wheat and other cereals come from?
Wheat and other cereals that we eat come from seeds called grains
Planting Wheat Seeds in a Straw
This investigation shows children that plants do not need soil to grow. Students put a strip of paper towel into a straw, to replace the soil to keep the plant in place, and then put a wheat seed (grain) inside the straw.
Straws, paper towels, and wheat seeds (grain)
Click to see seeds inside cup.
Wheat - 15 days old
Student Science Journal Work
Investigation 3: Stems
Leaves, twigs, and roots develop on stems at the nodes
Can buds grow on potato eyes?
As you can see below, buds are growing on these potato eyes.
NJ Science Standards for Investigation 3
5.2.2.A.1 Sort and describe objects based on the materials of which they are made and their physical properties.
5.3.2.A.1 Group living and nonliving things according to the characteristics that they share.
5.3.4.A.2 Compare and contrast structures that have similar functions in various organisms, and explain how those functions may be carried out by structures that have different physical appearances.
5.3.2.B.1 Describe the requirements for the care of plants and animals related to meeting their energy needs.
5.3.2.B.3 Explain that most plants get water from soil through their roots and gather light through their leaves.
5.4.2.E.1 Describe the relationship between the Sun and plant growth.
Potatoes are underground stems. They are not roots even though they grow under the ground.
Investigation 4: Bulbs and Roots
NJ Science Standards for Investigation 4
5.2.2.A.1 Sort and describe objects based on the materials of which they are made and their physical properties.
5.3.2.A.1 Group living and nonliving things according to the characteristics that they share.
5.3.4.A.2 Compare and contrast structures that have similar functions in various organisms, and explain how those functions may be carried out by structures that have different physical appearances.
5.3.2.B.1 Describe the requirements for the care of plants and animals related to meeting their energy needs.
5.3.2.B.3 Explain that most plants get water from soil through their roots and gather light through their leaves.
5.3.2.D.1 Record the Observable characteristics of plants and animals to determine the similarities and differences between parents and their offspring.
5.3.2.D.2 Determine the characteristic changes that occur during the life cycle of plants and animals by examining a variety of species, and distinguish between growth and development.
5.3.4.D.1 Compare the physical characteristics of the different stages of the life cycle of an individual organism, and compare the characteristics of life stages among species.
Planting Carrots
Some vegetables that we eat are actually plant roots. One plant root that we all eat is carrots.
5.4.2.E.1 Describe the relationship between the Sun and plant growth.
Before being taught that carrots were roots, students were asked what part of the carrot could be used to grow more carrots.
Part 4 - 6 votes
Student 1 reasoning: "Part 4 because seeds are in the flowers and if you plant the leaves then the seeds will grow."
Part 3 - no votes
Part 2 - 3 votes
Student 2 answered: "Part 2 because you could slice it up and plant a lot of new carrots."
Part 1 - 11 votes
Student 3 answered: "Part 1 because a carrot is a root and it is closer to the bottom."
Amazing answers and logic by the students in room 1-238!
The correct answer is actually Part 3, which got 0 votes.
Click on picture to see close-up and larger
Carrots on day 1
Carrots on day 3
Carrots on day 5
Carrots on day 5
Carrots on day 7
Carrots on day 7 - Carrot root hair growing
On day 7 we replanted a carrot and wheat in a see through vase.
Click on picture to see close-up and larger
Carrot day 7 & Wheat day 10
Planting Bulbs
Sometimes bulbs are used to grow plants and vegetables.
Flower Bulbs
Vegetable Bulbs
Bulbs are alive just like seeds are, otherwise they would not grow if they were dead.
Onions are one type of bulb. Today we planted some onions.
Onion - Whole and sliced in half
Onions - Day 1 - planted in cup with water and cotton to hold in place
Onions bulbs - 10 days old
Sliced and whole onion bulb - 10 days old
Sliced and whole onion bulb - 10 days old
Sliced onion bulb - 10 days old
Sliced onion bulb - 10 days old
Whole onion bulb - 10 days old
Onion bulb parts
