Mission Library

Botanical Break-In
Plant Growth
Grades 1-2

The Mission
23 min

Storyline

The crew must use their knowledge of plant growth to find a rare, stolen plant in Moodoo's greenhouse and escape before it's too late.

Moodoo has stolen a rare and valuable plant species from Tellenor and hidden it within his alien plant greenhouse. This greenhouse is filled with a variety of unusual, glowing plants that respond differently to sunlight and water. The crew will sneak in stealthily to retrieve the plant, but Moodoo will trap them inside the greenhouse. Students must work together to investigate the growth patterns of these glowing plants (i.e. the effect of sunlight and water on plant growth) in order to find the stolen plant and escape the greenhouse as quickly as possible.

3-Dimensional Science

Phenomenon

Different plants have different needs in order to thrive in their habitat.

Science and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

  • Plan and conduct an investigation collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence to answer a question.

  • Make observations (firsthand or from media) and/or measurements to collect data that can be used to make comparisons.

  • Make observations (firsthand or from media) and/or measurements of a proposed object or tool or solution to determine if it solves a problem or meets a goal.

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

  • Use observations (firsthand or from media) to describe patterns and/or relationships in the natural and designed world(s) in order to answer scientific questions and solve problems.

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect

  • Students learn that events have causes that generate observable patterns. They design simple tests to gather evidence to support or refute their own ideas about causes.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms

  • Plants need water and light.

Resources
Targeted Standards
Timeline
Skills in Action