The STC "Plant Growth and Development" unit
This is an eight week unit during which students experience the complete
life cycle of a plant in a very short time and learn that the cycle includes
germination, growth, development of specialized parts, and even death, with
the promise of new life in the seed.
The unit features rapid-cycling Wisconsin Fast Plants, which go from seed to
seed in 40 days. Wisconsin Fast Plants are "Brassicas"(the mustard and
cabbage family), and were developed over a period of 15 years by Dr. Paul
Williams of the University of Wisconsin.
Within the unit students will be planting and cross-pollinating. Throughout
the unit, students are encouraged to make frequent observations of their
plants using as much sensory information as possible. Students continue to
record these observations in writing and drawing. They also quantify their
observations by taking frequent measurements and recording these on growth
charts.
Interesting sites
Find out more about the Wisconsin Fast Plants at this site!
http://www.fastplants.org/
And find out more about the scientist who worked fifteen years developing
the Wisconsin Fast Plant at this site.
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/deckard/soph491/fast%20plants.htm
Other Resources