1. Growing A Bean Experiment
Introduction: The lesson is designed to
incorporate student’s knowledge of plant growth and conduct an experiment
based on the growth of beans. Students will use computer skills to develop a
presentation using the multimedia “preZent”. In this presentation students must
incorporate images they took with a digital camera or a disposable camera with
the photos developed into a CD. Students will develop a chart using an online
graph generator and organize information from a digital spreadsheet they created
on Microsoft excel.
Analyze Learners:
General Characteristics:
- 20 students
- 5th grade
- 10-11 years old
- Male and Female
- Various Socioeconomic backgrounds
- Diverse ethnic backgrounds: Pacific Islander: Chuuck, Pohnpei Palau,
Yap, and, Chamorro. Caucasian, African American, and Asian.
Main Learning Style:
- One student has a Speech language Impairment
- Linguistic/Verbal
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2. - Visual
- Kinesthetic/Hands-on
Prior Knowledge:
- Introduced unit on scientific method one week ago
- Had a lesson on plants and what they need to survive
a week ago
- Provided students with a presentation on how to
get started using the website “preZent” to make
their presentation
- Knowledge on using a search engine
- Have experience in plotting data and creating charts and
Spreadsheets
- Knowledge on how to use a field- notebook
- Computer skills: Excel
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
- Use the scientific method for the experiment on the growth of beans.
- Set-up experiment properly according to directions provided
- Input data gathered using the scientific method on a field- notebook.
- Create a digital spreadsheet for seven days of the experiment.
- Input in the digital spreadsheet types of water: Tap, drinking, and dirty
(such as: Grey water- wastewater generated from domestic
processes such as dish washing, laundry and bathing).
- Input in the digital spreadsheet types of conditions: Darkness, In-
door, and Out-door.
- Input in the spreadsheet the measurement (cm) of the growth of the bean
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3. plant from top of plant to the top of the dirt in the different conditions.
- Take pictures of the bean plant over the span of 7 days
- Using a search engine and the key word “Kid Zone: Create a graph”
Access the website “Kids Zone: Create a graph”.
- Create a graph at the site “kids Zone: Create a graph using the
information from the digital spreadsheet.
- Locate the website “present” on a computer with Internet access using the
URL: http://prezentit.com/.
- Create a presentation with the information recorded in the field- notebook
using the scientific method.
- Input in your presentation the photos taken of the bean plant over a span
of three days.
Select Method, Media, and Materials:
- Students will be grouped into four groups of five students.
- Teacher will provided the materials.
- Materials needed: 4 Computers (1 for each group), 4 metric Rulers (1 for
each group, 27 bean plants (9 for each group), 27 1.25L plastic bottle
containers with the tops cut off, resembling a large drinking glass (9 for
each group), 27 pieces of paper towel (9 for each group) enough soil,
drinking, tap, and dirty water for the 4 groups. Designated in-door, out-
door, and dark area for the 4 groups. Notepad (Field- notebook) to write
down data
- The students will set up the experiment following these instructions:
Step 1: Turn the bottle over and punch several holes in the bottom so that
excess water can drain out.
Step 2: Fold the paper towels into a tube that fits snugly inside the plastic
bottle. The tube needs to be hollow and pressed firmly against the wall of
the bottle.
Step 3: Fill the space inside the paper towel tube with soil. Sand can also
be used if you want less mess, but the soil is better for the plants as it will
give them nutrients. Do NOT water the soil at this point. The setup is
simple but may require a couple of tries to get right, so be prepared to
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4. have to empty the container and start again.
Step 4: Push bean seeds down the side of the bottle so that they are
between the plastic and the paper. The seeds need to be in plain view. It
is best to push them about one third of the way down the paper. Place a
total of four bean seeds evenly around the outside of the paper in this
manner, to ensure that at least one will grow properly.
(Each group will follow steps 1-4 for the 9 different containers)
Step 5: Add water the soil so that the whole setup is damp. Each group
will have nine different containers. Three beans are in dirty water, three
beans are in drinking water and three beans are in tap water.
Step 6: of the three bean seeds in different water one will be placed out-
doors, one in-doors, and one in a dark room.
