Bean Baggie

What will happen when I try to grow a bean in a ziplock bag?

Robanne Stading

Introduction Alaska Standard: Science 3: Children will

explore plants Enduring Understanding: Using a modified

Scientific Method to investigate a situation Topic: Seed Growth Methodology: Group discussion and

brainstorm, individual observation of experiment, group display of results

Objectives

Children will be introduced to the Scientific Method.

Children will observe and record data related to a growing (?) bean sprout.

Materials Needed lima beans plastic sandwich bags cotton balls recoding sheets pencils markers tape

The Scientific MethodIntroduce the Scientific Method to the children:1. Hypothesis (making a guess)2. Research3. Designing the experiment4. Conducting the experiment5. Recording data 6. Drawing conclusions 7. Revising and repeating the experiment, if

desired

Learning ActivitiesAfter becoming familiar with the Scientific

Method, the children will set up the experiment in the following manner:

Children will set up their bean sprouts by putting a lima bean in with 2 moist cotton balls into a baggie. They will then write their name on the baggie and place it anywhere in the classroom to grow.

Guess Time!

The children will then state a hypothesis about the seed, as well as record why they placed their bags in particular places around the classroom.

Throughout the Week…

Each day the children will observe their bean and draw a picture of it on the data sheets. The children will record data each day for about a week.

Was my guess correct?• The children will then see if their guess

about the bean was correct, and brainstorm some ideas why it may have not occurred as they expected.

• The experiment will be displayed at the school science fair.

ConsiderationsFor Special Learners Adult support in

classroom Larger recording

sheets Able to record

tactile data, if necessary

Multicultural Concerns Different

experiences with seeds

Vocabulary related to seeds and experiments

Assessment

Examine papers for participation. Did the child record data for each day he attended school? Did the child make a guess about the experiment?

OBJECTIVESChildren will be introduced to the Scientific Method.Children will observe and record data related to a growing (?) bean sprout.

So…How did it go?

Here is our Science

Fair Display!

QuestionWhat will happen when I place a seed in

a baggie with a moisture source?

ResearchKindergarteners know that seeds need water, light and soil to grow. They also know that a specific seed grows into a specific plant, and that that plant will then grow seeds that can be planted. This is its life cycle.

Procedure1.Gather materials: ziplock bag, 2 cotton balls, lima bean seed2. Place the seed in the ziplock bag with two moist cotton balls.3. Seal the ziplock bag.4. Place the ziplock bag where you think is a good place for it to grow.Observe the seed each day and record its appearance.

Hypothesis (or, a good guess based on research)

What will happen to my seed?Martin: It grow.Erin: It will grow into a rose.Zack: Grow.Lauren: Nothing.William: Grow.Kyler: Grow.Justice: It will grow.Johanna: It will grow.

Maya: It will be big.Jayce: Sprout.Noah: It will grow.Sage: Grow up.Nikit: Grow.Ustina: Grow up.David: Not grow.Izabelle: It will grow.Jaice: Grow.Dylan: It will break.

Results

Did Your Seed Sprout?

Yes=8

No=11

ConclusionThere was no pattern for why seeds sprouted

or did not sprout. Most Kindergarteners thought that the seeds would grow, but more of the seeds did not grow. Here are some ideas Kindergarten has to change the experiment to have more seeds spout next time.

Use new seeds Use less water Have less light Put in a warmer location Have more air Have food for the plants

Teacher Reflections The children seemed to enjoy the idea of

being a scientist. They were excited the first two days of data recording, but many became discouraged after the second day when their beans did not sprout.

I extended the experiment by four days in hopes that more seeds would sprout but the extra time did not seem to matter.

Teacher Reflections Interestingly, when we recorded data for if

the seed sprouted or not, more children reported that their seed sprouted than actual seed sprouts.

An additional piece to this occurred as we prepared for the science fair when the children each wrote a sentence about what happened to the seed for the display board.