Colorado Agriscience Curriculum
Life Science: Plants
Unit 1 – Introduction to Plant and Soil Science
Unit 2 – Plant Cells
Unit 3 – Plant Physiology and Growth
Unit 4 – Plant Reproduction & Genetics
Unit 5 – Environmental Factors
Unit 6 – Soils
Unit 7 – Soil Management
Unit 8 – Plant Science Technology
Total Hours of Instruction
* Includes 2 days for Unit Review and Test
Unit 1 – Introduction to Plant and Soil Science
Lesson 1 – Introduction to Plant Sciences
Lesson 2 – Understanding the Plant Kingdom
Lesson 3 – Understanding Classification Systems
Lesson 4 –Using Dichotomous Keys to Classify Plants
Lesson 5 – Understanding Important Agronomic Crops in
Colorado
Lesson 6 – Learning the Importance of Field Crops
Lesson 7 – Introduction to Horticulture
Lesson 8 – Understanding the Environment, Ecology and
Ecosystems
Lesson 9 –Energy Flow Within an Ecosystem
Lesson 10 – Understanding How Ecosystems Work
Lesson 11 – Understanding Biodiversity
Review & Test
Unit 2 – Plant Cells
Lesson 1 – Introduction to the Plant Cell and Microscope Lab
Lesson 2 – Discovering Plant Cell Structure, Part 1
Lesson 3 – Discovering Plant Cell Structure, Part 2
Lesson 4 – Plant Cell Structure Lab
Lesson 5 – Exploring Photosynthesis
Lesson 6 – Exploring Respiration
Lesson 7 – The Carbon Cycle (Lab)
Lesson 8 – The Cell Cycle (Mitosis)
Lesson 9 – Cellular Reproduction - Meiosis
Review & Test
Total Instruction Time
(In Hours)*
Two
One
Semesters
Semester
13
11
11
9
13
11
18
11
15
8
13
8
16
9
13
9
110
74
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
Unit 3 – Plant Physiology and Growth
Lesson 1 –Life Cycles of Plants
Lesson 2 – Plant Organs and Their Functions
Lesson 3 – Monocotyledons vs. Dicotoleydons
Lesson 4 – Transpiration and Translocation Systems
Lesson 5 – Plant Hormones and Their Effect
Lesson 6 – Root Types, Structures and Functions
Lesson 7 – Stem Structures and Functions
Lesson 8 – Leaf Structures and Functions
Lesson 9 – Male and Female Reproductive Anatomy
Lesson 10 – Fruit Structures and Functions
Review & Test
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
Unit 4 – Plant Reproduction & Genetics
Lesson 1 – Introduction to Plant Reproduction
Lesson 2 – Sexual Reproduction in Plants (Lab)
Lesson 3 – Seeds, Fruit and Germination
Lesson 4 – Asexual Propagation I (Lab)
Lesson 5 – Asexual Propagation II (Lab)
Lesson 6 – Asexual Propagation III (Lab)
Lesson 7 – Cloning African Violets (Lab)
Lesson 8 – Chromosomes and Genetics
Lesson 9 – Mendel and Genetics
Lesson 10 – Dominant and Recessive Genes
Lesson 11 – Genetic Variation and Gamete Formation
Lesson 12 – Things that Affect Heredity
Review & Test
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
Unit 5 – Environmental Factors
Lesson 1 – Understanding Environmental Factors on Plant
Growth
Lesson 2 – Understanding the Influence of Light on Plant Growth
Lesson 3 – Understanding Temperature Effects on Plant Growth
Lesson 4 – Understanding the Water Cycle
Lesson 5 – Water Quality and Pollution
Lesson 6 – Irrigation Methods
Lesson 7 – Primary, Secondary & Micro Nutrients Necessary for
Plant Growth
Lesson 8 – Functions of Essential Nutrients in Plant Growth
Lesson 9 - Symptoms of Nutrient Deficiencies
(N,P,K,FE,S,MG,B and ZN)
Lesson 10 – Methods of Nutrient Application
Lesson 11 – The Nitrogen Cycle
Review & Test
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
Unit 6 – Soils
Lesson 1 – Introduction to Soils
Lesson 2 – Soil Origins
Lesson 3 – Soil Horizons
Lesson 4 – Soil Structure and Texture
Lesson 5 – Determining Soil Color
Lesson 6 – Organic Matter in the Soil
Lesson 7 – Soil Moisture Behavior
Lesson 8 – Benefits of Soil Organisms
Lesson 9 – Soil Erosion
Lesson 10 – Soils Unit Review 1 & 2
Review & Test
Unit 7 – Soil Management
Lesson 1 – Introduction to Soil Fertility and pH with Soil
Sampling Lab
Lesson 2 – Soil Analysis and Testing
Lesson 3 – Fertilizer Recommendations & Fertilizer Adjustments
Lab
Lesson 4 – Organic Sources of Fertilizer
Lesson 5 – Soil Composting
Lesson 6 – Determining Slope
Lesson 7 – Conservation Practices
Lesson 8 – Soil Surveys & Land Capability Classification (Lab –
Legal Land Descriptions)
Lesson 9 – Home-site Evaluations
Lesson 10 – Use of Cropping Systems for Fertility Management
Review & Test
Unit 8 – Plant Science Technology
Lesson 1 – Intro to Biotechnology
Lesson 2 – DNA for Biotechnology
Lesson 3 – Hydroponics
Lesson 4 – Alternative Plant Uses
Lesson 5 – Field Mapping Technology-John Deere
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
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2
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
2
4
2
2
2
1
GreenStar
Lesson 6 – Global Positioning Systems
Review & Test