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Could a plant survive without light?

Could a plant survive without light?

Lesson narration:
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DISCUSS:

Do you think plants need dirt to grow? How could you find out?

Hint...

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DISCUSS:

What do you think will happen?

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Compare these two tomato plants. The one on the left grew in dirt. The one on the right grew in water, but no dirt.

DISCUSS: Which plant looks healthier? Why?

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DISCUSS:

Our experiments show that plants need water and dirt to be healthy. What else do they need?

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Stop

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DISCUSS:

Which plant do you think is healthier: the one that grew in the light or the one that grew in the dark?

Why do you think that?

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soil


1 of 8

tiny pieces of rock and other materials that cover the ground
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root


2 of 8

a part of a plant that is usually under the ground
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seed


3 of 8

a part of a plant that can grow into a baby plant
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sunlight


4 of 8

light from the Sun
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needs


5 of 8

something an animal or plant must have in order to live
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predict


6 of 8

to guess what will happen based on things you know
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investigate


7 of 8

to figure out the answer to a question or to understand how something works
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experiment


8 of 8

a test used to discover new information about a question
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Lesson narration:

Activity Prep

Print Prep

This lesson was revised on July 24, 2020. Click the following link if you would like to view the previous version.
In this lesson, students investigate how plants need water and sunlight to grow. In the two-part activity, Seeds — Light and Dark, students experiment with growing radish seeds in light and dark conditions. They plant them in cups, place half of the cups in sunlight, and put the other half in a dark container. Three to seven days later, students compare the seedlings and then watch what happens when all are placed in sunlight.

Preview activity

Exploration

18 mins

Wrap-Up

7 mins

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