Play it
Find out just how much you’ve learnt about potatoes by playing some of the games and activities. All the information you need can be found in other areas of the site, particularly the ‘grow it’, section. The ‘Grow Your Own Potatoes’game needs the correct answers to help the potato plant to grow. With video clips and supporting information, the ‘Potato Year’activity guides you through the different seasons on the farm. In the ‘Farm to Plate’ quiz, you’ll need to have read through all the information on potatoes to help you select the correct answers. Ready?
Here are some interesting ideas for ‘play it’ lessons:
- In the ‘Grow Your Own Potatoes’ game, you need the correct answers to help the plant grow well. For potatoes to grow successfully, they also need the correct compost and fertilisers to produce a healthy crop. Plant a selection of seed potatoes in containers. Label each container for reference. In one container simply add water when necessary. In the other containers, give each one a different fertiliser (easily bought from a garden centre or check out the Internet for further advice on fertilisers).
Which type of fertiliser helped produced the most potatoes?
Curriculum guide: Science. Key Stage 1: Sc1. 2a, b, c, e, f, g. Sc2 3a. Key Stage 2: Sc1a, b. 2a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h.
- How do the seasons affect the growth of potatoes? Find out what potato plants require to grow successfully. What are the best growing conditions for potatoes? Make a list of the best conditions for growing and what a potato needs to grow. Discuss which seasons are best for growing potatoes. How can we change the growing conditions for potatoes? What can be used to reduce the impact of the seasons on growing potatoes?
Curriculum guide: Science. Key Stage 1: Sc1. 2a, b, c. Sc2 3a, b, c. Key Stage 2: Sc1a, b. 2a, b, c. 3a, b, c.
- Getting the potato from farm to plate involves a lot of different activities. One such activity, which is often given little consideration, concerns those parts of the potato that are usually thrown away? What can you do with potato peelings? Some ideas might include putting them on the compost heap, or even using them to start new plants from potato peelings containing “eyes”, but what other things can potato peelings be used for?
Can you measure the length of one potato peeling? What is the best way to measure it? Why not hold a competition to find out who can make the longest potato peeling?
Curriculum guide: Science. Key Stage 1: Sc1 2a, b, c, d, e, f, g. Key Stage 2 Sc1 2a, b, c, d.
Other Activities:
