Activity Introduction

Quick summary: In this experiment students test the theory that talking to your plants helps them grow faster and stronger.

These Snappy Science resources have been created to boost science education in primary schools across Australia. Each lesson is designed to support teachers with the scientific knowledge, ideas and resources to stimulate a sense of wonder and curiosity in their students. Many of the big issues that Australian society will face in the future are around technology, energy, resources and climate change. All of these require students to engage with science – but most of all to enjoy science!

Science at Home: These Snappy Science resources can also be used to engage families in fun science and learning for life. You can download a student friendly version of this activity here and you can also check out the Snappy Science Digital Library.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.

Australian Curriculum content description: This activity is relevant to Science Inquiry Skills across all primary year levels of the Australian Curriculum.

Year 1 Science

  • Living things have a variety of external features (ACSSU017)

Year 2 Science

  • Living things grow, change and have offspring similar to themselves (ACSSU030)

Year 3 Science

  • Living things can be grouped on the basis of observable features and can be distinguished from non-living things (ACSSU044)

Year 4 Science

Year 6 Science

  • The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment (ACSSU094)

Syllabus Outcomes: ST1-10LW, ST2-10LW, ST3-11LW.

Time required: 15 minutes to set up, 5 minutes a day for four weeks to talk to plant, 15 minutes to conclude and discuss observations.

Resources required: For each student you will need – two seeds (beans or peas are both sturdy and fast growing), two small plastic planter pots (check with your nursery), enough potting mix to fill each pot, water, labels and pen.

Safety advice: Students will need to wash hands carefully after handing potting mix.

Keywords: Plants, talking, grow.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Brief summary:

In this experiment students test the theory that talking to your plants helps them grow faster and stronger.

Students can use the Predict, Observe, Explain table on the Student Worksheet to describe and reflect upon this experiment.

You will need:

For each student you will need –

  • Two seeds (beans or peas are both sturdy and fast growing)
  • Two small plastic planter pots (check with your nursery)
  • Enough potting mix to fill each pot
  • Water
  • Labels and pen

What to do:

Step 1. Give each student their pots and ask them to label the plants with the names and to give one plant the label of “silence” and the other one “happy chat” or something similar.

Step 2. Each student should fill their pots with soil. To plant the seeds, make a small dip in the top of the soil about 0.5-1cm deep. Place the seed in the dip, cover with a small amount of soil and gently press down so the soil won’t wash away when watered. Lightly water the plants and place them all in a sunny

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Student Worksheet

In this activity you will experiment with talking to growing plants to see if a bit of friendly chatter helps plants grow stronger.

Predict

Explain what you think will happen:

Observe

Explain what happened:

Explain

Explain why you think this happened:
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