Plant Cycle and Needs

By Melody Morales

Kindergarten, Johnson Elementary

Hickman Mills School District

Science Matters, 2013

The Scientific MethodScientist Name________________________________

Experiment: Does Water Matter?

Make an Observation:

Find something that interests you and make a careful observation of it. Look at it closely from different perspectives. Watch and wait to see if

there is anything about it that makes you wonder.

Ask a Question:

Ask a specific question about who, what, which, when, why or how that can be answered in a measurable way by conducting an experiment.

Research the Subject:

Take time to gather information about your subject. What type of equipment or procedures will you need to conduct your

experiment? What have others learned about the topic? Find information online or in books and magazines that can help you

prepare for your experiment.

Form a Hypothesis:

Based on your observations and knowledge of the subject, make an educated guess or prediction about what you think will happen.

If ___________________ then_____________.

Your hypothesis must be something that can be easily measured and should help answer your original question.

Conduct an Experiment:

Your experiment should contain a detailed list of materials and step by step instructions.

The process should be repeated several times in order to collect sufficient data.

To make the experiment fair and accurate, variables should only be changed one at a time.

Organize the Data:

Once you have completed the experiment, make a summary of all your results.

Your data may include notes, tables, drawings, pictures or a combination of them. Use this information to create graphs and charts

that can be used to determine if your hypothesis is true or false.

Evaluate the Results:

Once your data is organized, use it to determine whether your hypothesis is true, partly true or not true at all.

If it is true, report your findings.

If it is partly true or not true at all, report your findings and if time allows, modify your hypothesis and try again.

Report your Findings: Once you have concluded your experiment, report your findings so that they can be verified by others and so that others can gain knowledge from your scientific research on the subject.

Who?

Which?

What?

When?

Where?

My Question

How does amount of water in soil affect plant growth?

My Hypothesis:

Who?

Which?

What?

When?

Where?

My Question

How does amount of water in soil affect plant growth?

If a plant receives too much or no water, then the plant will grow slowly.

My Independent Variable (Cause): Amount of water

My Dependent Variable (Effect): Plant growth

My Controlled Variables: Amount of soil, type of soil, size and make of containers, amount of sunlight, type of seed, age of seed, source and type of water

Variables:Independent Variable:

What the scientist will be changing during the experiment.

Dependent Variable:

What the scientist will be measuring or observing.

Controlled Variable:

What the scientist keeps the same during the experiment.

Steps in My Experiment:

Gather materials.

Measure soil and place the same amount into three separate cups, filling each about half way.

Sprinkle 5 radish seeds on top of soil; cover with one inch more soil.

Label containers as dry, moist and wet with masking tape and marker.

Poke holes evenly around bottom edge of moist cup; fill cup with water until it begins to drain out of bottom holes.

Materials Needed:

*radish seeds *3 five oz paper cups

*3 strips masking tape *1 saucer

*permanent marker *distilled water

*paper clips *sunny window

1

3

4

5

Fill wet cup above soil level with water.

Place all seed cups in the window sill.

Draw what you observe about soil in the observation box. When the seed begins to grow measure the height, using the paper clips and record your data. This is your day 1 data.

7

6

8

My Observations:

Week 1:Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Dry

Moist

Wet

My Observations:

My Observations:

Week 2:Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Dry

Moist

Wet

Week 3:Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Organizing My Data Week 1:

Week 3:Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Organizing My Data Week 2:

Organizing My Data Week 3:

ConclusionNow summarize your experiment. Make sure you include the following:

_____your hypothesis

_____the steps you took to conduct your experiment

_____what you learned from this experiment (conclusion)

Please edit your paragraph!!!

_____Capitalization

_____Punctuation

_____Spacing

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Evaluating My Results:

My Hypothesis is:

Supported Not Supported Needs More Information

Anticipated Data Set:I expect that scholars will see the seed that receives moist soil will grow

fastest, wet soil seeds will sprout slowly and possibly grow mold, while the dry seeds will not grow at all.

Anticipated Data Set Discussion:In the first week scholars may or may not see the seeds sprouting above

the ground, so scholars will mostly record their observations about the soil this week.

