Elementary | Sponsored By: Corteva Agriscience
Is Lesson Plan Lesson Plans Life Science Elementary
Adapted from The Farmer in the Lab by Jeanine Huss and Cheryl Baker
Science & Children | February 2010 | Vol 47, Issue 6
Students will explore the development of pest-resistant varieties of wheat.
Note: Seeds can be sourced online or locally from a science supply, nursery, or seed supply company.
Students will better understand problems faced by farmers and understand how local problems may affect global food supplies.
Students recorded the growth and health of the wheat plants in a journal. This helped students realize the importance of detailed data collection. Classroom discussion revealed what students understood and what needed further explanations.
In an essay question, ask students to explain why wheat varieties could be used in a pest management system. Students should also define the control variable, independent variable, and dependent variable in this investigation.
GBE (Greenbug Biotype E) is a serious perennial pest on much of the wheat grown in the United States. It damages the wheat with its piercing, sucking mouthparts and toxic saliva. Largo wheat is resistant to GBE, which means it shows little to no damage after infestation. Amigo wheat, however, will be severely damaged and may even die within two weeks of infestation.