Potato Plant
Growth Rate Patterns
Kindergarten – 5th grade
Timeframe
Periodic class periods over growth period of potato plant, about 3 months
Objectives
Science
(K-5).9 & (K-5).10: Organisms and Environments
Math
Probability and Statistics, Graphing, Measurement
Materials
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Student journals/pencils
Tomato Growth Graph http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Line-Graphs.topicArticleId266336,articleId-266308.html
Bean Plant Growth Graph
http://mrtozer.pbworks.com/w/page/40053126/Math%20MCAS%20Graphing
Free Online Graph Paper http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/plain/
Line graphs instructables http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Graph/step6/The-LineGraph/
Engage: Potato plant growth rate from planting to harvesting (indoor classroom)
What pattern of growth will we see in our potato plants? How can we display these patterns?
 Student groups are given the date planted, the date of expected harvest (100 days from
planting). Have them discuss how they think the potato plants will be at harvest. How fast will
they grow?
 Teacher guides student groups to share their thoughts with the class with reasons.
 Mark the date of planting and harvesting on the calendar.
Growth rate patterns of tomato plants to predict potato plant growth
What growth patterns do we see in garden plants?
 Students observe tables showing centimeters of plant growth over weeks for tomatoes (see
sample table below). Students construct a Tomato Plant Growth Line Graph from data using 1
cm graph paper.
 Teacher guides students to construct a graph using x-axis as time in weeks, y-axis as plant height
in centimeters.
 Describe the rate of growth. Do the tomato plants grow at an even rate or does the rate
change? Have students observe their graphs, discuss their thoughts with a partner, and share
with the class using evidence from the graph that tomatoes grow faster in Weeks 2-3 and 3-4
than in other weeks.
Lessons written by Angela Buffington
Copyright  2012 REAL School Gardens
Explore: Predicting potato plant growth (indoor and outdoor classroom)
What growth patterns do we expect for our potato plants?
 Students construct a Predicted Potato Growth Table, using date of planting, expected date of
harvest, time in weeks, and predicted plant height in centimeters. Note that the plant to harvest
time for the tomatoes was 56 days while the time for potatoes is 100 days.
 Students construct a Predicted Potato Line Graph from their data table, using 1 cm graph paper.
 Teacher guides students to construct a predicted graph using x-axis as time in weeks, y-axis as
plant height in centimeters. Teacher explains a prediction is based on other information, the
patterns they saw with tomatoes and experiences growing potatoes in the past. Predictions are
not guesses without a basis.
What growth patterns do we observe in our potato plants?
 Students construct an Actual Potato Plant Growth Table. Enter date of planting and expected
date of harvest in the corner. Once a week for about 14 weeks students can observe plants and
collect height of plant in cm, from the top of the ground to the highest plant part.
 Students choose a plant and draw a botanical illustration of the plant using pencil and
watercolors or colored pencils. Label the parts of the plant and their functions. Note the location
of the plant in the garden bed. Carefully observe to draw accurately the numbers and sizes of
stems, leaves, and other visible parts.
Explain: Line graphing actual potato plant growth patterns (indoor classroom)
 Students construct an Actual Potato Plant Growth Line Graph using the data collected. They may
graph a single potato plant or several using different colors of lines.
 Teacher guides students to construct an Actual Potato Plant Growth Line Graph using x-axis as
time in weeks, y-axis as plant height in centimeters. Teacher explains the purpose of a data table
to collect data, and a line graph can show how the plant height changed over several weeks.
Elaborate: Collecting and displaying plant growth patterns (indoor classroom)
What growth patterns do we see in our potato plants?
 Students graph several potato plants onto one graph using different colored lines.
 Students compare their drawings of the potato plants each week to see growth patterns.
 Describe the rate of growth. Do the plants grow at an even rate or do they grow faster some
weeks?
 Identify the sections of the line graph that represent faster and slower growth. Think about
reasons a potato plant may grow faster one week as compared to another.
 What other changes occur when the plants grow? Describe plants parts, numbers, and size.
 Compare their predicted graphs to their actual graphs. Note differences.
 Compare the line graphs of the tomato with those of their potato. Note differences. (See
Materials)
Evaluate: Displaying plant growth data and patterns of growth using a table and a line graph (indoor
classroom)
What are the growth patterns for a bean plant?
 Students construct a table to collect data for a future project growing a bean plant for 8 days.
 Students are then given a data table showing cm of growth for a bean plant for 8 days. Using
this data students construct a line graph.
 Describe the rate of growth. Does the bean plant grow at the same rate or does the rate
change? Identify days when the bean plant grew faster, and days when it grew more slowly.
Lessons written by Angela Buffington
Copyright  2012 REAL School Gardens
What may cause a bean plant to grow faster some days as compared to others? What other
changes may have taken place as the bean plant grew?
Tomato Plant Growth Table
Bean Plant Growth Table
Weeks
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Days
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Height in cm
10
20
40
80
90
95
97
100
Height in cm
0
1
1
3
4
5
5
8
Sources:
5E Overview and 5E Key Components
http://www.roundrockisd.org/index.aspx?page=3211
Lessons written by Angela Buffington
Copyright  2012 REAL School Gardens