IB Unit "Sharing the Planet"

2nd grade students, while exploring the IB topic "Sharing the Planet," created a "Life Corner" in their classroom where they grew various plants, took care of them, learned about the conditions needed for their growth, gathered information, and systematized it. They also conducted an experiment called "Water's Journey Through Plant Roots" to understand why the colour of the plant's leaves or flowers changed when placed in colored water dyed with ink or food colouring. Before Easter, the second graders "grew" grass-heads, investigating why sawdust was needed to make them and how "hair" (grass) sprouts from their heads. They recorded the weather daily and observed how it affected the plants and their growth, discussing their observations with classmates.

The students reinforced their knowledge with a final trip to the KU Botanical Garden. There, they participated in an educational activity called "Treasure Box." The young researchers searched for and collected interesting plants and seeds while listening to the educator's stories about their species and characteristics.