Plant-Soil Interactions

Students begin the lesson by agreeing or disagreeing with several statements about plant roots. They use a hand lens to examine roots of young seedlings and are given a chance to revise their responses. The diffusion process used by roots to absorb nutrients is modeled. Transport of water through the xylem is demonstrated using pieces of celery stalks and food coloring. Students compare and contrast the plant vascular system to the human circulatory system. After completing this lesson, students will be able to recognize that plants remove nutrients from the soil; explain the roles of diffusion and active transport in moving nutrients from the soil to the plant; and relate the root and vascular systems of the plant to the human circulatory system.

The Growers’ Academy is a sixteen-week course which includes classes on topics such as soil preparation, nutrition, and community responsibility. Each class includes a 45-minute classroom lesson and 45 minutes working in the Center’s new Community Garden. The Growers’ Academy and Community Garden are sponsored and fully funded by our partners, CF Industries.