Planting Thoughts
Pitcher plants, receptacles of moisture and sunshine.Copyright Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/
Students gain an understanding of the parts of a plant, plant types and how they produce their own food from sunlight through photosynthesis. They also learn about transpiration, the process by which plants release moisture to the atmosphere. With this understanding, students test the effects of photosynthesis and transpiration by growing a plant from seed. They learn how plants play an important part in maintaining a balanced environment in which the living organisms of the Earth survive. This lesson is part of a series of six lessons in which students use their evolving understanding of various environments and the engineering design process, to design and create their own model biodome ecosystems.
Engineers take advantage of the natural characteristics of plants in many applications that improve technologies and make our lives more comfortable. They know that plants naturally serve as purifiers for the atmosphere, taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Plants are put to use as purifying agents in biological water treatment processes installed at factories and industrial plants. Many treatment facilities rely on human-made lagoons of plants and purifying fauna to remove contaminants in water. In addition, engineers mimicked photosynthesis in their invention of solar panel cells that capture sunlight as a renewable source of energy.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- List the basic functions and parts of plants.
- Describe how plants are an important part of maintaining a balanced environment.
- Explain how engineers use plants to create technologies that benefit humans.