RET at UC

Research Experience for Teachers (2016-2017)

Botanical and Horticultural Sciences

Matthew Brunner's Poster
Author: Matthew Brunner
Unit Title: Botanical and Horticultural Sciences
Grade Level: 8
Subject: Biology
Estimated Duration: 30 Days
Unit Activities:

Pre/Post Test:
Pre-Test  N/A
Post-Test  N/A
Keywords:
  • Plant grafting
  • Biology
  • Horticulture
  • Botany
  • World hunger
  • MS-LS4-5
  • MS-LS1-5
  • MS-LS1-4

The Big Idea (including global relevance)

Feeding the world. World hunger is something that affects everyone and is not likely to go away anytime soon. Creating plants that provide food and can survive in different zones would be very helpful for people who live in different areas.

Essential Questions

Can different species of cactus be grafted other cactus within the same genus?


The Hook

A breakfast including a variety of fruits that students don’t normally eat, such as cactus fruit. This should allow for curiosity about the fruit, where it comes from and what it tastes like. The hook allows for several senses to be utilized and for natural questions to be asked.

This relates to the big idea by having students think about different fruits than the usual fruit that are available. The point is to have them think outside the box about feeding people around the world, who have different climates and biomes than what we have. Students may not realize that fruit is a great and sustainable way to feed many people.


The Challenge

Successfully connect the vascular systems of one species of Opuntia cactus onto another species of Opuntia cactus. (Grafting)


Guiding Questions

  • What types of edible plants can grow in a given USDA zone?
  • Are the edible plants healthy? Any particular health benefits?
  • Are the edible plants healthier than plants that grow in this region?
  • Can the vascular systems of the plants be connected?
  • Is there any trick to connecting vascular tissue?
  • Are there alternatives to genetically modifying plants to improve their usefulness to humans?
  • What are the incentives to using cactus fruit over regular fruit?
  • Can cactus fruit be grown anywhere in the world?


ACS (Real world applications; career connections; societal impact)

World hunger is something that affects everyone and is not likely to go away anytime soon. Creating plants that provide food and can survive in different zones would be very helpful for people who live in different areas.

This challenge based learning unit helps to address the concept of providing food to the hungry. It uses techniques that are not normally considered which helps students think outside the box to solve a problem.

General engineering will be covered by guest speaker Eugene Rutz. Specific jobs will be covered via power point.

Misconceptions

  • The plants will "root" into the other plant.
  • The plant scion will become the same plant as the host.

Unit Lessons and Activities

  • Lesson 1: Plant Adaptations and Human Influence (4 Days)
    Lesson 1 will focus on giving students an understanding of plant morphology. Students will observe different structures within plants that allow homeostasis.
    • Activity 1: Introduction of the Big Idea, Generating the Essential Question, Challenge and Guiding Questions – 2 Days
    • Activity 2: Plant dissection – 2 Days
  • Lesson 2: Designing the Challenge (5 Days)
    Lesson 2 enables students to research different methods of plant propagation. Students will be looking into seed, cutting and grafting propagation techniques. They will also be examining the use of hormones such as Indole butyric acid, Auxin, and Gibberellin.
    • Activity 3: Methods for Plant Propagation, Explore different Methods of Propagation. Identify and Define, Gather Information, Identify Alternatives, Select Solutions will be done on these days. – 3 Days
    • Activity 4: Cactus Grafting, planning and grafting Opuntia cactus. – 2 Days
  • Evidence of CBL: Lesson 2, Activity 4
  • Evidence of EDP: Lesson 2, Activity 3 and Activity 4


Additional Resources