Vocabulary

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Scientific method:  the method of research scientists use to identify a question/problem, a hypothesis is formulated, data is collected, and the hypothesis is empirically tested.
Purpose: the reason for doing the experiment
Hypothesis:  an educated prediction
Analysis:  compiling data with graphs, charts, etc.
Control variable:  the aspect of an experiment that does not change.

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Attention Grabber

Dress as a “scientist” with a lab coat, goggles, etc.  Get a volunteer student to dress like a plant.  As you give the volunteer the different “plant parts” to wear, have the rest of the class tell you what part it is and what it does for the plant.

Roots- use strings cut up and bundled together, Function: to take up nutrients and water
Stems- attach straws to the student’s shirt, Function: to transport nutrients and water to the leaves, and from the leaves to the rest of the plant
Leaves- cut out of leaves (or real leaves!) on the student’s arms, Function:  to photosynthesize
Flowers- a crown, Function:  to pollinate the plant to produce offspring, to attract insects, to produce fruit.

Explain to students the overall project:  They will be scientists exploring and conducting an experiment involving plants!

Garden Activity   

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Prep

• 2-3 weeks prior to the lesson, grow some plants for the students to use for their experiments.  Fast growers are mung beans and radishes.  For indoor use, an ivy such as Coleus (Coleus blumei) and Fatsia japonica (Aralia sieboldii) will work.
• Make sure that students understand the scientific method before conducting their own experiments.  This can be done with the attached worksheets “The Scientific Method – Vocabulary.”

5th Grade Scientists Hard at Work!

• First have students brainstorm possible ideas as a class.  Give them the limitations of using plants, and where the experiments can be conducted based on your specific classroom and garden.
• Using the worksheet “Will It Grow? – Scientific Investigation and Experimentation,” students can organize their experiment.   
• Possible ideas for this experiment:
  • water needs (plants with and without)
  • sun needs (plants with and without)
  • soil needs (plants with and without)
  • salt water v. fresh water (can plants grow in salt water?)
  • different colors of light (which grows the best?)
  • environment (classroom v. outside in garden)
  • heat  (plants with extreme heat, medium heat, no heat)
  • potted-planting v. directly in the garden beds

• Students will conduct an experiment using plants under various conditions of their choice. (Mung beans are great to use for these experiments they germinate very quickly and grow well.  Radishes are also a good type of seed to use.)
• They will write out a procedure, conduct the experiment, record the results, and write a conclusion.
• The students will need support throughout this experience, but they can do it! 
• Allow a week for planning with a partner, 2-3 weeks for conducting the experiments, and a week for wrapping it up.  This is best done at the end of the year after other experiments have been conducted.  If students do not have the background knowledge yet, take a week to prepare by teaching about the scientific method. See the Scientific Method activity.

Wrap Up

Provide each student with a cut out of a vegetable, fruit, or other object relating to healthy eating.  Have the students write down one new thing they learned in class.  Hang these on the string that represented the length of the small intestine.

What's Next?

Download Materials

Lesson Materials

Will It Grow? – Scientific Investigation and Experimentation

Scientific Method worksheet