The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Exploring Corn Growth: Structures and Stimuli Part 2

Exploring Corn Growth: Structures and Stimuli Part 2

A 3rd grade STEM lesson

Patricia Mendez

1/28/24

Notes for teachers

• This is a series of lessons that focuses on growing corn from germination to adult plants.
• In this lesson, students will plant their seedlings into a garden bed
• Students will be encouraged to go out to the garden and make daily observations
• They will be measuring and documenting their daily findings in their science journals
• When the plants reach adulthood, we will create a Behavior Over Time graph to show the plant’s progression
• Click here for Part 1

List of Materials

• Corn seedlings
• soil
• watering cans or a irrigation system
• garden bed
• garden tools and gloves
• science journals and pencils
• rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch
• graphing paper for Behavior Over Time Graphs from: https://stemazing.org/?s=Behavior+Over+Time+Graphs

Standards- Science

• 3.L1U1.5 (NGSS-P: 4-LS1-1): Develop and use models to explain that plants and animals have internal and external structures that serve various functions aiding in growth, survival, behavior, and reproduction.

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Standards- Math

3.MD.B.4: Generate measurement data by measuring lengths using rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch to the nearest quarter-inch. Show the data by making a line plot, where the horizontal scale is marked off in appropriate units— whole numbers, halves, or quarters.

Objective:

Today you will develop and use models to explain the growth stages of a corn plant.

Agenda

Introduction (15 minutes):

Review of the structures and functions of a plant.

Activity 1 - Planting Seedlings (30 minutes):

Plant the seedling in the garden bed.

Activity 2 - Measurement and Data Collection (30 minutes):

Instruct students to measure the height of their corn plants, recording the measurements in a table.

Activity 3 - Behavior Over Time Graph (45 minutes):

Using the collected data, model how to plot points on the line plot, with each point representing the height of a corn plant at a specific stage.

Conclusion (15 minutes):

Discuss the line plot and its representation of the plant's growth over time.

Stages of a Corn Plant

From seed to our plate!

Why are plants important to us?

Let’s Plant our Corn Seedlings!

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Please follow directions on planting your corn seedling. Here’s what you’ll need:

Garden tools Soil Garden Bed

Measurement and Data Collection

• Use your ruler and measure your seedling in the garden.
• Measure the height of your corn plants, recording the measurements in a table.
• Discuss with a partner the importance of accurate measurements and how they contribute to understanding plant growth.

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Behavior Over Time Graph

• On chart paper, draw a horizontal timeline labeled with the growth stages of the corn plant.
• Using the collected data, plot points on the line plot, with each point representing the height of a corn plant at a specific stage.
• Discuss the patterns and trends observed in the line plot.
• Create your own Behavior Over Time graphs on graph paper or see examples.

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Assessment

Assess students based on their participation in planting, accuracy in measurements, and the creation of their Behavior Over Time graph. Ask questions to gauge their understanding of plant structures and functions.

Differentiation

Students who struggle with writing can participate in the class discussion as well as with the planting of the seedling. Teacher should model for students how the Behavior Over Time graph will inform the reader of our plant’s progress.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Students can compare the growth of corn plants with other plants they may be familiar with.