The RCS fourth grade just finished a wonderful unit on all things plants. From photosynthesis to seed growth to planting systems, each student understood a lot about plants by the end of the unit.

Students went to the NC Arboretum at the start of the unit and continued study of plants, processes and systems during the course of their unit.

Student Presentations

Part of the requirements for learning was for 4th graders to present their unit to their parents and families.

On Friday, they had a chance to do just that:

The presentation schedule

The presentation schedule

Students went out to the community gardens where they showed their parents the different plants that were growing. They also had a greenhouse where they were growing smaller plants:

greenhouse

Other students showed off their planting systems and explained what was going on with their particular system:

planter system

 

The plant package designs were all part of a bigger part of the unit: the engineering design process:

Engineering Design Process

Engineering Design Process

Students explained their thinking, learning and their conclusions to their parents using their folders:

4th grade botany unit

Students also did a blue-dye experiment to see what would happen as plants grew.

4th grade botany unit

Parents helped create a botanical feast for the botany celebration.

4th grade botany unit

Students’ plants were not quite ready from the school community garden to make a meal with them. That will happen later on. In the meantime, students were able to enjoy good food and fellowship with their families.

4th grade botany unit