Nutrients for Life Foundation Launches
New Science Curriculum for High School Students
Attention teachers! We are excited to announce the unveiling of the second edition to our Smithsonian-reviewed high school curriculum, Nourishing the Planet in the 21st Century. This resource supports our mission to promote soil science in the classroom and teach students about the basic aspects of plant biology as it relates to food production.
The curriculum offers six lessons that integrate inquiry science, plant biology and mathematics to meet curriculum objectives and state standards. Each lesson is accompanied by one or more optional extension activities that enrich the learning experience. These activities are easy-to-implement, hands-on, encourage and support student inquiry and are appropriate for high school grade levels.
In lesson four, students explore nutrient deficiencies in plants and the fertilizer’s role in plant nutrition. A new activity allows students to use a chemical called Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to create a calcium-deficient environment for plants experimentally. Through this activity, students observe firsthand the importance of the correct essential elements for plants. Another new activity includes relating soil horizons to the Great Dust Bowl. After learning that plants remove water and nutrients from the soil through roots, students investigate the Great Dust Bowl as an example of the disruption of topsoil layers.
Nourishing the Planet in the 21st Century is aligned with Science State Standards for all 50 states, National Sciences Education Standards, Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. The use of the BSCS (Biological Sciences Curriculum Study) 5E Instructional Model, combined with active, collaborative learning allows educators to respond effectively to students with diverse backgrounds and learning styles.
To learn more about the Nutrients for Life Foundation, discover teacher resources, lesson plans and more, visit local.nutrientsforlife.org or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
