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Plan Investigation: How Organisms Grow

Plan Investigation: How Organisms Grow

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to plan and conduct descriptive investigations such as how organisms grow.

Essential Understanding

The student develops abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry in classroom and outdoor investigations.

Science Background

Designing an Experiment: Discovery Education (website) - Detailed information and tips for guiding students in the design of, and preparation for an experiment. 

Designing an Experiment
Discovery Education, www.discoveryeducation.com

Signature Lesson

Light vs. Dark: North Carolina State University (website) - Students plan and conduct an investigation to determine if plant seeds need light to germinate and grow. Includes follow-up/assessment questions.

Light vs. Dark
North Carolina State University www.ncsu.edu

Supporting Lessons

Gravity: North Carolina State University (website) - Students conduct a simple investigation to determine if plants grown from seeds have a sense of “up” and “down.” Includes follow-up/assessment questions.

Gravity
North Carolina State University, www.ncsu.edu

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Temperature and Plant Growth: North Carolina State University (website) - Students conduct a simple investigation—growing seeds in yogurt containers—to investigate how temperature affects germination and plant growth. Includes follow-up/assessment questions.

Temperature and Plant Growth
North Carolina State University, www.ncsu.edu

Assessment Ideas

Have students develop procedures to test the impacts of different amounts of water on plant growth.

Literature Connections

Dig and Sow! How Do Plants Grow? Experiments in the Garden. Lobb, J. (ISBN-13: 978-0753454596)

Related Science TEKS

(2.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to identify and demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including wearing safety goggles, washing hands, and using materials appropriately.

(2.1B) Importance of Safe Practices
The student is expected to describe the importance of safe practices.

(2.2A) Ask Questions
The student is expected to ask questions about organisms, objects, and events during observations and investigations.

(2.2C) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data from observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, thermometers, and non-standard measurement tools.

(2.2D) Record and Organize Data & Observations
The student is expected to record and organize data using pictures, numbers, and words.

(2.2E) Communicate and Justify Explanations
The student is expected to communicate observations and justify explanations using student-generated data from simple descriptive investigations.

(2.2F) Comparing Results of Investigations
The student is expected to compare results of investigations with what students and scientists know about the world.

(2.3B) Make Predictions
The student is expected to make predictions based on observable patterns.

Related Math TEKS

2.12D    The student is expected to use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.

2.13A    The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

Choose a Project Idea: Discovery Education (website) - Students choose from a wide variety of testable questions related to plants and animals to serve as a basis for their own experiments and/or science fair projects. Includes guidance for investigating each question, including key issues to consider.

Choose a Project Idea
Discovery Education, www.discoveryeducation.com

Recipes of Research: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (PDF) - Use lesson 3.2 on page 17 to give students experience working with plants, and to help them discover how light, water, and soil meet the needs of plants.

Recipes of Research
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

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