Overview & Lesson Sequence

Focus on Standards & Assessment

Materials Needed, Preparation & Planning, Management Strategies

Background Info

Intro Activity
Why Study Predator - Prey interactions?

Activity 1
Observation of a predator-prey interaction

Activity 2
What makes a predator successful?

Research Project
Designing a predator - prey experiment

Optional Activity
Biological Control vs. Pesticides

Case Study
Rabbits in Australia

References

Glossary

Suppliers

Resource Sheets
-Plant Propogation
-Rearing Aphids
-Eyelash Brush
-Petri Dish Habitat
-Sampling Methods
-Observation Check Sheet
-Sample Rubric for Group Presentation
-One Gallon Cage
-Predators in the Environment Data Sheet
-Predation Inquiry
-Green lacewing Larval Mouthparts
-Chewing Mouthparts
-Hemipteran Mouthparts

Rearing
-Green lacewing
-Ladybird Beetle
-Big eyed Bug
-Praying Mantid
-Aphids
-Fruit Fly

Anatomy
-Green lacewing
-Ladybird Beetle
-Praying Mantid
-Big eyed Bug

Enforcers Home

CISEO Home

Plant Propogation

It is relatively simple and inexpensive to grow plants in the

classroom, given a few easily obtainable items.

Materials Needed:

· two, one-pint plastic containers per student group

(deli, empty margarine tub, etc.)

· Exacto blade or razor blade (one per group)

· two 12" x 20" aluminum roasting pans or plastic plant trays

· 20 lbs. of gravel or small stones

· one large bucket, bowl or tray for mixing soil

· one cubic foot all-purpose potting soil

· watering can, jar or bucket

· Sharpie or other permanent marker

· pencil or similar-sized dowel

· plastic or wooden ruler

· seeds

· fluorescent, full spectrum, or 'grow light' bulbs and fixture

· 24-hour appliance timer

Instructions:

1) Cut four drainage slots in bottom of each deli container using Exacto knife (figure 1).

2) Pour dry gravel into roasting pans or trays to a depth of 3-4 cm.

These will serve as drainage pans for the potted plants. The reservoir of water run-off will help to maintain a humid growing environment (figure 2).

3) Fill deli containers (pots) to capacity with soil and place pots in the drainage pans (figure 3).

4) Add water, a little at a time, and mix until the soil is thoroughly moistened but not soggy.

5) Read seed packet to determine the depth and spacing of seeds.

6) Mark the seed depth on the pencil or dowel (figure 4) and use to poke holes of appropriate depth and spacing in the soil.

8) Drop seeds into holes and use dowel to gently cover seeds with soil (figure 5).

9) Water gently and thoroughly.

Care of Plants

Plant success rests on the availability of light, water and warmth. The amount of each depends on the species of plant being grown. Although the following instructions can be regarded as general propagation practices, they are specifically designed for bush variety pea plants.

Light

Light is one of the most important things for plant growth. Use a 4-ft. long, 2-bulb fluorescent fixture for every two plant trays. The light should be positioned 11-13" above the shelf or tabletop (8-10" above pot rim--figure 6.) Since bush variety pea plants are compact, the light height will not need to be adjusted during the course of the growing period. Connect the light to a timer and set for a photo period of 12 hours per day.

Water
Watering frequency will depend on the relative humidity of the indoor growing environment and on the potting soil being used. A good rule of thumb is to water just when the soil becomes dry on the surface but hasn't yet pulled away from the sides of the plastic pot.

Temperature

Rooms that are temperature regulated for the comfort of people--68-70 degrees F, are generally good for growing cool season plants like peas. Keep plants out of drafts caused by heating and cooling vents and monitor plants as seasons change.

Propagation Time

Following the above procedures, bush variety pea plants will sprout in about a week and be ready for aphid infestation in about two weeks. Uninfected plants will flower and fruit within a month. A healthy life span of uninfected plants grown indoors is about six weeks.