Plantlet Activity in HICA Learning Disabilities Homes

Residents across our Learning Disability Care Homes have been enjoying participating in an exciting new science-based activity. Residents have been taking part in the fun new activity which has proven a great way to introduce residents into a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) subject, making it accessible to people with a learning disability.

The HICA Group teamed up with a local company called Plantlet Culture to allow our residents to take part in the fun project that is usually part of mainstream education. Richard from Plantlet Culture led the activity with a group from the home and the residents had tremendous fun taking part.

The activity allowed the residents to each grow a plant inside a test tube, whilst learning about what plants need to be able to grow. In each test tube was a brightly colored gel that contains all the nutrients necessary to grow a happy, healthy plant. The test tube has a growth scale on the side so that the residents could monitor the growth of their plant. Once the plant has been planted out, the test tube can then be repurposed and used for a variety of fun new science projects from creating a mini lava lamp to using it as a rain gauge.

The class began with residents gathered in small groups around tables. The residents were excited to pick their favourite colour of gel in the test tube and were fascinated as Richard talked them through the process of preparing the seeds they had been given.

To keep the plantlets healthy the seeds needed cleaning. To do this the residents put the seeds in a light cleaning solution and had to give them a good shake for 3 minutes whilst they counted down with a timer. They then rinsed them off in water before placing them onto the brightly coloured gel in the test tubes.

At the end of the class residents and staff thanked Richard for his time and promised to keep him updated on the progress of their plantlets.

So far residents at The Birches, Sunningdale Court, Isaac Robinson Court and Kirkgate House have taken part. Residents from Prospect House are looking forward to taking part later this year.

Richard from Plantlet Culture does voluntary work as a STEM Ambassador. Stem Ambassadors go into schools and do projects to help educate children in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths based subjects.

For more information about Plantlet Culture please follow this link; Plantlet Culture