JC CoolScience - Module 3 (P3): How Can We Find the Best Place for a Plant to Grow?

Module 3 (P3): 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 curriculum series by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. The teaching and learning materials in this IBL module are adapted according to the Hong Kong Primary Science Curriculum and are suitable for use by Primary 3 students. 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.

Below are digital resources that support teaching of this module.

Lesson 1: Plants and Places	Ada Asks: Introduction (1:17) Play video (English version /Chinese version) This video introduces the module with photos of plants in different habitats.
Lesson 2: Plant Parts	Tomato Plant Parts Download PDF (Tomato Plant Parts) (English version /Chinese version) This file shows photos of tomato plant parts.
Lesson 3: Plan It Out	Radish Growth (0:15) Play video This video shows time-lapse footage of radish seedlings growing. Taping Labels to Dishes Download PDF (Taping Labels to Dishes) (English version /Chinese version) This file shows students how to tape labels onto their petri dishes so that the labels remain visible throughout the investigation.
Lesson 4: Sunshine and Rain	Claim and Evidence Download PDF (Claim and Evidence) (English version /Chinese version) This file shows an example of using claim and evidence to answer a question.
Lesson 5: Flower to Flower	Plenty of Pollinators (1:07) Play video This video shows different kinds of animals pollinating flowers. Beautiful Blooms https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/beautiful-blooms/pollination This website shows stamps of pollinators and plants.
Lesson 6: A Gardener’s Gadget	Ada Asks: A Gardener’s Gadget (2:22) Play video (English version /Chinese version) This video introduces the problem of declining native pollinator populations and how hand pollinators might provide a solution. Design a Hand Pollinator Download PDF (Design a Hand Pollinator) (English version /Chinese version) This file provides the directions for designing a hand pollinator.
Lesson 7: Hitching a Ride	Traveling Plants Download PDF (Traveling Plants) (English version /Chinese version) This file shows photos of habitats with a wide variety of plants mixed together. Mammals (0:41) Play video This video shows mammals with fur walking around their habitats. Wind (0:34) Play video This video shows wind blowing. Seeds Download PDF (Seeds) (English version /Chinese version) This file shows images of the three kinds of seeds used in the activity. It also shows images of both kinds of mystery seeds.
Lesson 8: Home on the Range	Home on the Range https://ssec.si.edu/resource_launch/2550 This simulation enables students to explore where animals and plants live and how their ranges overlap.
Lesson 9: Place That Plant! Part 1	Ada Asks: Science Challenge (1:57) Play video (English version /Chinese version) This video introduces the Science Challenge. Schoolyard Map Download PDF (Schoolyard Map) (English version /Chinese version) This file shows the schoolyard map students will use in the Science Challenge.