1A: Why Plants Need Light

Correct Responses

• States that plants need light in order undergo photosynthesis OR make their own food (or similar).
  • Examples:
    • Plants make food using light.
    • It’s for photosynthesis.
    • Sunlight gives them food.
• States that plants need light for energy (or similar).
  • Examples:
    • Sunlight is the source of energy for all living things.
    • The Sun warms the plant and gives it energy.
    • Plants get energy from the Sun.

Incorrect Responses

• Gives only a general response related to plants needing light in order to live/grow (given in the stem).
  • Examples:
    • Light makes it grow.
    • They cannot grow without it.
    • To live.
• Mentions only the need for heat/warmth. [No mention of energy.]
  • Examples:
    • The heat from the sun helps them grow.
    • Living things need warmth.
• Other incorrect

1B: One Other Thing Plants Need

Correct Responses

• States fertilizer, nutrients, minerals, plant ‘food’ (or similar term meaning nutrients).
• States air (oxygen or carbon dioxide).
• States soil, dirt, earth (or similar).
• States proper temperature (heat, warmth, etc.).

Incorrect Responses

• Repeats light, sunlight or Sun.
• Repeats water, moisture or similar.
• Other incorrect

‹ Previous Next ›

2: Which Side of the House Gets Most Sun

Correct Response

• EAST with explanation stating that the Sun rises in the East (or similar).
  • Examples:
    • East. Area 4 is shaded in the morning because the Sun in on the East side.
    • East. The Sun travels from East to West.
    • East. When the sun comes up on that side it makes a shadow on the west side.

Incorrect Responses

• EAST with no explanation or incorrect explanation. [May include a true statement that does not answer the question.]
  • Examples:
    • East. Because it is closest to the pond.
    • East. Because it’s on the East side.
    • East. Because the Sun travels across the sky.
• WEST with an explanation stating that the Sun rises in the West (or similar).
  • Examples:
    • West. When the sun rises in the morning it’s on the west.
• WEST with no explanation or other incorrect explanation.
  • Examples:
    • West. The oak trees are there.

• Other incorrect

‹ Previous Next ›

3A: Why Roses Will Not Grow in Area 1

Correct Response

• Refers to there not being enough light (or too much shade) in Area 1 for the roses to grow (explicitly or implicitly).
  • Examples:
    • The trees will provide too much shade.
    • There isn’t much light in Area 1.
    • They would not get much sun.

Incorrect Response

• Refers only to the oak trees. [No explicit reference to light/shade.]
  • Examples:
    • Because of the oak trees.
    • There is no room for roses under the oak trees.
    • The oak trees soak up all the water.
• Other incorrect

‹ Previous Next ›

3B: Plants That Will Grow in Each Area

Correct Responses

• Identifies the correct plant(s) in all four areas:
  • Area 1 (shade or part shade): fern or wood rush
  • Area 2 (sun all day): rose or tomato plant
  • Area 3 (morning sun or part shade): shooting star or wood rush
  • Area 4 (afternoon sun or part shade): shrub or wood rush
• As above but plants in Areas 3 and 4 are reversed.

Partial Response

• Identifies correct plants in at least one area but less than four areas.

Incorrect Response

• Other

‹ Previous Next ›

4: How Seeds Get into Garden

Correct Response

• States that the seeds were blown into the garden (by the wind) or similar.
  • Examples:
    • The wind blew them.
    • They were carried through the air.
    • Birds could have dropped them.

Incorrect Responses

• States only that someone planted the seeds there (or similar).
  • Examples:
    • Rebecca must have planted them and forgot about it.
    • Somebody else put them there.
• States only that the seeds came from a plant. [No method of dispersal included.]
  • Examples:
    • The seeds fell from the plant.
    • Some other plants might have grown the seeds.
    • She got them from another plant.
• Other incorrect

‹ Previous Next ›

5: Why Insects Are Important for Flowering Plants

Correct Responses

• States that some insects (e.g., butterflies, bees) are needed for pollination or reproduction of plants (or similar).
  • Examples:
    • Bees pollinate the plants.
    • Some insects are important because plants can’t reproduce without them.
    • They take the pollen to others of the same species.
• States that some insects eat other insects that are bad for plants (or similar).
  • Examples:
    • They will eat all the bad bugs in the garden.
    • Some insects are important because they eat other insects.
    • Spiders and ladybugs will eat the bugs that are killing the plants.
    • Worms dig into the soil and bring in air for the plants.

Incorrect Responses

• Gives only a general/vague response related to insects helping plants with inadequate description.
  • Examples:
    • Some insects are helpful to plants.
    • They need them to grow.
• Names a specific insect important to plants but with no specific benefit to plants given.
  • Examples:
    • Bees, ladybugs, butterflies, etc.
• Refers to pollen but with no or inadequate description of the benefit to plants.
  • Examples:
    • Bees need pollen.
    • Bees are for pollen.
    • They produce the right kind of pollen for the plant.
• Other incorrect

‹ Previous