- 50 minutes
- Grades 2-5
Class Session #13: Ecological Generosity
OVERVIEW
01. Ecological Generosity! - 20 MIN
- Highlight: Show pictures and bring examples of root vegetables for students to pass around the room. If possible, cut up a radish into small slices to pass out to students to taste during the lesson. Include the following: Daikon, red radishes, carrots, ginger
- Engage-Ask: How are these vegetables helpful for us? [Welcome student responses.]
- Explore- Read: Chinese proverb: “Eat daikon in the winter and ginger in the summer, and you don’t need medicine from doctors.”
夏天吃冬天和姜，你不需要医生的药
(xiàtiān chī dōngtiān hé jiāng, nǐ bù xūyào yīshēng di yào) - Elaborate: Nutrition research shows that red radishes help our body in many ways, including helping digestion, preventing viruses, getting rid of toxins and protecting from cancer, hydration, helping with a sore throat, and cooling our bodies.
http://www.fullcircle.com/goodfoodlife/2012/05/14/9-reasons-to-eat-your-radishes/
Nutrition research shows that daikon (“great root” in Japanese) helps our bodies by increasing our immune systems, protecting against heart disease, slowing aging, DNA repair and protection, alleviating heart disease, alleviating hypertension, Alzheimer's protection, protecting from osteoporosis, and preventing from strokes
http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-daikon-radish.html
02. Ecological, Generosity! - 30 MIN
- Highlight: The health of soil affects the health and nutrition of the plants we eat! Before planting seeds for fruits and vegetables, it is important to test the soil for the following:
- pH (acidity determined by the level of Hydrogen ions)
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
- Potash (form of Potassium)
- Elaborate: Explain the following concepts.
Fertile soil contains the enough minerals and nutrients needed for plant growth.
pH measures the hydrogen ion concentration. A high concentration of hydrogen ions produces a low pH. A low concentration of H+ ions produces a high pH.
Phosphorus is key for plant nutrition by helping with photosynthesis, energy transfer and synthesis and breakdown of carbohydrates.
Nitrogen, part of chlorophyll, is essential for photosynthesis and proteins.
Potash is a form of Potassium that people and plants need for water and sugar. - Soil Test: Test the soil from the same soil source used to plant the radish seeds. Basic soil tests may be purchased from gardening stores at a low price. Local community gardens may be able to loan or sell for a reduced rate their soil testing kits.
- Plant: Plant a radish seed and grow a radish plant in class!