Symbols and Units: a Survival Guide
From Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS), this guide explains the rules for using symbols and units which students will meet in their science courses and reminds of the importance of using them, and writing them, correctly. The guide contains six sections: 1. SI base units 2. Derived units 3. Secondary units and prefixes 4.…
Investigating Factors Affecting Photosynthesis Using Leaf Discs
One of a series of resources from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology. An enjoyable and reliable practical activity allowing students to compare factors affecting photosynthesis. Possible investigations could include the rate of photosynthesis in sun and shade plants, and at different…
Growing Pollen Tubes
One of a series of resources from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology. An enjoyable and thought-provoking introduction to the topic of sexual reproduction in plants. Students observe in real time the growth of a pollen tube, over the course of a lesson. When a pollen grain is released…
Investigating Seed Germination
One of a series of resources from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology. This activity allows students to investigate many factors that influence seed germination, including temperature, light, nutrient levels, pollutant effects, tropisms and so on. It provides a convenient, cheap and replicable…
Investigating Plant Growth: Growing Radishes in Film Cans
One of a series from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology. This practical introduces a simple method to grow radishes, for investigations into the effect of a range of factors on plant growth, including levels of pollutants, nutrients, or light levels and temperature. Students use radish…
Carnivorous Plants
This resource from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) describes the work of Charles Darwin on carnivorous plants to determine what causes the leaves to curl up when stimulated. Darwin’s experiments are very easy to repeat. These teachers' notes describe several investigations which students could carry out, such…
Investigating Gravitropism Using Seedlings
One of a series of resources from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology. An intriguing way to demonstrate gravitropism in action over the course of a lesson. Using black film canisters, a freshly cut seedling stalk (hypocotyl) is attached to the lid, the lid replaced, and the resulting…