Summer SAVY 2016 (Session 4AM, Day 3) – Budding Botanist

Posted by hallep on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 in Grade K, SAVY.

Greetings!

Today was a fantastic day!  We started by observing the lima beans that we placed in Ziploc bags in the window, and the kids were so incredibly excited that they started growing!  Many have roots extending from them and were able to find the plant embryo growth!  We talked about how they have everything they need to start growing:  sunlight, water, and air.  They are really excited and journaled about the growth and changes that they have seen!

Next, we went outside and collected specimens to examine under magnifying glasses.  They picked different types of leaves and some flowers, and we looked closely to find the veins and the vein nets in the leaves.  We then broke open a stem and the could feel the wetness from the water that the plant was moving through the leaf.  They also felt the bark of different types of trees, observed roots as the were growing up through the ground, and observed the differences in flowers and leaves among the trees around the building.  They also discovered that flowers are typically bright colors, and we talked about how that is used to attract pollinators.  We even saw a butterfly!

Finally, we created plants of our own and made sure that they had all of the parts necessary for a plant to grow.  They made the connection that sunlight is necessary for plants, and even realized that plants are necessary for humans!  They thought it was great that plants breathe Carbon Dioxide and release Oxygen, which is what we need to survive!  They really connected that we need plants and the plants need us as well!

Tomorrow, we will do some new experiments and look at plant cells under microscopes.  They are very excited to use the microscopes!  We will also see if their predictions about what will happen to their lima beans are correct.  It will be a lot of fun!

Have a great night!

Dr. Mall