TITLE:
Phenotypic Plasticity of Boldo Mirim (Plectranthus neochilus Schlechter) within Rach of Children from Second Degree of Elementary School
AUTHORS:
Gabriel Araujo Sodré, Paula Cardoso Ferah, Helena Roland Rodrigues Lima, Luana Vieira Campos, Cristina Maria Carvalho Delou, Neuza Rejane Wille Lima
KEYWORDS:
Biometrics, Drawing, Greenhouse, Light, Plant, Nutrients, Soil
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.9 No.9,
July
23,
2018
ABSTRACT: "Is it possible to promote the construction of knowledge about phenotypic plasticity expressed by plants among elementary school students?” To answer this question, it was proposed to carry out experiments together with second year students of elementary school using the plant popularly known as Boldo Mirim (Plectranthus neochilus Schlechter). The objective of present study was to describe the results of the experiment performed on cuttings of Boldo Mirim raised in two types of soil [plant compost + poultry manure (3:1) or earthworm humus + bovine manure (1:1)], two types of light source (20 W lamp or sunshine) at four intensity (10%, 30%, 50%, or 100%). This experiment was attended by 21 children with ages ranging from 10 incomplete years to 10 years old. The positive experimental results showed how the light source and the nutritional richness of the soil are important determinants of plant survival and growth. The negative results involving absence of root development in plants under artificial lighting (20 W lamp) instigated the children to elaborate a hypothesis to be tested explaining this. The children’s drawings made after the planting and at the end of the experiments plus the answers obtained during group discussions revealed that they were able to build knowledge about the ability of plants to respond to environmental variables such as soil type and sunshine intensity, expressing phenotypic plasticity.