Introduction
This is a
WebQuest for grades 6-8.
It is meant
to inform the students about tomato farming as well as many details farmers
must consider. It is also meant to
improve their math skills. Through their
self-guided research and writing, students will become more familiar with
agriculture.
Unit Notes and
Process
Water Worksheet – worth
65 points
î
1
copy per student
î
Pencil
î
Calculator
(optional)
Here is
the answer
key for the water worksheet.
Temperature Worksheet – worth
100 points
î
1
copy per student
î
Writing
utensil
î
Pencil
î
Green
colored pencil
î
Calculator
(optional)
Here is
the answer key
for the temperature worksheet.
Conclusion
Here is
the prompt sheet to hand
out to the students when they start on the conclusion activity.
Unit Extensions
î
You
can plant your own tomato plant as a class after the unit. Have all of the students tell you how best to
plant one from their research.
î
You
can also expand upon the idea of fencing and purchasing support for each plant. Create prices and quantities needed. Have students price out the cheapest
option. This can also include the
employment needed to put in all of the fencing and/or supports
Evaluation
·
Grading
rubric for the culminating essay.
·
Unit
Evaluation Point sheet
Additional Resources
This
website breaks down the parts of growing tomatoes. It is very good for home/personal use as
opposed to mass production.
http://www.garden.org/foodguide/browse/veggie/
This
website shows the breakdown of
http://www.farmland.org/resources/fote/images/map_virginia300.jpg
This
website prevents against 10 common mistakes made when planting tomatoes.
http://www.chiff.com/a/garden-tomato.htm
Here is a
website which can make graph paper of any size for you, which can be used with
the extension activities.
http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/
Book: Tomatoes
by: Elaine Landau
This book
examines the history, cultivation, and uses of tomatoes.
ISBN:
0516267736
Book: How
to Grow Tomatoes: A Practical Gardening Guide for Great Results by: Richard
Bird
The
different types and the most popular varieties of tomato are described and
illustrated in this useful volume, from large, robust beefsteak tomatoes to
small and succulent Tiny Tims, with useful information on growing habits,
flavor, texture, size and color. There is key advice on essential tools,
preparing the soil and greenhouse for new crops and sowing tomatoes under
glass. The third section on practical cultivation presents detailed information
on growing tomatoes under glass, outdoors in beds, growing bags and containers,
with advice on which varieties perform best in different conditions.
ISBN:
1844764982
SOLs
Here is a
list of the correlating SOLs. For a complete
list of the Virginia Standards of Learning, visit, the DOE website.
Sixth
Grade
Math
6.18 The student, given a problem situation, will
collect, analyze, display, and interpret data in a variety of graphical
methods, including
a) line, bar, and
circle graphs;
Science
6.7
The
student will investigate and understand the natural processes and human
interactions that
affect watershed systems. Key concepts include
g) water monitoring and analysis using
field equipment including hand-held
technology.
6.8
The
student will investigate and understand public policy decisions relating to
the environment. Key concepts
include
a) management of renewable resources
(water, air, soil, plant life, animal life);
English
6.6 The student will write narratives,
descriptions, and explanations.
a)
Use
a variety of planning strategies to generate and organize ideas.
b)
Establish
central idea, organization, elaboration, and unity.
c)
Select
vocabulary and information to enhance the central idea, tone, and voice.
Technology
6-8.5
The student will demonstrate knowledge of technologies that
support
collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.
î
Work collaboratively and/or independently when using technology.
6-8.6 The student will use technology to locate,
evaluate, and collect information from
a variety of sources.
î
Use technology resources such as calculators and data collection
probes for gathering information.
î
Use Internet and other electronic resources to locate information
in real time.
6-8.7 The student will evaluate and select new
information resources and technological innovations based on the
appropriateness for specific tasks.
î
Use search strategies to retrieve information.
Seventh
Grade
Math
7.4 The student will
a) solve practical problems
using rational numbers (whole numbers, fractions,
decimals) and percents; and
7.18
The student will make inferences, conjectures, and
predictions based on analysis
of a set of data.
Science
LS.1 The student will plan and conduct investigations
in which
h) continuous line graphs are
constructed, interpreted, and used to make predictions;
i)
interpretations
from a set of data are evaluated and defended; and
LS.4 The student will investigate and understand that the basic needs
of organisms must be met in order to carry out life processes. Key concepts
include
a) plant needs (light, water, gases,
and nutrients)
c) factors
that influence life processes.
LS.5 The
student will investigate and understand how organisms can be classified.
Key concepts include
c) the
characteristics of the species.
LS.12 The
student will investigate and understand the relationships between
ecosystem dynamics and human activity. Key concepts
include
a) food production and harvest
e) environmental issues (water supply,
air quality, energy production, and waste management).
English
7.6
The
student will read and demonstrate comprehension of a variety of
informational
texts.
f)
Organize
and synthesize information for use in written and oral presentations.
7.7 The student will apply knowledge of
appropriate reference materials.
a)
Use
print and electronic sources to locate information in books and articles.
b)
Use
graphic organizers to organize information.
c)
Synthesize
information from multiple sources.
d)
Credit
primary and secondary sources.
7.8 The student will develop narrative,
expository, and persuasive writing.
a)
Apply
knowledge of prewriting strategies.
b)
Elaborate
the central idea in an organized manner.
c) Choose vocabulary and information that will
create voice and tone.
Technology
6-8.6
The student will demonstrate knowledge of technologies that
support
collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.
î
Work collaboratively and/or independently when using technology.
6-8.6 The student will use technology to locate,
evaluate, and collect information from
a variety of sources.
î
Use technology resources such as calculators and data collection
probes for gathering information.
î
Use Internet and other electronic resources to locate information
in real time.
6-8.7 The student will evaluate and select new
information resources and technological innovations based on the
appropriateness for specific tasks.
î
Use search strategies to retrieve information.
Eighth
Grade
Math
8.3
The student will solve practical problems involving rational
numbers, percents,
ratios,
and proportions. Problems will be of
varying complexities and will involve real-life data, such as finding a discount and discount prices
and balancing a checkbook.
8.12 The student will make comparisons, predictions,
and inferences, using information displayed in frequency distributions;
box-and-whisker plots; scattergrams; line, bar, circle, and picture graphs; and
histograms.
Science
PS.1 The student will plan and conduct
investigations in which
g) research skills are utilized using
a variety of resources;
l)
research
methods are used to investigate practical problems and questions;
PS.2 The
student will investigate and understand the basic nature of matter. Key
concepts include
e) physical properties (shape,
density, solubility, odor, melting point, boiling point, color);
English
8.6 The student will read, comprehend, and
analyze a variety of informational
sources.
g) Evaluate
and synthesize information to apply in written and oral presentations.
8.7 The
student will write in a variety of forms, including narrative, expository,
persuasive, and informational.
a)
Use
prewriting strategies to generate and organize ideas.
b)
Organize
details to elaborate the central idea.
c)
Select
specific vocabulary and information.
Technology
6-8.7
The student will demonstrate knowledge of technologies that
support
collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.
î
Work collaboratively and/or independently when using technology.
6-8.6 The student will use technology to locate,
evaluate, and collect information from
a variety of sources.
î
Use technology resources such as calculators and data collection
probes for gathering information.
î
Use Internet and other electronic resources to locate information
in real time.
6-8.7 The student will evaluate and select new
information resources and technological innovations based on the
appropriateness for specific tasks.
î
Use search strategies to retrieve information.
Credits
This
WebQuest was created by Kelly Henaghan for
Last revised: December, 2008
© 2008 Agriculture in the
Classroom; All Rights Reserved