The second week scholars will see the seeds sprout. Scholars should begin measuring the plant growth with paper clips, clipping them together to find the total height. The scholars will record their data on a bar graph, to show they understand that this experiment is documenting change over time. They may notice that the dry cup shows no growth.

The third week I would expect that scholars will see that the wet cup plant is significantly smaller than the moist plant and that the dry cup shows no plant. Each day scholars will measure and record their data.

Ideas for Altering: Scholars could test the effects of salt water v. tap water on plant

growth. Scholars could test the effects of cola v. water on plant growth. Scholars could test the effects of kool-aid v. water on plant growth.

Experiment: Ready, Set, Grow! Fresh and Packaged SeedsWho?

Which?

What?

When?

Where?

Why?

How?

My Question:

Does it matter to plant growth if seeds come straight from the plant or come from a package?

My Hypothesis: If a seed is planted directly after it was pulled from a

pumpkin, then the seed will grow sooner than a packaged seed.

My Independent Variable (Cause): One set packaged seed, one set fresh seed

My Dependent Variable (Effect): Plant growth

My Controlled Variables: Amount of soil, type of soil, size and make of containers, amount of water, amount of sunlight and type of water.

Variables:Independent Variable:

What the scientist will be changing during the experiment.

Dependent Variable:

What the scientist will be measuring or observing.

Controlled Variable:

What the scientist keeps the same during the experiment.

Steps in My Experiment:

Gather materials.

Measure soil and place the same amount into three separate cups, filling each about half way.

Sprinkle 3 pumpkin seeds on top of soil; cover with one inch more soil.

Label containers fresh seeds and packaged seeds with masking tape and marker.

Using the graduate cylinder, measure 4ml of water and place water into one cup. Repeat with other cups.

Materials Needed:

*set of fresh pumpkin seeds *2 plastic cups

*set of packaged seeds *graduated cylinder

*2 strips masking tape *permanent marker

*distilled water *paper clips

*sunny window

1

3

4

5

Place all seed cups in the window sill.

Every day, measure 4ml of water using graduated cylinder to give each cup.

Draw what you observe about soil in the observation box. When the first seed begins to grow measure the height, using the paper clips and record your data. This is your day 1 data.

Measure and record plant growth each day for 2 weeks.

7

6

8

99

My Observations:

Week 1:Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Fresh Seed

Packaged Seed

My Observations:

My Observations:

Week 2:Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Fresh Seed

Packaged Seed

Week 3:Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Organizing My Data Week 1:

Week 3:Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Organizing My Data Week 2:

Organizing My Data Week 3:

ConclusionNow summarize your experiment. Make sure you include the following:

_____your hypothesis

_____the steps you took to conduct your experiment

_____what you learned from this experiment (conclusion)

Please edit your paragraph!!!

_____Capitalization

_____Punctuation

_____Spacing

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Evaluating My Results:

My Hypothesis is:

Supported Not Supported Needs More Information

Anticipated Data Set:I expect that scholars will see the fresh seed that will grow fastest, while

packaged seeds will sprout slowly.

Anticipated Data Set Discussion:In the first week scholars may or may not see the seeds sprouting above

the ground, so scholars will mostly record their observations about the soil this week.

The second week scholars will see the seeds sprout. Scholars will document their observations using crayons to show color differences, if any. Scholars should also begin measuring the plant growth with paper clips, clipping them together to find the total height. The scholars will record their data on a bar graph, to show they understand that this experiment is comparing a change over time between the two sets of seeds.

The third week I would expect that scholars will see that the packaged seed plant is significantly smaller than the fresh seed plant. Each day scholars will measure and record their data.

Ideas for Altering: Scholars could test the effects in a similar manner simultaneously of

multiple seeds: cucumber, apple, oranges. Scholars could test the effects in growth rate of different types of

grass seed.

Formative Assessment—Beginning

Possible answers:

Seed, seedling/sprout/roots, stem, leaves, decay

Post It Parking Lot What does a plant need to help it grow?

Possible answers:Sun, soil/dirt, water

Nam

e:

Confidence: 1 2 3

On the back:

Draw the life cycle of a plant.

