Write About It: Amazing Plants

This activity allows students to write essay responses to a video called Amazing Plants by the Smithsonian Channel on Youtube. The purpose is to bring ecology, evolution, and genetics together in one discussion. The questions challenge the students to compare and contrast the various mechanisms plants use to improve their fitness and evolve. Topics include plant abilities to obtain nutrients, fight invaders, summon armies, and propagate seeds. There are examples of symbiosis, mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. Issues concerning GMO corn are also touched upon in the activity.