Transcript Team 08 - Illinois

“Investigating Factors Which Influencing Plant
Growth”
This project will reinforce the idea of controlled experiments.
In addition, it will introduce factors that influence plant
growth.
It will also introduce some techniques of computational
modeling using Excel and Stella.
Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson the students will be able to:
 Design a controlled experiment;
 Explain the importance of dependent and independent variables in controlled
experiments;
 Describe factors which influence plant growth;
 Analyze data using statistics
 Evaluate the accuracy of student driven statistical data;
 Develop a computational model for plant growth;
 Import the data into a visualization tool and graph it;
 Use critical thinking to form conclusions about the problem;
 Communicate results to peers
Introduction
Students will perform a controlled experiment to
determine the effect of temperature on longevity of glow
sticks
Students will perform and analyze a chromatography
lab to determine the kinds of pigments present in green
leaves
Students will perform and analyze a
photosynthesis/respiration lab to determine how energy
flows through plants
Students will use Excel to visualize sample data from
the internet
Classroom Procedures and Activities
 Present background materials on photosynthesis and the problem: “How is plant
growth stimulated?”;
 Present background on accuracy of regression lines and data;
 Guide students through Excel exercises with sample data;
· Perform Glow Stick laboratory and graph results using Excel;
· Perform Chromatography laboratory and discuss the results
· Perform (photosynthesis/respiration) Combustion laboratory and visualize using
Stella;
· Discuss the requirements needed for plant growth and research on the internet to
gather information about those requirements;
· Discuss research project ideas and form teams with common research interests;
· Design controlled experiments and write up proposals;
· Begin experiments and run for two weeks
· During the two week run, plants will be tended to and measured every weekday at
the same time;
· Gather data by measuring plant height, leaf length and width;
· Discuss analysis of results;
· Have students discuss conclusions;
· Have students present experiments, results, and conclusions to class
Classtime required for the completion of this model:
This model can be completed in class in approximately 3-4
weeks.