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This unit was designed to follow the steps of science inquiry from set up to conclusion. With the help of Bala Chaudhary our GK-12 Fellow and resident scientist, our class chose a question to investigate that related to her actual work in the field.
The purpose of this experiment was to determine if soil organisms affect plant growth. We also tested to see if different plant species were affected by soil organisms differently. Each pair of students worked on a single plant species and had both a pot with dead soil and a pot with live soil. The whole class had about 10 students working on corn, 10 students working on marigold, and 10 students working on broccoli.
7th Grade
Having completed the experiment to determine if soil organisms affect plant growth, students will write an introduction to their plant study using the teacher-created “guiding questions” worksheet.
Introduction:
The main purpose of our experiment was to figure out whether our three plants (corn, marigold, and broccoli) grew better in biotic or abiotic soil. We also did this experiment to see which soil would sustain the plants in a better way.
This experiment was important for a few reasons. It was important because if we know what plant grows better in what soil than we could grow plant a lot more efficiently. We would see what plants affected negatively and positively to what soil.
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7th Grade
Having completed the experiment to determine if soil organisms affect plant growth, students will write methods to their plant study using the teacher-created “guiding questions” worksheet.
7th Grade
Having completed the experiment to determine if soil organisms affect plant growth, students will write a discussion (conclusion) of their plant study using the teacher-created “guiding questions” worksheet.
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