The study of plants is often limited to studying plant structure with little emphasis on the vital role plants play in our natural system and the variety of ways man uses plants. This unit, designed for intermediate level elementary students, reviews basic plant structure, discusses roles of plants in nature's system, illustrates plant…

A UNIT OF PROGRAMED LEARNING MATERIALS WAS PRESENTED ON THE PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES OF LAND JUDGING AND PLANT NUTRITION. IN HIS PREPARATION, THE AUTHOR FIRST IDENTIFIED PRINCIPLES AND FACTS NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE LAND CLASSIFICATION AND PLANT NUTRITION BY EXAMINING RELEVANT SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. USING THIS INFORMATION, HE THEN FORMED A TEAM OF 16…

Discusses a unicellular component of hytoplankton that can easily be collected and studied in the classroom. Describes how to construct and use a diatometer. Suggests activities that can be done with diatoas collected outdoors or grown in an aquarium. (CW)

Describes a multiple-choice instrument that reliably and validly diagnoses secondary students' understanding of photosynthesis and respiration in plants. Highlights the consistency of students' misconceptions across secondary levels and indicates a high percentage of students have misconceptions regarding plant physiology. (CW)

Examined instructional materials, teacher planning, instruction, and student conceptions related to an activity unit on plants and photosynthesis. Reasons are offered about why the teacher was unsuccessful in helping students replace their misconceptions with scientific conceptions, although the teacher knew this misconception existed. (JN)

Describes mushroom growing as a school project, a method for illustrating need for carbon dioxide in photosynthesis, construction of a simple phytoplankton sampler, cell division activity using playing cards, blood separation activity, measurement of adaptation and selection pressures, computations in field ecology, and an activity demonstrating…

Proposes the study of edible wild plants as a means of developing an attitude of environmental responsibility in students. Senior citizens can provide considerable assistance for such a program. (SL)

This paper discusses how a university designed, developed, and delivered a feature-rich Web-based course for undergraduate plant biology. In the design stage, the focus centered around curriculum design, content development, and media acquisition. Instructors, including faculty and graduate assistants of plant biology, served as content experts,…

In every ecosystem, organisms rely on each other in unique relationships that ensure each other's survival. In Plant & Animal Interdependency, find out how plants and animals interact, cooperate and compete. All living things have basic needs and depend on other living things to meet those needs. Discover why the constant exchange of nutrients and…

Discusses ATP synthesis in mitochondria/chloroplasts and cause of an antipodal high tide. Also discusses a simple field experiment on regulation of osmotic potential by Salicornia (pioneer plant of estuarine sale marshes) and use of a key to identify British mosquito larvae. The latter includes procedures for collecting, recognizing, and finding…

Presents a botany unit designed to provide understanding of a plant life cycle, plant parts and functions, and variety within the plant world. The unit is organized according to plant morphology (structure). Each section includes concepts fostered, suggestions for focused discussions, experiments, and activities to support concept development.…

Provided are two informational sheets, one on puffers and one on carrageen (Irish Moss) and two classroom activities, one on buoyancy in fresh and salt water and one on water surface tension. (DC)

Analyzes a study which examined the effects of teacher vagueness on comprehension of high school biology students (N=48) regarding the vascular system of angiosperms. Includes the finding that teacher vagueness terms significantly affect student achievement and student perception of lesson effectiveness. (CS)

Presents a method for microscopically examining cytoplasmic streaming in root cells, and physiologically examining the delivery of ions to the xylem exudate. The expected result does not occur and the authors believe that students learn to re-examine the assumptions, thereby increasing their skills in scientific inquiry. (Authors/SA)

Provides rich description of the biological diversity found in a 30-mile section of Nebraska known as the "biological crossroads." Argues that the seven major associations of the Niobrara River valley provide a great classroom. Includes a complete listing of plant species. (DDR)