Biology Project-Based Lesson Plan

Project Name: The Wilting Tomato Plants

Grade: IX

Time: 1 week

Project Task

On day 1, students will be divided into the groups of 4 students. Then, they will be shown pictures of the wilting tomato plants. Teacher will ask students that what do they observe in those pictures? After getting responses from students, teacher will tell them that there is garden in a village where these tomato plants are wilting. Teacher will give them this project in which they will be required to:

-Come up with the reasons why these tomato plants are wilting?

-Suggest how the tomato plants can be saved from wilting? 

Teacher will give them further instructions written on the PowerPoint slide. Students will be given 5 days to work on this project. This case initially requires the students to carefully reflect upon many basic concepts of plant anatomy, physiology, and ecology. Students might discuss and explore possible effects of soil quality, water relations, humidity, transpiration, hormones, and nutrition on the growth of plants. Students will be encouraged to explore examples of pathogenic mechanisms, perhaps involving wilt fungi, wilt viruses, and wilt bacteria. When they will construct all this knowledge, then, they will go to the garden on day 4 to observe the wilted tomato plants. They will use their constructed knowledge to see which factors are causing tomato plants to wilt. They will also talk to the farmers for getting more information about the wilting tomato plants and the conditions in which they are grown. After a close observation for a day, they will write down those factors that are causing the tomato plants to wilt. Then, after knowing the causes, they will think for the suggestions regarding the precautionary measure/cure that should be applied to save tomato plants from wilting. Their suggestions will be based on their knowledge that they have previously constructed at the start of the project. 

After reaching to a conclusion, on 7th day, students will deliver a final presentation in which they will share their process of doing the project, the conclusions that they have reached (in regard to the two questions given above), their learning and the challenges they faced in the process of working on the project. They will be given 20 minutes for presentation and 5 minutes for questions and answers.

Curriculum Areas Covered

Through this project, students will get understanding of following biological concepts:

-Plant anatomy, physiology, and ecology.

-Factors affecting plant growth, such as, soil quality, water relations, humidity, transpiration, hormones, and nutrition.

-Pathogens that cause Wilting in Plants, such as, wilt fungi, wilt viruses, and wilt bacteria.