Lesson Plan

The Microgreens Experiment

Year Level: Year 5

Learning Area: Cross-curricular (Science, Mathematics, English)

General Capabilities: Literacy, Numeracy, Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability, Ethical Understanding

Cross-curriculum Priorities: Sustainability

Resources: microgreens kit, water, rulers, notebooks, pencils, cameras or tablets for photographing plant progress.

Lesson Duration: 4 weeks (allowing time for plant growth)

Objectives

1. Students will understand the plant lifecycle by growing microgreens.
2. Students will apply the scientific method to monitor plant growth.
3. Students will develop data recording and analysis skills.
4. Students will learn about the nutritional value and sustainability aspects of growing microgreens.

Outline

Week 1

Day 1: Introduction

• Start with a discussion on microgreens and their benefits.
• Divide students into small groups and distribute microgreen seeds and planting supplies.
• Guide students through the process of planting their seeds.

Day 2-5: Observation and Journaling

• Each day, students will water their plants and record observations (plant height, number of leaves, etc.) in their notebooks.
• Encourage them to make predictions about how their plants will grow.

Week 2-3

Daily Monitoring and Data Collection

• Continue the daily routine of observation and recording data.
• Once a week, have students share their progress with the class, discussing any similarities and differences in their results.

Week 4

Day 1-4: Final Observations and Data Analysis

• Students continue to monitor their microgreens.
• They will calculate the average growth rate, find patterns or trends in their data, and create a graph to represent their results.

Day 5: Conclusion and Reflection

• Harvest microgreens and allow students to taste them.
• Students will write a final report detailing their experiment process, results, and reflection on what they learned.
• Facilitate a class discussion on the importance of plants in our diet and how growing food at home can contribute to sustainability.

Assessment

1. Practical Application: Assessment of students’ ability to plant and care for their microgreens and perform measurements accurately.
2. Journaling and Data Analysis: Evaluation of students’ observational records, data analysis, and graphing abilities.
3. Group Work: Observation of students’ cooperation and participation in group activities.
4. Final Report: Students’ understanding of the plant lifecycle, scientific method, and sustainability will be assessed through their final report.

The “Microgreens Experiment” lesson plan integrates multiple areas of the Australian Curriculum, allowing Year 5 students to engage in practical, hands-on learning that encourages them to think scientifically, work collaboratively, and gain a greater understanding of the world around them.