Subjects

• Science

Grade

• K-2
• 3-5

Brief Description

Students grow vegetable sections without soil, using water and pebbles or small rocks.

Objectives

Students explain different ways that plants grow. Students grow vegetable sections using water and small rocks.

Keywords

vegetables, grow, plants, water, rocks, garden

Materials Needed

• various vegetables, such as potatoes (white or sweet), carrots, celery
• a sharp knife
• several small, clear glass jars
• gardening pebbles, gravel, or small rocks
• water

Lesson Plan

Discuss the things plants need to grow. Ask students whether they think plants can grow without soil; then follow these steps.

• Show students the vegetables.
• Cut off a section of each one. For carrots, cut a 1-inch piece from the end where the green tops grow from. For potatoes, cut them in half. For celery, use the bottom section the stalks grow from.
• Fill the jars with the rocks or pebbles, leaving about an inch at the top. Fill the jars with water.
• Place the plants into the rocks. For carrots, put the cut end in the water. For potatoes, place the cut side into the rocks. For celery, put the bottom end into the rocks.
• Check the water level in the jars daily and fill when necessary.
• Monitor each plant's growth.

• Add pineapple tops to the list of plants to grow.
• Grow large seeds such as an avocado or a mango. (Remove the outer covering from the mango seed before placing the seed onto the rocks.)
• Use flower bulbs such as tulips or daffodils.

Assessment

Lesson Plan Source

Submitted By

Lois Lewis

National Standards

Science:
NS.K-4.1
NS.K-4.3
NS.K-4.4
NS.5-8.1
NS.5-8.3
NS.5-8.4