Plants play an integral part in the world by taking in carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. They also can be used to gain an understanding of genetics and how organisms respond to environmental changes. Wisconsin Fast Plants® are rapid-cycling Brassica rapa plants developed by Dr. Paul Williams at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Williams selectively bred Brassica rapa that were small in size, had high seed production and a short growth cycle, and would grow easily in standard potting mix under continuous fluorescent light. Originally developed as a research tool for improving disease resistance in cruciferous plants such as mustard, radish, cabbage, and broccoli, Fast Plants® have also proven to be an excellent tool for classroom investigations due to their rapid life cycle, small size, and easy care.

This activity will help you understand how easy it is to plant and care for Wisconsin Fast Plants®. As quickly as your plants grow, you will develop multiple ideas for using Fast Plants® with your students to discover and investigate many aspects of plant growth and development. This activity supports 3-dimensional learning and builds toward the following:

• NGSS Scientific and Engineering Practices: Constructing Explanations
• NGSS Core Idea: Life Science 1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes