|I am a teacher for a class of 20 second graders. In March, we will begin a Science unit on plants and their life cycles. Could you please suggest a couple of varieties which are fast-growing? We can observe them until the end of May. I have no windows,but I do have a plant light station.
|You have 10 to 12 weeks to observe your plants. You'll want to choose plants that complete their life cycles--that is, flower and produce seeds--within that time frame.
Beans are a common choice. The seeds are large and easy to handle, and they are reliable growers. You should be able to get some beans to cut open and see the next generation of seeds. Choose bush varieties to grow under lights--unless you want vines climbing your light unit!
Marigolds are another common choice. They arealso relatively easy to grow and bring to the flowering stage.
Tomatoes, peppers, and peas are also possibilities, but may take longer to flower and produce seed.
Have you seen National Gardening Association's web site at www.garden.org Check out the "Kids and Classrooms" section for lots of information about indoor gardening with children. NGA also produces a newsletter called "Growing Ideas: A Journal of Garden-Based Learning", and a catalog of resources for educators. There's also information about "E-mail Pals", where kids can connect with other classrooms across the country.
Good luck with your project. It's wonderful to watch children get excited about plants and gardening, and it's a great way to spark interest in all sorts of related subjects.
"""Mimi ni mwalimu wa darasa la wanafunzi wa darasa la pili." Mnamo Machi, tutaanza kitengo cha Sayansi juu ya mimea na mizunguko yao ya maisha. Je, unaweza kupendekeza aina kadhaa zinazokua haraka? Tunaweza kuwachunguza hadi mwisho wa Mei. Mimi sina madirisha, lakini mimi kufanya kuwa na mmea taa kituo cha. Kwa mfano, unaweza kutumia wiki 10 hadi 12 kuchunguza mimea yako. Utataka kuchagua mimea ambayo kukamilisha mizunguko yao ya maisha - kwamba ni, maua na kuzalisha mbegu - ndani ya muda huo. Mbegu za maharagwe ni chaguo la kawaida. Mbegu hizo ni kubwa na ni rahisi kuzishughulikia, na zinatumiwa kwa uaminifu na wakulima. Unaweza kuamua kupasua maharagwe na kuamua kizazi kijacho cha mbegu. Chagua aina ya kichaka kukua chini ya taa - isipokuwa unataka mizabibu kupanda kitengo yako mwanga! Marigolds ni chaguo jingine la kawaida. Pia ni rahisi kukuza na kuifanya iendelee kuchanua maua. Nyanya, pilipili, na maharagwe pia yaweza kutokezwa, lakini huenda ikachukua muda mrefu zaidi ili maua na mbegu zitokezwe. "Kama unavyoona kwenye tovuti ya National Gardening Association, ""Kids and Classrooms"" ni sehemu ya habari kuhusu bustani ya ndani na watoto." NGA pia inazalisha jarida linaloitwa "Kukuza Mawazo: Jarida la Kujifunza Kwa Msingi wa Bustani" na orodha ya rasilimali kwa walimu. Pia kuna habari kuhusu "E-mail Pals", ambapo watoto wanaweza kuungana na madarasa mengine kote nchini. Bahati nzuri na mradi wako. Ni furaha kuona watoto wakivutiwa na mimea na bustani, na ni njia nzuri ya kuamsha maslahi katika aina zote za masomo yanayohusiana.