Case 9: Exploring The Effects Of Light On Plant Growth
Introduction
The purpose of this project is to guide students in building a plant growth monitoring device using a classroom science kit and a micro:bit. Using LED lights to simulate different lighting conditions, students will be able to observe and record plant growth changes, and then analyze and graph plant growth curves. This project will deepen students' understanding of botany and environmental science, as well as hone their experimental design and data analysis skills.
Teaching Goal
Understand the basic conditions and environmental factors for plant growth.
Master the use of LED lights to simulate different light conditions.
Draw and analyze plant growth curves.
Teaching Preparation
Before you begin teaching, please make sure you have the following necessary materials ready:
| Picture | Name |
|---|---|
 | classroom science kit |
 | micro:bit V2 |
 | Personal computer（PC） |
 | USB cable |
These materials will provide you with a complete experience and ensure that you can follow through and learn smoothly. If you are ready for the above, we can move on to the next step.
Teaching Process
Introduction of the course
Light is one of the key environmental factors for plant growth and development. It not only affects a plant's photosynthesis, but also its biological clock and growth cycle. In this lesson, we will simulate different light conditions by building a plant growth monitoring device and observe how these conditions affect plant growth.
Exploratory activities
learn the basic conditions and environmental factors for plant growth.
Design control group experiments using LED lights to simulate different light conditions.
Record the growth data of plants under different light conditions regularly and plot the growth curves.
analyze the pattern of plant growth under light conditions.
Hardware Connection
This case uses 4 rainbow lights on the wukong expansion board for the experiment, the rainbow lights are connected to pin P16.
Code Programming
Add Software Library
Open makecode.microbit.org and click New Project.
Click on Extension.
Search for iot-environment-kit to add the iot-environment-kit repository.
sample code
- Display the heart icon, initialize the rainbow lights to 4 and connect to port P16, set the variable
lightnessto 255.
- The value of the variable
lightnessis adjusted by button control.
- Set the brightness to
lightnessand set the light to white.
Please refer to the program link：https://makecode.microbit.org/_0Hk1dfCuEg38
You can also download the program directly from the following page.
*** Download the program ***Use the USB cable to connect the PC to the micro:bit V2.
After a successful connection, a disk drive named MICROBIT is recognized on the computer.
Click
，choose Connect Device。
Click
。
Click
。
Select BBC micro:bit CMSIS-DAP in the pop-up window and then select Connect, and at this point, our micro:bit has connected successfully.
Click to download program.
Teamwork & Presentation
Students are divided into small groups and work together to create and program cases.
Students are encouraged to cooperate, communicate and share their experiences with each other.
Each group will have the opportunity to show the cases they made and demonstrate to the other groups.
Expected results: Control the light brightness of a rainbow lamp by pressing a button
Summary and Reflection
Review the course content and remind students what knowledge and skills they have acquired.
Lead students in a discussion of the problems and difficulties they encountered during the production process and how they resolved them.
Guide students to think about practical applications of light for plant growth, such as agricultural production and plant cultivation.
Expanding Knowledge
Photosynthesis in plants Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen by absorbing light energy through chlorophyll under light conditions.
Photoperiod The photoperiod, or photoperiod, is the length of time a plant receives light and darkness during the day. Different plants have different photoperiod requirements, which have important implications for plant growth and flowering.
Growth Curve A growth curve is a graph that describes plant growth over time and can be used to analyze the growth rate and growth stage of a plant.