Before diving into the specific science behind the plants, this module will introduce learners to the different subcategories of plant science and provide terminology that will be used throughout the course. Additionally, students will get an overview of the modules that will be included.  

In this module, students will discover how the food we enjoy today has evolved over time and how the plants supported by the land influences the cultures that inhabit that area. 

By the end of this module, students will be able to: explain domestication and humans’ influence on plants since they were domesticated; describe the relationship between climate and plants, domesticated and grown; describe the relationship between plants grown and foods consumed by the cultures who inhabited the area. 

Although cells are tiny, they have big jobs. The function and composition of cells are difficult, but understanding them will allow learners to interpret overall plant functions and abilities and provide the background students need to understand some of the more complex reactions occurring in plants. 

Cell division is essential for life.  These processes allow us to develop from the zygotes we started as all the way to developed organisms. These developed organisms are even able to repair themselves through cellular division. To understand how this all happens, learners need to know why cells are dividing in the first place, how they go about dividing, and what the results of their divisions are. 

Plants require a variety of nutrients to be able to survive and grow. This means it is essential for plants to obtain these nutrients and transport them throughout the plants themselves. In this module, students will explore the parts of a plant that are essential for obtaining and transporting nutrients, as well as providing structure to the plant as a whole.

This module introduces students to the parts of a plant that are essential for sexual reproduction to occur. Students will be able to identify and summarize the components of a flower, the functions of a flower and the functions of flower components; identify and summarize the functions and components of seeds and fruit; and compare and contrast the characteristics of angiosperms and gymnosperms. 

Plants are able to undergo both sexual and asexual reproduction. In order for sexual reproduction to occur in plants, pollination needs to happen. This module explores how pollination occurs and eventually leads to the reproduction of plants. After completing the module, students will be able to identify examples and outcomes of pollination, cross-pollination and self-pollination of flowering plants, and summarize pollination, cross-pollination and self-pollination of flowering plants. 

Asexual propagation is an effective and highly used method to reproduce plants. This method has a variety of advantages and can be used by humans in several ways. In this module, students will explore what asexual propagation is, how it is completed, the conditions it requires, and why we would want to do this in the first place. 

In this module, students will discover the nutrients plants need in a large amount and what will happen to plants if they are not present. Through completion of this module, students will be able to identify the essential macronutrients for plant growth and development and their major functions, analyze the effects of macronutrient deficiencies and symptoms, and monitor plants for signs of macronutrient deficiencies. 

This module explains the nutrients plants need in a small amount and what will happen to plants if they are not present. Learners will be able to identify the essential micronutrients for plant growth and development and their major functions; analyze the effects of micronutrient deficiencies and symptoms; identify the essential non-fertilizers for plant growth and development and their major functions; and explain the importance of nutrients for plant growth and function. 

Throughout this module, learners will dive deeper into what fertilizer is, different types, and how it can best be managed appropriately. In this module, students will learn to identify fertilizer sources of essential plant nutrients; describe the different type of fertilizers including organic, inorganic, liquid, and delayed release; and calculate the amount of fertilizer to be applied based on nutrient recommendation and fertilizer analysis. 

Throughout this module, students will learn more about the soil beneath our feet and how it supports natural plant growth. Learners will be able to identify the major components of growing media, describe the physical and chemical characteristics of growing media and explain the influence they have on plant growth, and identify the categories of soil. 

This module unpacks how pH affects soil and in turn the plants that grow roots into it. It explains the effect pH has on the speed of reactions and why it plays such a crucial role on the availability of nutrients. 

In order for plants to have energy to survive and grow, they need to go through the processes of respiration and photosynthesis. These two processes are key to life, and both processes are interconnected. This module allows students to explore how these processes take place and the different variations of photosynthesis and respiration plants can complete. 

In this module, learners will explore the ins and outs of plant taxonomy, and how everyone across the globe utilizes a common language when referring to different plants. Students will be able to identify and summarize systems used to classify plants based on specific characteristics and describe the morphological characteristics used to identify agricultural and herbaceous plants. 

In this module, traditional growing methods are introduced and compared to some of the most modern methods including hydroponics and aquaponics. Students will take a quick look at which crops the United States produces the most of and where in the U.S. these are grown. Learners will also compare and contrast modern production systems including conventional, organic, hydroponics, and aquaponics.