In Search of Essential Nutrients
Grade:
Curricular Links:
10
-Sci. 14 Unit A: Investigating Properties of Matter (Outcome 3)
-Sci. 14 Unit C: Investigating Matter & Energy in Living Systems (Outcome 1)
-Sci. 14 Unit D: Investigating Matter and Energy in the Environment (Outcome 1)
LGT Supplies:
Essential Elements poster, periodic tables, Sources of Essential Elements
(Plants and Humans), Using Nitrogen
Classroom Supplies: Pencils, two different coloured pencil crayons
Adapted From:
Nutrients for Life: Nourishing the Planet in the 21st Century
Discuss how scientist interested in studying human health must understand the specific needs of
the body. What do humans need to live? What must we take into our bodies from the environment?
Focus on air, water and food. Why do we need each of these? We eat plants/animals to obtain
chemical energy and the building blocks needed by our cells. What about plants? Do they need
food? Discuss essential elements. Display poster. Pass out the periodic table. Students use pencil
to shade half the box of the elements they think are essential for healthy plant growth. Discuss the
17 essential elements for plants. Students use one colour to shade half of the boxes. Do humans
require the same essential elements as plants? Show the periodic table for humans. Use the other
colour to add human essential to the periodic table. Where do plants receive their essential
elements? Pass out the Sources of essential elements sheets. Students check off where they think
the plant gets each element. Discuss. Summarize where a plant gets its essential elements: water
(hydrogen, oxygen), air (carbon, oxygen) and soil (all). Give out the Using Nitrogen hand-out.
Students read and answer the questions. Clarify that nitrogen must be obtained from the soil not
the air. Discuss where soil essential elements come from: rock erosion, lightning, decomposition,
human activities (fertilizer run-off, waste, etc.), industry and automobiles. Students fill out the
Sources of Essential Elements sheet for humans.
Conclusion
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How can we ensure our plants receive the essential elements they need?
How can we ensure we receive the essential elements we need?
How does growing our own food help us achieve this goal?
Extension
Try the “Humans, Food and Essential Elements” activity from Nourishing the Planet Pg. 52 and 62.