Lesson 24 of 84 · Habitats
Experiment⭐ 30 XP🌿 Wild JungleWhat Do Plants Need to Grow?
What Do Plants Need to Grow?.
🎯 Your mission
Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.
⚡ The twist
Every species solves the same problem differently.
Mind = Blown
🐙 An octopus has 9 brains and 3 hearts.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you watch: what do you think it'll do?
What You'll Learn
Plants need sunlight, water, carbon dioxide, and nutrients from soil to grow. Their roots absorb water and minerals while their leaves capture sunlight for photosynthesis.
Key Words
- invertebrate
- species
- organism
Materials Needed
- tape
- small pots
- cotton balls
- zip-lock bags
Safety First
- Tie back long hair before starting the experiment.
Steps
Review the background information on Habitats before starting.
Model natural selection: scatter colored paper scraps on grass. Time how long it takes a partner to pick up each color. Which color survived longest? Why?
Use your senses (except taste) to describe what you notice.
Write a summary of your findings in 3-5 sentences.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What type of consumer eats only plants?
Where you see this in real life
This is why plants grow toward windows and why scabs form.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Watch a plant or pet for 5 minutes today and write down what you noticed.
For the dinner table
“Tell me something you noticed about your own body today.”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
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