A Study on the Teaching of Photosynthesis, entitled "Growing Potatoes", in the 4th Grade Science (Part II)

Abstract

This is the second, revised and supplementary report of the preceding one, Part I, written by the same author (published in 1968). The author intended to find out an effective way of teaching photosynthesis in the elementary school, 4th grade, by analyzing the results obtained from the experimental study of teaching and questionnaire, collected from 33 classes of 10 schools in Okayama Prefecture. Findings of the study are as follows : 1. It is effective for having pupils interested in; a) the presence of starch in leaves to introduce an idea that starch contained in seed potatoes might be transferred to leaves. b) the relation between starch production and the sunlight to have puplis studying production of starch in the leaves under the sunlight contrasted with leaves in the darkness. 2. It is necessary to have pupils, studying; a) the quantitative change of starch contained within seed potatoes in the process of growth. b) the yield of potatoes newly produced contrasted with seed potatoes. 3. It is effective for detecting the presence of starch in leaves to heat green juice extracted from leaves. 4. Teachings performed by the members of the study group, according to the newly designed tea ching plan, were found very successful.