Hydroponics: Can Plants Grow Without Soil?

Learning Resource Type

Lesson Plan

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

5

Overview

In this hands-on investigation, students will utilize the hydroponic method to grow a bean plant from a bean seed. Over the course of a 2 week time period, students will make detailed observations and sketches of the actual bean growth and make predictions about growth patterns over the weekend time periods.

Students will create a cartoon to defend the position that plants obtain materials needed for growth primarily from air and water.

This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 5

SC15.5.8
Defend the position that plants obtain materials needed for growth primarily from air and water.

Vocabulary

claim
evidence
hydroponic

Knowledge

Students know:

How plants obtain nutrients.
How to measure growth of a plant.

Skills

Students are able to:

Collect and analyze evidence about plant growth.
Determine whether evidence supports the claim that plants do not acquire most of the material for growth from soil.
Use reasoning to connect the evidence to support the claim. A chain of reasoning should include the following:
- During plant growth in soil, the weight of the soil changes very little over time, but the weight of the plant changes a lot. Additionally, some plants grow without soil at all.
- Because some plants don't need soil to grow, and others show increases in plant matter but not accompanying decreases in soil matter, the material from the soil must not enter the plant in sufficient quantities to be the chief contributor to plant growth.
- Therefore, plants do not acquire most of the material fro growth from soil.
- A plant cannot grow without water or air. Because both air and water are matter and are transported into the plant system, they can provide the materials plants need for growth.
- Since soil cannot account for the change in weight as a plant grows and since plants take in water and air, both of which could contribute to the increase in weight during plant growth, plant growth must come chiefly from water and air.

Understanding

Students understand that:

Matter, including air and water, is transported into, out of, and within plant systems.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Crosscutting Concepts

Energy and Matter

Primary Learning Objectives

Students will use the hydroponic method to grow a bean plant and utilize data from this activity to defend the position that plants obtain materials needed for growth primarily from air and water.

Procedures/Activities

Engage: Begin with a whole group discussion to help students activate background knowledge on plant growth and photosynthesis. Working in small groups, students will use an electronic device to research hydroponics. Each group will do a brief 1-minute verbal presentation to share their findings with the class.

Explore: Working in small groups of 3-5, students will follow the procedure in Growing Plants without Soil. Students will collect data on the Plants without Soil Journal Sheet.

Explain: Working in pairs, students will create a cartoon to defend the position that plants get materials needed for growth primarily from the air and water.

Elaborate: Have student groups present the cartoon and their findings to the whole class. The groups will defend the position that plants obtain materials needed for growth primarily from air and water.

Assessment Strategies

Teacher observation - Throughout the activity, the teacher will monitor Plants without Soil Journal Sheet. The teacher will observe the students' documentation of plant growth over the 2 week time period and notice predictions about the weekend growth patterns.

Use the Cartoon Grading Rubric to assess if the argument defends the position that plants obtain materials needed for growth primarily from air and water. The cartoon should also use data from the Plants Without Soil Journal Sheet to support their claim.

Acceleration

Comparing Bizarre Plants - working in small groups, students will use an electronic device with internet recess to to research the Venus Flytrap and compare the structures and needs of the Venus Flytrap to those of the bean plant. Students will share their findings with the class.

Intervention

ELL: The student handouts could be translated into the native language of the student. The ELL teacher can also provide assistance to students.

Students with disabilities: Students can work with a peer helper or with the pull-out teacher.

Total Duration

Greater than 120 Minutes

Background/Preparation

Students will work in small groups of 3 -5 students.

Discuss with students that plants need air and water to grow.

Hydroponics is a way to grow plants without soil using only air and water. In this activity, students will use a paper towel to help keep the seed moist, but the paper towel is not required to make the plant grow.

Remind students that they will be making observations for 2 weeks, but that they will not be at school on the weekends. Ask them to make a prediction about how their seed will look over the weekend and share these observations with their group.

Materials and Resources

science journal/notebook, pencils, colored pencils or markers, clear plastic cups, spray bottles with water, paper towels, copies of the Plants without Soil Journal sheet, copies of Growing Plants without Soil, and bean seeds

Technology Resources Needed

electronic device with internet access

Approved Date

2016-04-19

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