Instructions
Follow these steps to complete your investigation into the life of a tomato! Work through each section carefully. You may need a ruler for the math section and a bit of space to move for the physical education part.
- Read and Analyze: Carefully read the information provided in each subject block.
- Complete the Tasks: Fill in the tables, solve the math problems, and write your responses in the spaces provided.
- Get Moving: Follow the instructions in the Physical Education section to experience the life cycle through movement.
- Check Your Work: Use the answer key at the end to review your findings.
Section 1: Science - The Life Cycle Stages
Every tomato begins as a tiny seed. Below are the stages of growth. Use the terms in the Word Bank to complete the table showing what happens at each stage.
Word Bank: Pollination, Germination, Seedling, Fruit Development, Senescence (End of Life)
| Stage Name | What Happens? |
|---|---|
| Example: Seed | The dormant stage where the genetic blueprint is stored. |
| 1. | The seed absorbs water, swells, and a tiny root (radicle) breaks through the skin. |
| 2. | The first true leaves appear, and the plant begins to create energy through photosynthesis. |
| 3. | Bees or wind move pollen from the male to female parts of the flower to create seeds. |
| 4. | The ovary of the flower swells and turns from green to red as sugars increase. |
| 5. | The plant stops producing, withers, and returns nutrients to the soil. |
Section 2: History - The "Poison Apple" Mystery
In the 1700s, many Europeans were terrified of tomatoes, calling them "Poison Apples." Why? Because wealthy people ate off pewter plates, which were high in lead. The acidity in tomatoes leached the lead out of the plates, causing lead poisoning! It wasn't the tomato's fault, but it took nearly 200 years for people to trust them again.
Critical Thinking Question: If you were a scientist in 1750 trying to prove tomatoes were safe, what is one experiment you could perform to show it was the plate and not the fruit?
Response:
Section 3: Math - The Harvest Calculation
Farmers must calculate their yield to know how much food they can provide to the community. Solve the following problems:
-
Yield Math: One "Beefsteak" tomato plant produces an average of 15 pounds of fruit. If a community garden has 12 plants, what is the total expected harvest in pounds? Answer: _____
-
Spacing Geometry: Tomato plants need to be spaced 2 feet apart. If you have a garden row that is 20 feet long, and you put the first plant at 0 feet, how many plants can you fit in that row? Answer: _____
-
Weight Comparison: A "Cherry" tomato weighs about 1 ounce. There are 16 ounces in a pound. If you pick 4 pounds of cherry tomatoes, how many individual tomatoes do you have? Answer: _____
Section 4: English & Social Studies - Global Flavor
The word tomato comes from the Aztec word tomatl. Tomatoes are now a staple in diets worldwide, which connects different cultures through trade and recipes.
Adjective Challenge: Write five descriptive adjectives that appeal to the five senses (Sight, Sound, Smell, Touch, Taste) to describe a fresh tomato from a farmer's market.
- (Sight) __
- (Sound) __
- (Smell) __
- (Touch) __
- (Taste) __
Section 5: Physical Education - The Sprout Stretch
Plants are active living things! Perform this 3-minute movement circuit to mimic the tomato's life cycle. Check the box once you have completed each "stage."
- [ ] The Seed (30 Seconds): Tuck into a tiny ball on the floor. Hold your breath for 2 seconds and exhale slowly to represent dormancy.
- [ ] The Germination (30 Seconds): Slowly push one "root" (leg) out, then the other, while staying low to the ground.
- [ ] The Seedling Reach (1 Minute): Slowly stand up. Reach your arms toward the "sun" (ceiling) and sway side-to-side as if a gentle wind is blowing through your leaves.
- [ ] The Heavy Harvest (1 Minute): Do 15 slow squats. Imagine your branches are heavy with 10 ripe tomatoes and you are maintaining your strength.
Section 6: Social Studies - The Supply Chain
Trace the journey of a tomato from a farm to your pizza. Fill in the missing steps below.
| Step | Description of Activity |
|---|---|
| 1. Planting | Farmer Joe plants organic seeds in a greenhouse in March. |
| 2. | |
| 3. | |
| 4. | |
| 5. | |
| 6. Consumption | You eat a slice of pizza with fresh tomato sauce! |
Answer Key
Section 1: Science
- Germination, 2. Seedling, 3. Pollination, 4. Fruit Development, 5. Senescence.
Section 2: History Example Answer: Give a tomato to someone on a wooden or ceramic plate and see if they get sick compared to someone eating off a pewter plate.
Section 3: Math
- 180 lbs (15 x 12).
- 11 plants (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20).
- 64 tomatoes (16 x 4).
Section 4: English (Answers vary) Examples: Crimson, Squelch, Earthy, Firm, Tangy.
Section 6: Social Studies Possible steps: 2. Harvesting (Picking), 3. Transport (Trucking to factory/store), 4. Processing (Turning into sauce), 5. Retail (Buying at the grocery store).