Raising Radishes
Lesson Plans
Grades3, 4, 5Science, Health
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Provided by Center for Ecoliteracy
What it is
- In this lesson, students learn about composting and conduct an experiment to determine what type of soil is best for growing radishes.
- After learning about composting, students will spend the next few weeks watching their radishes grow to determine if soil, compost, or a mix of both is best for radishes.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The lesson plan includes step-by-step instructions for the experiment, background information, and a materials list.
- Students will be able to conduct an experiment over an extended period, make observations, and draw conclusions.
Additional Prerequisites
- The radish plants will need sufficient sunlight or artificial light to grow, and all containers should have the same amount of light.
- You will need radish seeds, containers, soil and compost for the experiment.
- It is best to know the source of the soil before the experiment and avoid soil that may contain any lead or other contaminants.
Differentiation
- In more advanced classes, students can plan, design, and conduct their own investigation or add additional tests or procedures to connect the topic to lessons about photosynthesis, cells, or limiting nutrients.
- A single copy of the "Fruit and Vegetable Adjectives" handout can be provided per group or projected for the class to limit printing and paper use.
- To assess students learning, have students graph their findings and write about what type of soil is best for radishes and why.
- As a follow-up activity, you can create a school compost bin as a class to be used on campus for science projects or fundraisers.
From the scientist review
This resource is a more in-depth lesson on radishes and teaches students about composting and how to experiment with the best growing conditions. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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