Raising Radishes

• In this lesson, students learn about composting and conduct an experiment to determine what type of soil is best for growing radishes.
• After learning about composting, students will spend the next few weeks watching their radishes grow to determine if soil, compost, or a mix of both is best for radishes.

Positives

• The lesson plan includes step-by-step instructions for the experiment, background information, and a materials list.
• Students will be able to conduct an experiment over an extended period, make observations, and draw conclusions.

Additional Prerequisites

• The radish plants will need sufficient sunlight or artificial light to grow, and all containers should have the same amount of light.
  
• You will need radish seeds, containers, soil and compost for the experiment.
  
• It is best to know the source of the soil before the experiment and avoid soil that may contain any lead or other contaminants.

Differentiation

• In more advanced classes, students can plan, design, and conduct their own investigation or add additional tests or procedures to connect the topic to lessons about photosynthesis, cells, or limiting nutrients.
• A single copy of the "Fruit and Vegetable Adjectives" handout can be provided per group or projected for the class to limit printing and paper use.
• To assess students learning, have students graph their findings and write about what type of soil is best for radishes and why.
• As a follow-up activity, you can create a school compost bin as a class to be used on campus for science projects or fundraisers.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.