CornHydroponics Project: Science 7 Unit 1

Created by Karen Crossley, updated 10/14/2011 

In this unit, students will identify the challenges of designing a hydroponics system within a classroom.  Students must first learn about the different types of hydroponics systems and then learn what plant needs must be met within their system.  Students will revisit their ideas throughout the unit, construct a hydroponics system and grow basil plants.  Below is a pathfinder to help you research topics for this project.  You must use at least one database article and cite your sources for this research project in NoodleTools. 

 

Database 

Keywords 

Encyclopedia Britannica 

Look up Plant – Parts of Plants (look for how do plants get nutrients); Plant Reproduction & Growth- Water Movement (how do plants get water) & Respiration; Photosynthesis 

Look up Soil – nutrients in soil 

Look up fertilizer – nutrients for plants & how they get them 

Look up hydroponics 

Look up Agricultural Technology (high school version) – Fertilizing and conditioning the soil > Essential plant nutrients 

SIRS Discoverer 

Hydroponics; photosynthesis; plant 

World Book 

Look up plant – How plants grow; Hydroponics 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Online Databases – Here you can find information about hydroponics, plant nutrients, and the structure and morphology of plants.  Use the keyword chart above to help you find the information you need. 

  1.  Encyclopedia Britannica - An encyclopedia is always a good place to begin
    your research.  Here you will find basic information that will help you decide how to continue your research.  Use the search box to find your topic using the keywords in the chart above.     
    2. NoodleTools:  Encyclopedias are considered a reference source – not duplicated from a printed work.  Do NOT provide a URL. Seedlings 
  2.   SIRS Discoverer - Use the search box to search with your key words (see chart above) and look at the colored box to the left of the title to see the reading level for articles.  
    3. NoodleTools:  Click on “Source and Summary.”  Use that information to figure out where SIRS Discoverer found this article and cite that source (magazine, newspaper, encyclopedia, etc.)  Retrieved from an online database.  For an encyclopedia article:  yes, duplicated from a printed work.  Do NOT provide a URL. 
  3. World Book Encyclopedia – Use the search box to find your topic using the keywords in the chart above. 
    4. NoodleTools:  Encyclopedias are considered a reference source – not duplicated from a printed work.  Do NOT provide a URL. 

Websites 

 Here you can learn about different systems of hydroponics including diagrams of hydroponic setups, what a plant needs to survive, and nutrients needed to sustain plants.
NoodleTools:  Cite as websites.  DO provide a URL for websites.  

If you want to use the article given to you in class, cite it as a website. Go to http://home.howstuffworks.com/lawn-garden/professional-landscaping/alternative-methods/hydroponics.htm 

 Photosynthesis 

  1. NOVA:  Illuminating Photosynthesis 
  2. Biology4Kids.com - Photosynthesis 
  3. The Process of Photosynthesis – Here is an animation of how photosynthesis works.  Get a set of headphones to use this animation. 
  4. The Importance of Water in Photosynthesis - Make sure to read the section titled "Identification".

Plant Nutrients 

  1. Plant Nutrients – Learn about the elements needed to nurture and sustain plants. 
  2. Essential Plant Nutrients – This tells what nutrients are needed, and what happens to the plant if the nutrients are deficient. 
  3. Plant Nutrients 
  4. http://www.rutec.com/Manual/NUTRIENTS.pdf  - Look at the table that starts on page 3 which includes the function in the plant of each nutrient. 

Hydroponics 

  1. Virtual Science Fair project – This website has information about how hydroponics provides nutrients plants need, advantages of hydroponics, and several different hydroponic systems. 
  2. Articles from the Hydroponics Dictionary – This website contains links to many articles, including articles about photosynthesis, and different types of hydroponic systems 
  3. HydroSchool – Starting on page 4 of the interactive, find 6 different types of hydroponic systems. 
  1. Hydroponics.com – Here is a lot of information about how to grow plants hydroponically.  Look under “Gardens” for different types of hydroponic systems 
  1. Kids Gardening.org:  Exploring Classroom Hydroponics – Here you will find information about nutrients needed for plants, and different types of hydroponic set-ups. 
  2. GTG Hydroponics  - Includes information on the nutrients plants need and the types of hydroponic systems. 

Types of Hydroponic Systems – Be careful, often the same system has different names in different resources. 

  1. What is Hydroponics? – Includes brief descriptions of types of hydroponic systems 
  2. Hydroponics - Simplified – Read about different hydroponic setups here. 
  3. Simply Hydroponics:  Determining Which Hydroponic Growing System Meets Your Needs 
  4. Simple Hydroponic System for Leafy Vegetables – This tells how to build a trough hydroponic system. 
  5. Hydroponic Systems Plans 

 Information on Growing Mung Beans Mungbeans 

  1.  GardenGuides.com: Life Cycle of the Mung Bean – Find out the life cycle of the mung bean here. 
  2.   eHowhome – What environment do mung beans grow best in? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 
 
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