Step 7: Watch as the bean seeds develop. Observe the growth of the
bean seed everyday for seven days. Input what you observe in the field-
notebook and then record the data in the digital spreadsheet.
Utilize Media and Materials:
- After setting up the materials students will need to organize their
information using the steps of the scientific method (Figure 1) on their
field- notebook.
Ex: Figure 2 is a sample of the information gathered on the scientific
method might look. Information about what was observed, the results and
a conclusion cannot be logged until the experiment is set up.
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5. Figure 1 Figure 2
Title: Carrot Top Growth Experiment
Question: What will grow from a carrot top under
different conditions?
Background Research: Here student can explain
what they have learned from the units taught on
what plants need to survive. Also, the student can
use the Internet for research.
Hypothesis: The most growth will come from the
carrot tops kept out- door.
Experiment: Student can list the steps they used to
set up the experiment. Also, students can list
materials.
Observe and Analyze data: Here students can input
the information they gathered from the six-day
experiment.
Conclusion: Students can conclude what grew
during the carrot top experiment.
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6. - Students will design their digital spreadsheet. Example of digital
spreadsheet is Figure 3. The student’s digital spreadsheet will be a span
of 7 days.
Figure 3:
Day 1
Bean Growth In- Door Out- Door Dark- Room
Tap Water
Drinking Water
Dirty Water
Day 2
Bean Growth In- Door Out- Door Dark- Room
Tap Water
Drinking Water
Dirty Water
Day 3
Bean Growth In- Door Out- Door Dark- Room
Tap Water
Drinking Water
Dirty Water
Day 4
Bean Growth In- Door Out- Door Dark- Room
Tap Water
Drinking Water
Dirty Water
Day 5
Bean Growth In- Door Out- Door Dark- Room
Tap Water
Drinking Water
Dirty Water
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7. - After the experiment is set up and the digital spreadsheet and field
notebook are organized students will log into the digital spreadsheet the
growth of the Bean seed based on the different waters and conditions.
The information will be documented over a span of 7 days.
- Students will get online and go to the website “preZent” and create a
presentation using the information collected on the groups experiment
using the scientific method.
- Students will include pictures they took of their experiment in their
presentation.
- Students will then use an online chart generator to create a graph using
the information in their digital spreadsheet in figure 3
- I will present the lesson to the students using “preZent “ so that they are
refreshed on how to use it.
- Another option for me to present the lesson to the students is by creating a
class Blog. Students will click on the link to the lesson plan on their Class
Blog
Require learner Participation:
- After the 7 days and when the groups have finalized their data and
information the students will present the information from their field-
notebook that they gathered. Also students will present the presentation
they created on “preZent” and the graph they created using “Kid Zone:
Create a graph. Each group will compare their results in a class
discussion. Students will discuss how the growth of the bean relates to the
different conditions and water. Students should focus on what they
observed and learned from this experiment.
Evaluation:
- Did the group use the scientific method properly to conduct the experiment?
- Did the group organize data using the scientific on their field- notebook?
- Did the group set-up the experiment according to the directions provided?
- Did the group use the website “present to create their presentation?
- Did the group incorporate the pictures they took in their presentation?
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8. - Was the group able to access the website “Kid Zone: Create a chart”?
- Was the group able to create a chart using the website “Kid Zone: Create a
chart”?
- Did the group follow all the directions in setting up their experiment?
- Was the group able to organize the data for the seven days using a digital
spreadsheet?
- Did the spreadsheet cover the seven days of the experiment?
- Was the spreadsheet labeled with the different types of water: Tap,
Drinking, and Dirty.
- Was the spreadsheet labeled with the different types of conditions: In-
door, Out-door, and Dark room.
- Was the spreadsheet labeled with the measurement of the beans
growth in CM?
- How well did the group present the information, digital spreadsheet, chart, and
presentation?
References:
Steps of the scientific method. (2002-2010). Retrieved from
file:///Users/bms1/Documents/ED%20451%20help%203.webarchive
The Bean plant science experiment. (2010, April 15). Retrieved from
http://www.Green-planet-solar-energy.com/plant-science-experiment.html
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