Winter Indoor LED Lighting System for Growing Wisconsin Fast Plants

The image on the left showcases the winter indoor LED lighting system I designed for growing Wisconsin Fast Plants. This do-it-yourself (DIY) setup includes:

• A reptile lamp stand

• A Clamp Lamp Light with an 8.5-inch aluminum reflector

• LED grow lights tailored for indoor plants

• A continuous watering system pot crafted from a repurposed 2-liter soda bottle

For over 30 years, I have been building the traditional "lightbox system" for classes, similar to the one depicted on the right, following recommendations from the Wisconsin Fast Plants Program. Detailed instructions for constructing this classic lightbox are available at www.fastplants.org.

However, I think this new LED lighting system is a modern and improved design. Not only does it simplify construction, but it also provides a more aesthetically pleasing and flexible setup for growing plants.

The Wisconsin Fast Plants Program, a part of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, continues to serve as a valuable resource for advancing science education and plant biology. My updated system aligns with the program’s mission while bringing a fresh approach to classroom setups.

The Bee Movie

One year, the whole class went to see the Bee Movie. It was a fun way to learn about how plants and bees work together to help each other.

Bee and Plants are an Example of a Synergist Relationship

How Bees and Plants Work Together

Synergy means working together to make something better than if you worked alone. Plants and bees are a great example of this. Bees visit flowers to collect nectar, a sweet juice they use to make honey. Bees eat honey in the winter when there are no flowers.

As a bee collects nectar, sticky pollen gets stuck to its legs in special pockets called pollen sacs. When the bee flies to another flower, it drops some of the pollen onto the flower's stigma (the sticky part at the top of the flower).

The pollen then moves down a tiny tube inside the flower called the pistil. It travels to the ovule, where a seed begins to form. This seed can grow into a new plant.

Plants like Fast Plants also need bees to carry pollen from one flower to another. This is called pollination. Without pollination, plants can’t make seeds. If a plant is inside a house and away from bees, it won’t get the pollen it needs. Without seeds, the plant’s life cycle stops, and it won’t grow new plants.

Synergy isn’t just about bees and plants—it happens when people work together too. When we help each other, we can do amazing things we couldn’t do alone!

Cost Breakdown Spread Sheet for Fast Plant Project

$84.84 is the cost of supplies for each student. The following is the cost breakdown for a class of 12 students. For a class of 12 students, I prepare 14 kits: one for class demonstration, one for spare parts, and 12 for individual student use.

STEM education is expensive, even when the equipment is DIY. The organization’s policy caps lab fees at $60, which would include items in the area shaded in green. The supplies cost exceeded the policy limits of $60, as seen in the pink shaded area. However, I do not collect more than $60 from any student.

I teach these classes because science has the power to shape the future. As a retired Research Chemist with 52 years of experience in the private STEM sector and government, I am passionate about investing in the next generation.

In my youth, I found joy in building my scientific equipment, a philosophy inspired by the 1964 UNESCO book 700 Experiments for Everyone. That hands-on, DIY approach nurtured my curiosity and reflected a time when innovation and manufacturing were at the heart of our country’s progress. Today, I grieve the decline of that spirit. Many of the materials I use must now be imported to remain competitive, highlighting the challenge of STEM education in our modern economy.

Although my one-person LLC has never turned a profit, that has never been my goal. What drives me is the meaning of the work: to spark curiosity, build skills, and inspire a lifelong love for science. The income I receive goes directly back into researching and developing new ideas for future classes.

Thank you for supporting my mission. Your participation and encouragement make a difference—not just for my classroom but for the future of science and innovation.

Make the Wisconsin Fast Plant Flower Model

Exploring Science Through Hands-On Models: The Wisconsin Fast Plant Course

For over 18 years, I’ve been teaching the Wisconsin Fast Plant course, a journey of discovery that combines hands-on learning with scientific exploration. One activity stands out across the years—the creation of flower models. It’s incredible how something as simple as constructing a model can leave a lasting impression, not just on my students but on me as well.

Why Models Matter
Models have a unique way of embedding concepts in our memory. For students, building a model of a flower isn’t just a craft—it’s a tool for understanding and retention. Key components like the stamen (anther and filament), stigma, pistil, petal, and leaves come to life in a way that a textbook can’t replicate. For those who can recall these details years later, it’s clear that models enhance both comprehension and retention.

