STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds Kennewick School District Permission to use granted. Copyright by Wisconsin Fast Plants, University of Wisconsin- Madison. Illustrated by Amy Kelley.

Overview During this lesson, students plant the seeds. This activity is the basis of just about everything that follows, so it is extremely important that it be done correctly. The Brassica plant’s unique characteristics require special planting materials and methods. The materials and methods needed are explained in detail in the lesson. There are also suggestions of how to prepare the students for planting day by introducing them to the supplies and using Activity Sheet 2 as a reading and sequencing activity. For best results, seeds should be planted on a Monday or Tuesday. This is a hidden slide for teacher information. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Lesson Objectives  Students collect and organize their own materials for planting.  Students set up their planters with wicks, fertilizer, potting mix, and seeds. This is a hidden slide for teacher information. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Background The success of this lesson depends on careful organization and preparation. There are three important setups that you must do before students can begin planting: constructing the lighting system, arranging the watering system, and preparing the materials for distribution. For instructions of setting up the lighting system, see the instructions included in the lighting kit; the other two procedures are explained in the Lesson 3 Preparation section of the teacher’s guide. Read the instructions carefully. Because this is a long lesson, you might want to spread it out over two days. Students can prepare their planters on the first day (Steps 1 through 5 on Activity Sheet 2) and complete planting the seeds on the next day (Steps 6 through 11 on Activity Sheet 2). This is a hidden slide for teacher information. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Teacher Notes  Duplicate all activity sheets and reading selections so that they are single sided and reduced to fit in the student notebooks.  It is important for students to glue these items into their notebooks as documentation of their experiments.  This helps keep all papers in one location and easy to find for later reference. This is a hidden slide for teacher information. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Materials list For each student:  Activity Sheet 2: How to Plant Wisconsin Fast Plants Seeds Instructions and Checklist.  1 tray for supplies  1 planter quad  1 3-oz. cup of potting mix  12 fertilizer pellets  1 toothpick  1 paper towel  1 spoon  4 wicks  8 Wisconsin Fast Plants seeds  1 planter label For every 2 students:  1 pair of forceps  1 cup of water and dropper For the class  6 to 8 sponges  2 dishpans of water  1 plastic lined trash can  1 dustpan and whisk broom STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Distribution Station  Walk carefully  Take turns  Read the labels You will be sharing some of the supplies with a partner, but you will be planting the seeds on your own. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Step 1: Pick up all of your supplies from the distribution station. Be sure you have these items before you begin planting:  1 planter quad  1 spoon  1 cup of potting mix  4 wicks  12 fertilizer pellets  8 Wisconsin Fast Plants seeds  1 toothpick  1 planter label  1 pair of forceps  1 paper towel STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Step 2: Place one wick in each section of the planter quad. Use your forceps to pull the wick through the hole until the tip sticks out about 1 centimeter. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Step 3: Fill each section of the quad halfway with potting mix. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Step 4: Add three fertilizer pellets to each section. Look closely. The fertilizer pellets are much larger than the seeds. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Step 5: Fill each section of the quad to the top with potting mix. Press it down a little with your fingers. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Step 6: Put a drop of water on your tray and dip your toothpick in it. Use the wet toothpick to pick up one seed. Place the seed just below the potting mix and cover it. Plant a second seed in this section in the same way. Repeat until there are two seeds in each section of the planter. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Step 7: Water very gently, a drop or two at a time, until water drips from the bottom of each wick. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Step 8: Write your name and today’s date on the planter label and place it in the planter. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Step 9: Place your quad under the light bank with the label facing out. Double-check to see that your planter is completely on the water mat and that the quad is about 2 to 3 inches from the lightbulbs. If you could see the inside of each planter this is what it would look like. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Step 10: Return all leftover supplies to the distribution station. Step 11: Clean up your work space. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Cut apart Activity Sheet 2 so that each step you followed to plant your seeds is separate. Glue the steps in the correct order into your science notebook. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

What do you think will happen to the seeds over the next 24 hours? Write your predictions on the left-hand side of your science notebook. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Class predictions for the first 24 hours… STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Reading Selection: Fast Plants for Fast Times STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the Seeds

Update your Table of Contents STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 3: Planting the SeedsS