The Flip Side of Plants and Animals

Using a Filp Video, students will create a video recording every time they collect observation data.
Instead of simply writing anecdotal data on a piece of paper, students will create a video of the plants as they move through the experiment. While recording their observations, students can provide oral commentary, explaining what they have seen and how their beliefs have been confirmed or altered as a result of their experiment.

- Students will incorporate writing and speaking skills by including a summary of what was observed using the flip camera.

- Students will use the flip cameras along with science notebooks requiring students to take notes and infer based on the changes they are seeing in their plants via the video.

- Students will watch other videos and compare what their plants did with other groups.

- Students will share their videos with other grade levels to further their understanding of plants.

-Videos will be posted on the teacher’s website for students to discuss their learning with family and friends.

The four investigations below will give young scientists the opportunity to provide for the needs of both plants and animals living together in a classroom habitat. These four investigations are from the Foss Science Kit: Plants and Animals.

Investigation 1: GRASS AND GRAIN SEEDS
Students plant miniature lawns with rye grass and alfalfa. They mow the lawns and observe the response of grass and alfalfa to cutting. They plant individual wheat seeds in clear straws and observe how seeds germinate and grow.

Investigation 2: STEMS
Students make new plants from stems of houseplants. They put sections of stems into water and look for evidence that a new plant is forming. Stem pieces that develop roots are planted to make new plants. Students plant pieces of potatoes (modified stems) and observe them grow.

Investigation 3: TERRARIUMS
Students set up terrariums using seeds and plants from Investigations 1 and 2. They add local animals such as snails, isopods, and worms and provide for the needs of the plants and animals.

Investigation 4: BULBS AND ROOTS
Students plant onion bulbs or garlic cloves in moist cotton and observe as they develop into new plants. They plant parts of roots - carrots and radishes - to discover which parts will develop into new plants.