Drs. Roger Innes and Robert Togasaki from the Biology Department at Indiana University have developed two sets of hands-on plant science activites that integrate with Indiana state science standards. In the Rhizobium-Clover Symbiosis Activity students use the scientific process to discover the beneficial effects of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria on plant growth. This activity is designed to allow students to develop and test hypotheses about plant nutrition and symbiosis.
In the Photosynthesis Activity students gain a broad overview of the process of photosynthesis: how plants convert light energy (which is unstable and transient) into chemical energy (which is stable and can be stored) in the form of sugar and sugar polymers such as starch.
In both activities, students learn the concept of a hypothesis, how to design an experiment to test a hypothesis, and how to write up their results in the form of a scientific report.
Both sets of activities are supported by a Plant Science Activities Kit that provides all of the necessary supplies for completing these experiments. For information on obtaining a kit, contact Karen Stucky at WonderLab. To assemble a kit yourself, click here to download a list of kit components and suppliers.
K-12 teachers in Indiana can obtain a free kit by attending an upcoming Teacher’s Workshop at WonderLab. The next workshop is scheduled for November 15, 2005 from 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm.
| Click on the links below for further information on Outreach and Education |
|---|
|
Outreach And Education Home
Teacher Training Workshops Summer Lab Experiences for High School Students Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Opportunities Available Through Other Plant Genome Research Projects |