This guide provides step-by-step instructions for conducting the 'Observing Plant Growth' experiment. The goal is to help students understand photosynthesis, plant life cycles, and environmental influences on growth.

1. Course Objectives 

By the end of this lesson, educators will:

• Introduce students to the basic principles of plant growth and photosynthesis.
• Engage students in hands-on scientific observation through an interactive experiment.
• Encourage critical thinking by prompting students to make predictions and analyze plant responses to different conditions.
• Develop students’ skills in recording observations and making scientific conclusions.
• Connect plant biology concepts to real-world applications, such as agriculture and environmental science.
• Foster curiosity and appreciation for nature by encouraging students to take care of plants and track their growth.

2. Learning Outcomes 

By the end of the experiment, students should be able to:

• Explain the role of sunlight in plant growth and photosynthesis.
• Identify the key stages of plant development.
• Recognize the impact of environmental factors (light, water) on plant health.
• Describe the process of etiolation and why plants need chlorophyll.
• Record and analyze scientific observations systematically.
• Apply their knowledge to understand agricultural practices and plant care in their communities.

3. Materials Checklist

• Seeds (e.g., beans, maize, or local plants)
• Soil
• Water
• Containers (recycled bottles, tins, or small pots)
• Sunlight-exposed area
• Dark enclosed space (e.g., a cupboard or box)
• Notebook and pencil for observation

4. Icebreaker Preliminary Questions Session

Facilitating a common ground between students and teacher to introduce the topic of the lesson. 

Teacher asks “thought provoking” questions and students are encouraged to ask their “curiosity questions”, to make kids excited or expectant about class. 

• Is it true that everything alive draws energy from the sun?
• How do plants know where the light is?
• What would happen if plants didn’t get sunlight
• Do you think plants can move or respond to their environment?
• If you could create an experiment to watch plants grow, what would you do?

Encourage students to give their perspective on what they know on Plants and their nature.

Present a “story” that serves as an example or introduction to the topic - a story that merges science and folklore - can be dynamically spread along the experiment.

Story:

One sunny morning, a little girl named Rose was playing in the garden when she spotted a tiny plant peeking out from the soil. "Grandma, look! A little plant is growing!" she said.

Her grandmother smiled and said, "If you take good care of it, you will see something magical happen"

Rose was so excited. Every day, she watered the plant gently, made sure it got plenty of sunlight, and watched it closely.

Days passed, and one morning, Rose saw something amazing—tiny flowers had started to bloom. As time went on, the plant grew more leaves, more buds, and then—something special appeared.

A tiny green tomato!

Rose checked on it every day, and slowly, it turned from green to yellow and finally, bright red!

She gasped in delight. "Grandma, look! The magic plant made a tomato!"

Grandma laughed and gave Rose a big hug. "The magic isn't just in the plant, my dear. It’s in the care you gave it."

Rose grinned. She had learned something wonderful—the joy of watching something grow.

5. Experimental Setup

1. Begin by planting seeds in normal conditions with access to light and water. Allow them to germinate and sprout for about 3-5 days.
2. Once the seeds have sprouted, separate them into two groups:
    - One group placed in a sunny area (control group).
    - One group placed in total darkness (to observe the effects of no light).
3. Water both sets equally every day and observe growth over two weeks.
4. Encourage students to record daily changes in plant height, leaf development, and color.
5. Discuss differences between the plants in light and dark conditions.
6. Explain that plants in darkness may initially grow taller due to etiolation (stretching for light) but will become pale and weak because they cannot produce chlorophyll and sustain energy production.

What to Expect - What kids should focus on:

• The plants in darkness will likely grow taller initially (they stretch toward any light source in a process called etiolation), but they will look pale/yellow because they can’t produce chlorophyll without light.
• After some time, they may stop growing or become weak because they can’t photosynthesize and create their own energy.

Additional References or Material: Link

6. Facilitation Tips

• Ask students what they think plants need to grow before starting the experiment. 

• Describe the experiment and ask the students to predict what might happen to the plant in total darkness before starting the experiment
• Encourage them to observe the changes daily and compare growth between the two conditions.
• Use storytelling to explain how plants 'eat' sunlight through photosynthesis.
• Connect the lesson to agriculture—how farmers use sunlight and shade for plant cultivation.

7. Class Conclusion and Takeaway

As “assessment evaluation” kids can be divided in groups, given time and space and asked to come out with a “skit” summarizing what they learned.

Ask kids to come up with a story themselves about the topic of the lesson.

Give feedbacks to students on what they produced

8. Instructor’s Theoretical Background

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants convert sunlight into energy. The main components are:
• Sunlight: Provides the energy needed for the process.
• Chlorophyll: A pigment in leaves that captures light energy.
• Water (H₂O): Absorbed by the roots and transported to the leaves.
• Carbon dioxide (CO₂): Taken from the air through small openings called stomata.
The reaction: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + sunlight → C₆H₁₂O₆ (glucose) + 6O₂

In darkness, plants cannot perform photosynthesis, so they will either stop growing or become pale and weak as they deplete stored energy.

9. Illustration

1. Begin by planting seeds in normal conditions with access to light and water. Allow them to germinate and sprout for about 3-5 days.

2. Once the seeds have sprouted, separate them into two groups:
    a) One group placed in a sunny area (control group).
    b) One group placed in total darkness (to observe the effects of no light).

3. Water both sets equally every day and observe growth over two weeks.