Formative Assessment—Ending

Possible answers:(drawing of a small plant)(drawing of a pale plant).

Post It Parking Lot What happens when a plant does not getenough water?

Possible answers:(drawing of small plant)(drawing of plant with little color)

Nam

e:

Confidence: 1 2 3

On the back:Use crayons to draw what happens to a plant that does not get enough light.

Name______________________________________________________________________

Summative Assessment

Directions: Fill in the circle under the answer you choose. (1 point each)

1) If each cup has the same amount of soil, sunlight and seeds, which set of seeds will grow the fastest?

O O O

2) Which is NOT a part of a plant?

root soil leaf stem O O O O

3) Looking inside each box left to right, which of the following shows the order of a plant’s life cycle?

O O O

4) Which of the following is NOT necessary for plants to grow?

music sunlight water soil O O O O

Directions: Illustrate your answers for the following questions. 1) What will a seed that has grown without sunlight look like after about two weeks? (2 points)

2) If I conduct an experiment where a plant with seeds is left to rot after it is dead, on soil with daily sunlight and rain or water, what will happen to the seeds? (2 points)

3) Illustrate what a seed needs to grow. (3 points)

4) Illustrate in order, four steps of a plants life cycle. (4 points)1 2 3 4

Name______________________________________________________________________

Summative Assessment--Answers

Directions: Fill in the circle under the answer you choose. (1 point each)

5) If each cup has the same amount of soil, sunlight and seeds, which set of seeds will grow the fastest?

O O O

6) Which is NOT a part of a plant?

root soil leaf stem O O O O

7) Looking inside each box left to right, which of the following shows the order of a plant’s life cycle?

O O O

8) Which of the following is NOT necessary for plants to grow?

music sunlight water soil O O O O

Directions: Illustrate your answers for the following questions. (2 points each)5) What will a seed that has grown without sunlight look like after about two weeks?

(Illustration with seed with roots, stem and possibly leaves with little or no color.)

6) If I conduct an experiment where a plant with seeds is left to rot after it is dead, on soil with daily sunlight and rain or water, what will happen to the seeds? (2 points)(Illustration with seed growing out of rotted plant with roots, stem and possibly leaves.)

7) Illustrate what a seed needs to grow. (3 points)(illustration of sun, water, soil/dirt)

8) Illustrate in order, four steps of a plants life cycle. (4 points possible)1seed

2seed, roots

3seed, root, stem

4seed, root, stem, leaf

Notebooking Connections

1) All notes and packets shown above will be kept in a binder/prong folder throughout the year and known as their Science Journals. They will know this a scientific log that organizes their thoughts, data, and procedures.

2) Science Journals will be checked in order to note learning, areas of need, and extension using the notebook form. This form will help scholars summarize learning for the day and project.

Science Notebook Notes

(Topic) ___________________________________________________________

Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________________________

Experiment: ___________________________________________________________________________________

Essential Question:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Words I learned and what they mean:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Drawing that shows what I learned today:

Elaborate:

Scholars could test the effects of full sun, part sun and no sun on plant growth. Scholars could test the effects of salt soil and regular soil on plant growth. Scholars could test the effects of sunlight v. artificial light on plant growth. Scholars could test the effects kool-aid water, cola and clean water on plant growth. Scholars would write about how plants replenish themselves without the aide of humans

through its life cycle. Scholars could investigate ways to help promote natural plant replenishment through clean

and natural resources.

References

Images: found using Bing images, searched for “clipart” + word (ex: sun)

Water experiment: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, www.education.com/science-fair/article/environmental -factors-seed-germination/

***Fresh/Packaged Seed experiment: was created by Morales with inspiration from Pumpkin Pumpkin by Jeane Titherington and used previously in class. However, I found a similar project for 4-6 grade: www.education.com/science-fair/article/growth-rate-prepackaged-seeds-versus-seeds-from-fruit-vegetable/

Books:Pumpkin Pumpkin—Jeane TitheringtonHow a Seed Grows—Helene J. JordanFrom Seed to Plant—Alan FowlerPlant Stems and Roots—David M. SchwartzFrom Seed to Plant--Gail Gibbons