Worksheet 11: The mother of thousands

Teaching aids:

Worksheet, a real bryophyllum can be used for demonstrations, because it reproduces in a very short time. So the students can easily experience the topic by themselves.

Pic 113: The bryophyllum

Procedure:

The teacher gives the children the following instruction: “Read through the following statements! What is true about these statements and what’s not? Note your answers in the table.”

Statement	What’s true about this statement?	What’s wrong with this statement?	Examples
This plant carries its offspring on the leaf. From this, new plants will arise, which are going to look exactly the same.
Not exactly the same. They will look a little bit like the father plant and a little bit like the mother plant.
If you don’t water the plant enough, the offspring is going to look different.

In this task, the students were enabled to analyze, discuss and thereby enhance their collected knowledge regarding the process of inheritance. Because of the discussion new questions arise which can be examined afterwards. These questions can be discussed with the whole class, too.

Possible solution:

Statement	What’s true about this statement?	What’s wrong with this statement?	Examples
This plant carries its offspring on the leaf. From this, new plants will arise, which are going to look exactly the same.	Because of the genetic features the daughter plant look like the mother plant.	They have to grow first. Inappropriate environmental conditions let the plants look different.	Less water: stunted growth, dry leaves Too much sun: red coloring of the leaves
Not exactly the same. They will look a little bit like the father plant and a little bit like the mother plant	In this case, there is no father plant. For many plants, however, this assumption applies: Also, the “bryophyllum” can form flowers and later seeds. Then there is also a father and a mother and the statement is correct.	In this case, there is no father plant.
If you don’t water the plant enough, the offspring is going to look different.	See above	If you don’t water the mother plant, it develops similar features caused by the lack of water.

Other points on a similar topic may also be discussed. The task should stimulate an exchange of ideas and a discussion. This can also be continued with other questions.