Educational Resources

Find additional information about funding opportunities here.

Plant BLOOME Awards:

• Plant GIFTS (Genetics In Farming Technology and Science)– Plant GIFTS increases student understanding of heredity with a particular emphasis on breeding while also incorporating information on transmission genetics and the central dogma. Specifically, the project introduces students to the ideas of applied genetics and plant breeding technology through the lens of current global food production challenges.
• Exploration of Beneficial Species Interactions between Legumes & Rhizobia: What does a plant need to survive & thrive? – Investigate the role rhizobia plays in the nitrogen cycle and help students better understand mutualism and rhizobia/legume interactions
• Shining a Light on ‘Plant Apathy’:Using Kenneth Oppel’s Young Adult Novel Bloom as a Motivating Tool for Teaching Plant Science to First-Year Undergraduate Students– Bloom by Kenneth Oppel can be used as a literary tool to motivate students when learning about critical plant science topics such as photosynthesis, growth and development, and invasive species
• Athens Science Observer ‘Zines– Born out of a love for science communication, a need to train others in the field, a desire to change culture, and the need for a creative outlet for scientists, Athens Science Observer ‘Zines provide training for writers to effectively communicate science while engaging the public in STEM-related topics.
• Plant Phenology Data and Citizen Science- Develop and test hypotheses about the relationship between phenology and climatic conditions and examine what phenological data can tell us about climate change
• Use Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to teach photosynthesis and cellular respiration- Inexpensive hands-on activities using Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (a green micro-alga) beads to teach the interplay of photosynthesis and cellular respiration to K4–K16 Biology students
• Climate Change Phenology Curriculum-Helps teachers engage middle and high school-aged youth in a hands-on project that will allow them to 1) become familiar with the biology of their local plants; 2) understand the impacts of climate change on plant life cycles; 3) contribute as citizen-scientists to a national phenological dataset; and 4) analyze and interpret data to discern long term trends.
• Learning to Identify Grasses and Grass-like Plants- A 5-day curriculum to help educators and students (grades 9-12) understand the importance of, and differences among, grasses and grass-like plant species

• Plant CLUE: Students evaluate symptoms of a sick plant and determine which stress condition caused the response using the classic board game Clue as a model
• Science IRL- Science IRL is a YouTube series that promotes science literacy by communicating science concepts in a real world lab environment.
• My Life as a Plant: coloring book- In My Life as a Plant, Sally Sunflower and her pals inspire kids (PreK-2) to explore the world of plants.This interactive story is a fun first foray into the 12 Principles of Plant Biology.
• VR Plants– The Virtual Reality Plants (VR Plants) project contains video games, exhibits, workshops, and interactive lessons to teach about plant biology through the use of reality-extending technology