Comments on: What Do Plants Need to Live? http://kidscientist.com/the-earth/what-do-plants-need-to-live/ A no-nonsense science blog for kids Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:13:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Deanna http://kidscientist.com/the-earth/what-do-plants-need-to-live/#comment-55 Deanna Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:44:18 +0000 http://kidscientist.com/the-earth/what-do-plants-need-to-live/#comment-55 Hi, I really enjoyed the comedy show after the "Science" hour. Thanks! Deanna Hi,

I really enjoyed the comedy show after the “Science” hour. Thanks! Deanna

]]> By: admin http://kidscientist.com/the-earth/what-do-plants-need-to-live/#comment-51 admin Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:10:33 +0000 http://kidscientist.com/the-earth/what-do-plants-need-to-live/#comment-51 There is a huge difference between dumbing it down and using language that's appropriate for their age. If they can't understand what you're talking about in the first place, they're never going to learn it. There is a huge difference between dumbing it down and using language that’s appropriate for their age. If they can’t understand what you’re talking about in the first place, they’re never going to learn it.

]]> By: Colleen http://kidscientist.com/the-earth/what-do-plants-need-to-live/#comment-49 Colleen Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:45:32 +0000 http://kidscientist.com/the-earth/what-do-plants-need-to-live/#comment-49 Fran, thanks for adding your comments - they were quite helpful. Yes, actually, current educational theory says you should be using words like photosynthesis with 5-year-olds; there's no reason to "dumb down" science for kids if it involves explaining things inaccurately such that they'll have to unlearn it later. Science is such a fascinating subject, and I feel sorry for anyone who was turned off to science as a kid. Fran, thanks for adding your comments - they were quite helpful. Yes, actually, current educational theory says you should be using words like photosynthesis with 5-year-olds; there’s no reason to “dumb down” science for kids if it involves explaining things inaccurately such that they’ll have to unlearn it later. Science is such a fascinating subject, and I feel sorry for anyone who was turned off to science as a kid.

]]> By: jeffrey http://kidscientist.com/the-earth/what-do-plants-need-to-live/#comment-32 jeffrey Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:51:12 +0000 http://kidscientist.com/the-earth/what-do-plants-need-to-live/#comment-32 In fact, Fran, there are lots of plants (like algae) that don't need soil, and hundreds of species of plants that don't do photosynthesis (they are parasites of photosynthetic plants). So if you really want to get technical, and I know you do, your explanation isn't totally accurate either. In fact, Fran, there are lots of plants (like algae) that don’t need soil, and hundreds of species of plants that don’t do photosynthesis (they are parasites of photosynthetic plants). So if you really want to get technical, and I know you do, your explanation isn’t totally accurate either.

]]> By: admin http://kidscientist.com/the-earth/what-do-plants-need-to-live/#comment-31 admin Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:24:00 +0000 http://kidscientist.com/the-earth/what-do-plants-need-to-live/#comment-31 Yo Fran, thanks for weighing in with the straight poop, but I have to say, the way you're approaching this suggests to me that you're the kind of teacher that made me hate science when I was in elementary school. This post was written for a five-year-old. Obviously it glosses some stuff over. Do you use words like "photosynthesis" with kindergardeners? Yo Fran, thanks for weighing in with the straight poop, but I have to say, the way you’re approaching this suggests to me that you’re the kind of teacher that made me hate science when I was in elementary school.

This post was written for a five-year-old. Obviously it glosses some stuff over. Do you use words like “photosynthesis” with kindergardeners?

]]> By: Fran Ludwig http://kidscientist.com/the-earth/what-do-plants-need-to-live/#comment-30 Fran Ludwig Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:07:41 +0000 http://kidscientist.com/the-earth/what-do-plants-need-to-live/#comment-30 Please correct your inaccuracies: Plants respire (breathe) the same way as animals do, they take in oxygen (to release their food energy) and give off carbon dioxide (as the food is "burned" ). Plants do not get food from the soil (even though fertilizer is mistakenly called "plant food"). They get nutrients such as nitrogen from the soil and use these to make their own food through the process of photosynthesis. This is the process where plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. As a science teacher, I spend a lot of time trying to get kids to use words correctly. Thanks, Fran Ludwig K-5 Science Coordinator Lexington (MA) Public Schools Please correct your inaccuracies:
Plants respire (breathe) the same way as animals do, they take in oxygen (to release their food energy) and give off carbon dioxide (as the food is “burned” ).

Plants do not get food from the soil (even though fertilizer is mistakenly called “plant food”). They get nutrients such as nitrogen from the soil and use these to make their own food through the process of photosynthesis. This is the process where plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen.

As a science teacher, I spend a lot of time trying to get kids to use words correctly.

Thanks,
Fran Ludwig
K-5 Science Coordinator
Lexington (MA) Public Schools

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