Plants Get Sick, Too!
A 4-week or longer investigation for grades 9-12.
This module focuses on the interaction of plants and microbes, specifically post-harvest microbes. Some of those challenges include food rotting before it can get to market. How does this happen? Can we control it? Can we prevent it? Students learn about plant-microbe interactions and experience first-hand the consequences of what can happen when the disease triangle comes into play.
Essential Inquiry Questions:
- What is the definition of disease?
- What is the definition of a pathogen?
- What are the three variables that must exist for disease to occur?
- What is the difference between infection and colonization?
- What are some threats to our food supply?
- What can growers do to overcome challenges in getting food to the table?
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Performance Expectations
The performance expectations for the Plants Get Sick, Too! module are:
- LS1.A
- LS4.B
- LS4.C
Also check out the Agronomy Feeds the World, an excellent lead-in activity to Plants Get Sick, Too! for students with a limited or unknown inquiry background and to discuss where food comes from and what challenges growers face in getting our food supply to grocery stores and our tables.