Should Soil Be Sterile?

One of the most amazing processes for youngsters to witness in class is the germination of a seed, and the subsequent growth of the plant. Here is a version of this classic lesson that is actually quite good! There is meaningful...

Children gain first-hand experience with Native American agriculture while investigating the life cycle of plants with this engaging experiment. Focusing on what the natives called the Three Sisters - corn, beans, and squash - young...

What better way to learn about plant life than by creating a class garden? Young botanists start with a brief discussion about radishes before planting seeds and watching them grow. To determine the importance of water,...

What's in soil? Young scientists study the pH levels of soil from their school yard. They observe the land and area the soil came from to decide if location has anything to do with acidity level.

Viewers of a short video learn about salt and water molecules and how their characteristics determine how they interact with each other. Then, they watch a simulation of how the interaction limits the uptake of water in plant roots and...

Breathe some new life into charcoal. Scholars use biochar to improve soil fertility. They test the effectiveness of this addition by conducting an experiment with soil having 0%, 2%, and 4% biochar.

A good description of the growth and changes in plants from the seed through the adult plant. College level discussion that includes the chemicals involved in the regulation of plant growth.

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture explains soil testing, taking a soil sample, and analyzing the results.

Students examine how seeds germinate in a culture.  In this germination lesson students germinate seeds in gelatin and observe the growth of the plant.

Students observe the growth of a seed into a plant. They plant their own seeds and record the growth of the plants and write about what they observe. They describe the germination of the seed and create a time line of the growth process...