What makes plants grow best: using a data-based STEM approach to find out

Life as we know it would not be possible without plants. Plants supply food to many organisms (including people), produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide from the air, provide products for human use, and homes for many other living things. It is not surprising, therefore, that plant growth is a familiar topic in the primary school science curriculum. This paper describes an extension of the topic of plant growth for Year 6 students to include elements from the mathematics, in particular, statistics, and technologies curricula. In doing so, the importance of carefully collecting and analysing data to make decisions illustrates the way in which the practice of statistics supports learning outcomes in science. In the activity described here, students decide on the details for their science inquiry about plant growth to answer the question “What makes plants grow best?”, collect and analyse data over time using digital technology, and present a report of their findings to their class.