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Welcome to the Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse

Here, you can find free sustainability lessons to use in your class and upload your own lessons to share. Be sure to rate the lessons you use and leave comments for your colleagues!

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Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse

How to Grow a Cactus Indoors

Lesson Description:

Students will be able to...

  • identify and describe the similarities and differences among cacti plants as relates to physical structure, growth, change, and movement.
  • explain that all plants have basic needs and identify the specific needs of cacti plants.
  • differentiate between natural and man-made habitats and explain how both can support plant life (dish garden vs. desert habitat).
  • identify and organize events in their proper sequence.

Lesson Type:
  • Experiment
  • Project

Sustainability Topic:
  • Gardening

GEF Program Category:
  • Green Thumb Challenge

Time Needed:
30-40 minute class session along with daily cultivation of cactus
Standards Addressed:
  • science standard 5: understand the structure and function of cells and organisms.
    • benchmark # 1: know the basic needs of plants and animals (e.g., air, water, nutrients, sunlight/food shelter).
    • benchmark # 2: know that plants and animals have features that help them live in different environments.
  • science standard 6: understand relationships among organisms and their physical environment.
    • benchmark # 2: know that living things are found almost everywhere in the world and that distinct environments support the life of different types of plants and animals.
  • science standard 12: understand the nature of scientific inquiry.
    • benchmark # 1: know learning can come from careful observation and simple experiments.

Materials Needed:
  • pictures of cacti
  • 10" shallow dish or bowl
  • soil formulated for growing
  • cactus or soil/sand
  • gravel
  • give or six small cacti (Choose varying heights and textures.) 
  • Spoon
  • Copies of How to Grow a Cactus Worksheet (provided below)

School or Group:
Green Education Foundation (GEF)
Contact Email:
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
Lesson Documents:
application/pdf Growacactus.pdf
Located in: Science

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