...Michael E. Van Nuland; Miranda Chen; Benjamin J. England Interactions are at the core of many ecological and evolutionary forces in nature. Plant–soil interactions provide a rich example of the interconnectedness of living systems, but they are hidden from everyday view and overshadowed...

... the effects of biochar on plant growth and soil respiration. Biochar is a carbon-rich material, produced by heating organic matter under limited oxygen, that is added to soils to improve fertility, to promote plant growth, and as one possible strategy to help mitigate climate change. The experiments offer...

... data, and apply their findings to pertinent conservation issues. This four-day activity uses a simplified approach, called the meter stick random sampling method, to measure plant biodiversity of different local habitats. Time-efficient and not reliant on species identification, this method is designed...

...J. Phil Gibson; Joshua T. Cooper Students often have limited understanding of the major innovations in plant evolution. We developed a card sorting activity based on tree thinking that is suitable for students with a wide range of abilities and experience. Through this activity, students learn how...

...Ava R. Howard Use of real specimens brings the study of biology to life. This activity brings easily acquired plant specimens into the classroom to tackle common alternative conceptions regarding life, size, complexity, the nature of science, and plants as multicellular organisms. The activity...

...Kim Spaccarotella; Roxie James Measuring plant stem growth over time is a simple activity commonly used to introduce concepts in growth and development in plant biology ( Reid & Pu, 2007 ). This Quick Fix updates the activity and incorporates a real-world application: students consider possible...

... assume the characteristics of select native or introduced plants and experience first hand the influences of species interactions and changing environmental conditions on community composition as they advance across a game board. Through game play, students learn about ways in which species can interact...

... is essential for the proper functioning of a terrarium, especially nutrient cycling. Proper drainage is a step often overlooked by novices. In planters and across any flat areas that will contain plants, begin with a thin layer of pea gravel (1–2 cm for a 30–55 gallon aquarium) and increase the depth...

... is an important part of developing environmental literacy. This lesson will help make your students more aware of the plants living around them. The phenomenon known as “plant blindness” was first suggested by Wandersee and Schussler (1999) . They defined plant blindness as the inability to see...

...ERIC BROOKS; ERIN DOLAN; FRANS TAX A partnership between scientists, high school teachers, and their students provides authentic research experiences to help students understand the nature and processes of science. The Partnership for Research and Education in Plants (PREP) engages students...