A Classroom Model for Teaching Natural and Artificial Selection on Your Schedule
 Think you don’t have enough time for students to observe the results of selection pressure on plant populations in real time? Whether you’re teaching natural selection or plant breeding for desirable traits, it is beneficial for students to take an active part in their learning. This 75-minute webinar will show you how to accomplish that. […]
Wisconsin Fast Plants® and Product Testing
CAROLINA LABSHEETS Overview Materials Teacher Preparations Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Overview Materials Teacher Preparations Overview Materials Teacher Preparations Overview In this activity, students conduct experiments to determine if a commercial product effects the germination of Wisconsin Fast Plants® seed. In doing so they practice basic science skills including collecting and graphing […]
Teachers’ Guide to Classroom Grow Lights for Healthy Fast Plants
Hedi Baxter Lauffer Do decisions about grow lights cause you to avoid teaching with Wisconsin Fast Plants®? Are you convinced you have a brown thumb that keeps you from ever growing healthy plants? Look no further! In this article, we dive into the fascinating world of lights for growing plants, so you can choose lighting […]
Hydroponic Nutrient Solution
A Carolina EssentialsTM Investigation Total Time: see below Prep: 30 mins | Activity: Experimental Design: 1 class period plus the evening Experiment Setup: 30 min on day 2 Daily Experimental Measurements and Observations: 10 min (duration to be set by teacher) Concluding Results and Class Discussion: 45 min Life Science 9-12 High School Total Time: […]
How to Teach the Crosscutting Concepts with Wisconsin Fast Plants
Hedi Baxter Lauffer, PhD Director, Teaching & Learning Wisconsin Fast Plants Program University of Wisconsin-Madison The Next Generation Science Standards* (NGSS) recommend we build our lessons to unify learning in 3 dimensions: scientific and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and crosscutting concepts. However, it can be challenging to include crosscutting concepts explicitly. Lessons taught with Wisconsin Fast […]
Materials Plants Need to Grow
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 1 hr Activity: 1.75 hrs Life Science Grade Level 5 Elementary School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Students will examine the phenomenon of plant growth by […]
What Do Plants Need to Grow?
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 30 mins Activity: 2.25 hrs Life Science Grade Level K-2 Elementary School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction This is a guided inquiry activity for students to […]
Teaching Variation and Selection in the Context of Plant Breeding with Wisconsin Fast Plants
Variation and Selection: Human Food Crop Selection Creates an Engaging Storyline Variation in traits among individuals in a population is such an important concept that it first appears in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)* in first grade, then recurs through middle and high school standards. Yet, if we follow the traditional biology path for […]
Wisconsin Fast Plants® Monohybrid Crosses Inquiry
A Carolina EssentialsTM Investigation Total Time: 1 hour Prep: 30 mins | Activity: 1 hour Life Science 9-12 High School Overview In this scientific inquiry activity, students germinate F2 generation Wisconsin Fast Plants® seeds and identify the phenotypes and possible genotypes of the F2 generation plants. Based on phenotypic ratios, the genotype may be refined. […]
Introduction to Wisconsin Fast Plants® Phenotypes
A Carolina EssentialsTM Investigation Total Time: 30 mins Prep: 30 mins | Activity: 30 mins Life Science 9-12 High School Overview In this scientific inquiry activity, students investigate phenotypes using Wisconsin Fast Plants® seeds. After the seeds germinate, students identify the phenotypes and the possible associated genotype. Students can investigate possible Mendelian crosses by completing […]