A Personal Connection to Learning
Even in my own academic journey, creating models solidified complex ideas in my mind. I’ve carried this approach into my teaching because it works. It transforms abstract concepts into tangible, memorable experiences that stay with students for a lifetime.

Why I Teach with Models

•Engaging Visuals: Models make science come alive by providing a clear, hands-on way to understand structures and processes.

•Active Participation: Building models encourages creativity and critical thinking, engaging students in ways traditional methods might not.

•Long-Term Retention: Concepts taught through models are more likely to be remembered, as students connect learning to a concrete activity.

The Indoor Fast Plant Flower has to be Hand Pollinated

This is a photo of the Wisconsin Fast Plant flower on the 14th day of its incredible life cycle. At this stage, something miraculous happens—pollination. The plant cannot produce seeds without pollination, and the life cycle stops. As a scientist in training, your mission is to take on the role of a bumblebee and hand-pollinate the flower. This simple but powerful act connects you to the awe and wonder of how life continues.  

As you pollinate, you’ll witness firsthand how the formation of life unfolds. It’s almost like solving a mystery! How does a tiny seed hold the power to grow into a plant, bloom, and then create more seeds? When you think about it, this process mirrors our own lives. Inside every living thing—plants, animals, and even you—is DNA, a unique code that guides how life grows and thrives. Astonishingly, the DNA in plants and humans is built from the same essential molecules!

Through this experience, you’ll marvel at the beauty and complexity of life. Imagine: from a seed more petite than your fingernail, a plant emerges, flowers, and reproduces, continuing its journey. It’s like nature’s way of reminding us of the endless possibilities in life and the connections we all share. So, grab your bee brush, step into the role of a pollinator, and discover the magic of the Wisconsin Fast Plant!

Watch this video on how to make a bee stick so you can take the role of a bee in the plant life cycle!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7sQC0_uyOA

Wisconsin Fast Plant Class - Super Saturday Winter Term 2025

Discover the amazing world of Wisconsin Fast Plants in this hands-on course designed for gifted children ages 8–10 (grades 3 and 4). Perfect for curious young scientists, this engaging class combines learning and exploration to spark a passion for biology. The course meets every Saturday from January 11th to February 15th, 2025, as part of the Super Saturday Program. For more information and registration, visit www.supersaturday.org.

About the Program:

The Super Saturday Program supports gifted children who meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. IQ Score: At or above the 95th percentile.

2. Achievement Test Scores: At or above the 95th percentile in Total Reading or Total Math.

3. Professional Documentation: Evidence of outstanding cognitive ability from a teacher, psychologist, pediatrician, or other qualified professional.

Classes take place at DePaul Cristo Rey High School, 3440 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45225. This course is taught by Natural Born Scientists, LLC, contracted through the Parent Association for Gifted Education, Inc. (PAGE).

What You’ll Do in the Class:

Over six weeks, students will grow Wisconsin Fast Plants at home, bringing them to class each Saturday to discuss and study their life cycle. Through interactive activities, students will explore key stages of plant development, including germination, the seedling stage, vegetative growth, flowering, pollination, and seed production.

Why Join?

This unique course combines science, discovery, and hands-on learning to nurture young minds and inspire a love for biology. Don’t miss this opportunity to cultivate knowledge and curiosity—sign up today to secure your child’s spot!

Wisconsin Fast Plant Course

Discover the fascinating world of the Wisconsin Fast Plant, a remarkable tool for hands-on learning and scientific exploration. Developed in the 1980s by Professor Paul H. Williams of the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Department of Plant Pathology, this plant was selectively bred to have a dramatically shortened life cycle. Through 20 years of meticulous planting, growing, and selection, its original six-month life cycle was reduced to just five weeks. Further refinement ensured uniformity in flowering time, size, and growth conditions, making it ideal for classroom and research applications. The Wisconsin Fast Plant was named to honor its development at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Standing "on the shoulders of giants," the Wisconsin Fast Plant serves as an exceptional launching point for investigations into plant biology. Over this six-week course, students will grow their own fast plants and explore key stages of the plant life cycle, including germination, the seedling stage, vegetative growth, flowering, pollination, and seed production.

Beyond its practical applications, this plant shares about 20–60% of its genes with humans in areas related to basic cellular functions, offering a unique perspective on the interconnectedness of life.

This course not only provides an opportunity to study plants but also inspires deeper wisdom about biology and our place in the natural world. Sign up now to grow, learn, and discover!