Grow a Plant Experiment
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Standard II (Life Science): Understand the properties, structures, and processes of living things and the interdependence of living things and their environments.
Performance Objective: students will understand how organisms interact with their physical environments to meet their needs.
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Demonstration/Background Information: Plants are living things that need water to live. How does a plant begin its life? What are the steps to life? Can you think of anything else that begins life as a seed? These questions will prompt comments and hopefully a lively discussion about plants will occur. This will lead into today’s activity.
Activity: In this experiment, students will learn what is required for plants to grow.
Question: We have some seeds, but how does a plant grow from them? What are the ingredients for ideal growth?
Hypothesis: Our plants will _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Materials: There will be sufficient materials for each 3-4 person groups: Seeds, Water, Sun Light, Potting Soil, Dark Cabinet, Two small flower pots
Safety Precautions: Students should wear lab attire such as, lab apron, gloves and goggles; no horseplay when using potting soil, seeds, water, etc.
Procedure: Students will work in groups of 3-4, with each student assigned to a specific task. One student will be the recorder, but students will take turns in recording progress over the week; another student will be the reader; another will be the waterer, but students will take turns watering the plant since it’s for five days; and another will be observer, but this task will be taken on by the whole group, who will offer input. Students will put on safety items. They will gather materials. The reader will read all directions and discuss the steps with the rest of the team. They will perform the following steps:
1. Take the two flower pots and fill them with the potting soil - leaving about an inch from the top of the pots unfilled.
2. Make a hole in the center of the potting soil with your thumb (this is where you will place the seeds) in both pots.
3. Drop a few seeds in the hole in each pot and cover the hole with the soil.
4. Water one of the flower pots with some water (careful not to over water) and place this flower pot in a warm sunny spot.
5. Do not water the second flower pot and place it in a cool dark cupboard.
6. Leave the flower pots for five days and watch to see what happens to both pots.
7. Over the next five days, record all observations in the chart below.
Student Observation Data Chart:
Standard II (Life Science): Understand the properties, structures, and processes of living things and the interdependence of living things and their environments.
Performance Objective: students will understand how organisms interact with their physical environments to meet their needs.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Demonstration/Background Information: Plants are living things that need water to live. How does a plant begin its life? What are the steps to life? Can you think of anything else that begins life as a seed? These questions will prompt comments and hopefully a lively discussion about plants will occur. This will lead into today’s activity.
Activity: In this experiment, students will learn what is required for plants to grow.
Question: We have some seeds, but how does a plant grow from them? What are the ingredients for ideal growth?
Hypothesis: Our plants will _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Materials: There will be sufficient materials for each 3-4 person groups: Seeds, Water, Sun Light, Potting Soil, Dark Cabinet, Two small flower pots
Safety Precautions: Students should wear lab attire such as, lab apron, gloves and goggles; no horseplay when using potting soil, seeds, water, etc.
Procedure: Students will work in groups of 3-4, with each student assigned to a specific task. One student will be the recorder, but students will take turns in recording progress over the week; another student will be the reader; another will be the waterer, but students will take turns watering the plant since it’s for five days; and another will be observer, but this task will be taken on by the whole group, who will offer input. Students will put on safety items. They will gather materials. The reader will read all directions and discuss the steps with the rest of the team. They will perform the following steps:
1. Take the two flower pots and fill them with the potting soil - leaving about an inch from the top of the pots unfilled.
2. Make a hole in the center of the potting soil with your thumb (this is where you will place the seeds) in both pots.
3. Drop a few seeds in the hole in each pot and cover the hole with the soil.
4. Water one of the flower pots with some water (careful not to over water) and place this flower pot in a warm sunny spot.
5. Do not water the second flower pot and place it in a cool dark cupboard.
6. Leave the flower pots for five days and watch to see what happens to both pots.
7. Over the next five days, record all observations in the chart below.
Student Observation Data Chart:
How to Grow a Plant: Observations |
|||||
Plant
Location |
Day
1 |
Day
2 |
Day
3 |
Day
4 |
Day
5 |
Sunny
Spot |
|
|
|
|
|
Cupboard |
|
|
|
|
|
Characteristics include: dry, wet, growing, sprouts, green, no growth, etc.
Effective Questions:
1. What happened to the seeds in the flower pot in the cupboard? Write your explanation on the lines below:
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2. What happened to the seeds in the flower pot in the sunny spot? Explain what you think happened.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Analyze and Conclude: Reflect on this activity. Was your hypothesis correct? Name two things that you learned.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Effective Questions:
1. What happened to the seeds in the flower pot in the cupboard? Write your explanation on the lines below:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
2. What happened to the seeds in the flower pot in the sunny spot? Explain what you think happened.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Analyze and Conclude: Reflect on this activity. Was your hypothesis correct? Name two things that you learned.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
(kids-science, 2013)