In this practical, students investigate the effects of different levels of minerals (nitrates, phosphates and potassium) on the growth of radishes. Students sow radish seed in ‘soil’ containing different levels of 3 minerals - nitrates, phosphates and potassium. These minerals are present inside N:P:K fertiliser...

One of a series from Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) investigating key topics in plant biology. This practical introduces a simple method to grow radishes, for investigations into the effect of a range of factors on plant growth, including levels of pollutants,...

This protocol allows students to investigate the effects of the hormone auxin (Indole Acetic Acid or IAA) as a plant growth regulator. The investigations give opportunities to look at auxiliary bud development, root development, and leaf abscission in Coleus. The method is suitable for independent investigations by...

In this practical activity, students explore how the technique of re-infection (using infected material to infect healthy plant tissue) can help to identify the cause of a plant disease.

 Ideas about communicable diseases in plants are included in the updated programmes of study for Key Stage 4 science...

Most current theories of adaptation and evolution are based on an organism’s inflexible genetic inheritance, where variation depends on chance mutations to the DNA sequence. Now, biologists studying epigenetics are trying to uncover the roles of this more flexible system.

Invite pupils to explore how plants are adapted for different biomes with this card sorting activity. There are some unusu...

Invite pupils to explore how plants are adapted for different biomes with this card sorting activity. There are some unusual plant examples of adaptation to discuss including snowdrops and night blooming cereus. Use the teacher’s answer sheet for more information.

This activity is part of...

In this practical activity, students explore how the technique of re-infection (using infected material to infect healthy plant tissue) can help to identify the cause of a plant disease.

The activity will help students to demonstrate the following learning outcome at KS4:

• describe ways to...

Invite pupils to learn more about the different stages in a plant’s life cycle with this card matching activity.

This activity is part of Endeavour, an online collection of inquiry-based teaching resources created by experts and teachers at the Royal Botanic Gardens,...

Invite pupils to discuss the different stages in a plant’s life and put them in order with this card sort activity.

This activity is part of Endeavour, an online collection of inquiry-based teaching resources created by experts and teachers at the Royal Botanic Gardens...

Despite the high rate of growth in rainforests the soil in these forests is poor in nutrients. The nutrients have been washed out of the soils by heavy rainfall. In this project, students are going to investigate how different kinds of compost and fertiliser affect the rate of growth of plants.

Produced by Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS), this activity enables students to investigate the effects of different concentrations of nitrates, phosphates and potassium on the growth of radish seedlings.

After sowing, the radish seedlings are kept well watered, in a warm temperature under constant...

In this resource, students carry out a 'cauliflower cloning' tissue culture practical to investigate totipotency in plants. The practical is placed in the context of a STEM careers case study, to give students a broader understanding of the underlying science.

Students are introduced to Jonathan Kendon, a...

In this activity aimed at ages 7-8, learners explore the nutritional content of food and how humans obtain nutrition from the food they eat. They investigate the amount of sugar in different fizzy...

In this activity students make a simple plant propagator and grow plants from seeds.

• A propagator for small plants or seedlings