Teachers' Notes

Hydroponics Workshop

Teachers should check with their own schemes of work to identify which objectives are, and are not, met from the KS3 Science Scheme of Work, by pupils carrying out the Tomato Zone activities.

KS3 Programme of Study

Sc2 Life processes and living things

Green plants as organisms
3) Pupils should be taught:

Nutrition and growth
a) that plants need carbon dioxide, water and light for photosynthesis, and produce biomass and oxygen
b) to summarise photosynthesis in a word equation
c) that nitrogen and other elements, in addition to carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, are required for plant growth
d) the role of root hairs in absorbing water and minerals from the soil

KS3 Science Scheme of Work

Unit 9C: Plants and photosynthesis
Section 1: a. How do plants grow?

Objectives

Children should learn:

that green plants do not absorb 'food' from the soil
that green plants use carbon dioxide and water to produce biomass
the meaning of the terms 'photosynthesis' and 'biomass'
to represent photosynthesis by a word equation

Section 2: b. How do plants grow?

Objectives

Children should learn:

that light is needed for photosynthesis
that the raw materials for photosynthesis are taken from the environment around the plant

Section 3: a. What is the role of the leaf in photosynthesis?

Objectives

Children should learn:

that chlorophyll and light are necessary for photosynthesis

Section 4: b. What is the role of the leaf in photosynthesis?

Objectives

Children should learn:

that oxygen is produced during photosynthesis
that leaves are adapted to photosynthesise efficiently

Section 7: What happens to the glucose produced in leaves?

Objectives

Children should learn:

that plants store starch
that new materials made from glucose produced during photosynthesis lead to an increase in biomass
that the glucose from photosynthesis provides energy for all living processes in the green plant

Answers to questions

Minerals
Find out what minerals a plant needs to grow, and what the mineral does in the plant. Draw a table with two columns to show your answer.

Nitrogen (or Nitrate)	Makes proteins and genetic material.
Iron	Needed to make chlorophyll.
Magnesium	Found in chlorophyll.
Phosphorus (or phosphate)	Important chemical for respiration & photosynthesis and needed for making genetic material.
Potassium	Needed to make some chemical reactions proceed.