Contributed by: Oregon State Department of Education
Materials
- zip-lock baggies
- water
- hand lens
- paper towels
- seeds from a variety of flowering plants
- lima beans
- variety of mediums (like paper towels, potting soil, sand, clay)
Directions
In order for seeds to become young plants, germination is necessary.
Your task is to develop a procedure to answer a question using scientific
inquiry.
- Using the materials given to you in class, your task is to
use scientific inquiry to investigate a question about one of
the variables above.
- You need to conduct your scientific investigation about germination
of two types of seeds. As you design your investigation, think
about:
- Which factors will you vary in your study? Which will you
keep the same?
- How can you be sure that the variables that influence germination
of your seeds are even and constant for both the lima beans
and the other type of seed?
- How will you measure amount of water the seeds have and
the amount of light?
- List, in order, the steps you will use. You may include
a diagram to help illustrate your plans for the investigation.
Include any safety procedures you would follow. Make your
procedure detailed enough, so someone else could follow
it easily.
- Construct a data table or chart to record your observations
and results.
- Perform the investigation by following the steps outlined
in your procedure. Be sure to note any changes to your
listed procedures and tell why.
- Record your observations and measurements. Write statements
or paragraphs and/or use tables where appropriate. Now
transform your data into a graph.
- Write an interpretation and analysis of your results. Note
any limitations to your investigation. What additional experiments
or questions were suggested as you did your investigation?
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