Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: 10 Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Biology
Lesson Topic: Explain how and why wilting occurs.
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the three pathways (apoplast, symplast, transmembrane) by which water moves through plants.
  • Explain the forces (root pressure, cohesion, adhesion, tension) that drive water uptake and upward transport.
  • Analyse the physiological causes of wilting and their impact on turgor pressure.
  • Predict the sequence of events that lead to wilting under drought conditions.
  • Evaluate practical methods to prevent or reverse wilting in cultivated plants.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector or interactive whiteboard
  • PowerPoint slides on water transport and wilting
  • Handout with leaf cross‑section diagram
  • Fresh plant specimens (e.g., bean seedlings)
  • Soil moisture meter
  • Worksheets for group activity
  • Markers and chart paper
 Introduction:
Begin with a quick demonstration: hold a wilted lettuce leaf and ask students what they notice. Review prior learning about plant cells and turgor pressure. State today’s success criteria – students will explain why wilting occurs and suggest ways to prevent it.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5'): Label parts of a leaf diagram on the handout; teacher checks key terms.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Present water‑transport pathways and the cohesion‑tension theory using slides.
  3. Interactive discussion (8'): Match each driving force (root pressure, cohesion, adhesion, tension) to its definition.
  4. Demonstration (10'): Show seedlings losing turgor in dry air; measure soil moisture before and after.
  5. Guided activity (12'): In groups complete a flow‑chart of the sequence of events leading to wilting.
  6. Check for understanding (5'): Quick Kahoot quiz with scenario questions.
  7. Extension (optional 5'): Brainstorm prevention strategies; record ideas on chart paper.
Conclusion:
Recap that wilting results from a loss of turgor when water loss exceeds uptake, driven by the cohesion‑tension system. Students complete an exit ticket describing one reversible and one irreversible cause of wilting. For homework, they research a crop plant and propose a watering schedule to minimise wilting.