Cross-curricular Extension Activity: Language/Literacy/Information Literacy
Poster Presentations
There are many research and investigative activities suggested in this unit. Communicate your greenhouse plan or the results of your other investigations and experiments through a Poster Presentation. More informal than an oral presentation or talk, a poster presentation is a good way to "advertize" your research, giving viewers a glimpse into your topic through a visually appealing combination of text and graphics.
Poster presentations are typically held in large areas such as libraries, hallways and gymnasiums. As viewers, in this case your classmates, pass through the area your poster should quickly and efficiently communicate the guiding questions and findings of your research. Rather than give a talk to a large group, you are free to discuss your research with individuals or small groups as interest demands.
The key features of a good poster presentation are brevity and impact. Much shorter than a written report or essay, an effective poster must focus as narrowly as possible on the central ideas you need to convey.
Your poster presentation should include:
- Title
- Introduction to your research question
- Overview of your experimental approach/methods of gathering information
- Results or key findings
- Some discussion of results or findings
- Bibliography of published works that are important to your research
- An effective mix of text and visual elements such as charts, graphs, images, graphics.
Before presenting your posters, create an assessment rubric as a class so that you may evaluate the posters of your classmates. Criteria you may wish to include are: organization, visual impact, creativity, clarity of stated research question, knowledge of topic, appropriateness of details, and research credited.
Tomatosphere is sponsored by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Space Agency, Heinz Canada Ltd, HeinzSeed, Ontario Centres of Excellence, Stokes Seeds and the University of Guelph.
The Energy to Survive
Teacher Resources
- NEW Four Optional Units
- NEW Aerocapture technology
- 2008 Teachers' Guide
- Tips 'n' Tricks
- Tomatosphere Project Overview
- PDF Resources [Printable charts from the Teachers' Guide]
- Astronaut Mike Fincke talks about the importance of Tomatosphere [Video]
- NEW Tomatoes in Space [Video]
- International Space Station
- Introduction to Tomatosphere [Video]
- CSA Teachers' Conference
- NEW CSA Teacher Resources
- Heinz Tomato Breeding Program
- Tomatosphere Supplies

