A Scientist Investigates Plants

A Science 21 Reader
Written by Dr. Helen Pashley With photographs by Lori Adams
For Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES 2008

A Scientist Investigates Plants

A Science 21 Reader
Written by Dr. Helen Pashley With photographs by Lori Adams
For Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES 2008

Raven was waiting for the school bus, when he noticed something white and shiny by his feet. Look at all the salt left on the road, he thought. It helped melt the ice yesterday, but what happens when it is washed off by the rain? I wonder if salty water affects how well the plants grow nearby? This is a very good science question. What could he do to find the answer?

Raven was waiting for the school bus, when he noticed something white and shiny by his feet. Look at all the salt left on the road, he thought. It helped melt the ice yesterday, but what happens when it is washed off by the rain? I wonder if salty water affects how well the plants grow nearby? This is a very good science question. What could he do to find the answer?

When he gets home, he thinks about what he has been learning in science. I know. I can investigate this problem by doing an experiment.

In order to make it a fair test I must follow the scientific method.

Before I start, there are some important things to think about and decide.

When he gets home, he thinks about what he has been learning in science. I know. I can investigate this problem by doing an experiment.

In order to make it a fair test I must follow the scientific method.

Before I start, there are some important things to think about and decide.

I need to decide what to change and what to keep the same. This will make it a fair test. I need to decide what plants to use. Should I observe the effects of salt, or measure the effects? If I decide to measure the plants what exactly should I measure? How should I collect and record my data? How can I make sense of my results?

I need to decide what to change and what to keep the same. This will make it a fair test. I need to decide what plants to use. Should I observe the effects of salt, or measure the effects? If I decide to measure the plants what exactly should I measure? How should I collect and record my data? How can I make sense of my results?

The first thing I need to decide is what to change and what to keep the same. I will brainstorm and make a list. I could change the type of plant. the age of the plant. the type of salt. the amount of salt in the water. how often the plants are given salty water. All the things that can be changed are called independent variables. To be a fair test I will have to choose just one.

The first thing I need to decide is what to change and what to keep the same. I will brainstorm and make a list. I could change the type of plant. the age of the plant. the type of salt. the amount of salt in the water. how often the plants are given salty water. All the things that can be changed are called independent variables. To be a fair test I will have to choose just one.

I will use these plants. They grow by the road. They would be affected by salty
water runoff. They are all mature plants. There are plenty of them, so my family will not mind if I dig some up for my experiment.

I will use these plants. They grow by the road. They would be affected by salty
water runoff. They are all mature plants. There are plenty of them, so my family will not mind if I dig some up for my experiment.

At home I have table salt, Kosher salt, and rock salt. I will use rock salt for my experiment, because that is the salt spread on roads. I will change the amount of salt in the water given to the plants. This will be my independent variable. I will make some water a little salty and some very salty. I will also have water with no salt in it. This is called the control.

At home I have table salt, Kosher salt, and rock salt. I will use rock salt for my experiment, because that is the salt spread on roads. I will change the amount of salt in the water given to the plants. This will be my independent variable. I will make some water a little salty and some very salty. I will also have water with no salt in it. This is called the control.

What might happen if I change the amount of salt in the water given to the plants? The plants might grow less turn yellow wilt have fewer leaves die These could be the dependent variables. I will measure the height of the plants and count the number of leaves. I will make observations about the how healthy the plants look. These will be the dependent variables that I will record.

What might happen if I change the amount of salt in the water given to the plants? The plants might grow less turn yellow wilt have fewer leaves die These could be the dependent variables. I will measure the height of the plants and count the number of leaves. I will make observations about the how healthy the plants look. These will be the dependent variables that I will record.

In order to make it a fair test, everything else must be the same. I will make sure all the plants have the same location temperature light soil pots amount of water I will water all of the plants at the same time. The only thing that will be different is how much salt is dissolved in the water they are given.

In order to make it a fair test, everything else must be the same. I will make sure all the plants have the same location temperature light soil pots amount of water I will water all of the plants at the same time. The only thing that will be different is how much salt is dissolved in the water they are given.

I will use the steps of the scientific method to record my experiment. I will write down everything I do.

Here is my question. Does the amount of salt in the water affect a plants growth?

Here is my prediction of what will happen. I think that with more salt, the plants will grow less. This is because my Dad said salt killed our bushes by the road.

I will use the steps of the scientific method to record my experiment. I will write down everything I do.

Here is my question. Does the amount of salt in the water affect a plants growth?

Here is my prediction of what will happen. I think that with more salt, the plants will grow less. This is because my Dad said salt killed our bushes by the road.

The materials I will need are:

9 identical plants 9 cups potting soil rock salt a ruler notebook and pencil a balance scale gram weights a graduated cylinder funnel distilled water bottles to put water in

The materials I will need are:

9 identical plants 9 cups potting soil rock salt a ruler notebook and pencil a balance scale gram weights a graduated cylinder funnel distilled water bottles to put water in

Here is the method I will use for my experiment. I will put 9 plants in the plastic cups with potting soil. I will make sure that the plants are the same height, and have the same number of leaves. Each plant is 15 cm tall and has 9 leaves.

Here is the method I will use for my experiment. I will put 9 plants in the plastic cups with potting soil. I will make sure that the plants are the same height, and have the same number of leaves. Each plant is 15 cm tall and has 9 leaves.

I will have 3 kinds of water. In the first bottle I put water with no salt. I measure 1 liter of distilled water and pour it into the bottle.

I will have 3 kinds of water. In the first bottle I put water with no salt. I measure 1 liter of distilled water and pour it into the bottle.

Next I measure 5 grams of salt with the balance.

Next I measure 5 grams of salt with the balance.

In the second bottle, I pour the salt into 1 liter of distilled water. I shake the bottle to dissolve the salt. This water has 5 grams of salt per liter. It is a little salty.

In the second bottle, I pour the salt into 1 liter of distilled water. I shake the bottle to dissolve the salt. This water has 5 grams of salt per liter. It is a little salty.

Next, I measure 25 grams of salt. I pour it into the third bottle with 1 liter of distilled water. Then I shake the bottle to dissolve the salt. This water has 25 grams of salt per liter. It is very salty water!

Next, I measure 25 grams of salt. I pour it into the third bottle with 1 liter of distilled water. Then I shake the bottle to dissolve the salt. This water has 25 grams of salt per liter. It is very salty water!

I will give 3 plants water containing no salt.

I will give 3 plants water containing no salt.

I will give 3 plants water containing 5 grams of salt.

I will give 3 plants water containing 5 grams of salt.

I will give 3 plants water containing 25 grams of salt. I will water all the plants 3 times a week. Each time I will use 10 mL of water.

I will give 3 plants water containing 25 grams of salt. I will water all the plants 3 times a week. Each time I will use 10 mL of water.

I will observe the health of the plants and record if any new leaves grow. I will measure the height of the plants. At the start of my experiment, they are all 15cm tall. I will see if this changes. I will observe and measure the plants for 4 weeks.

I will observe the health of the plants and record if any new leaves grow. I will measure the height of the plants. At the start of my experiment, they are all 15cm tall. I will see if this changes. I will observe and measure the plants for 4 weeks.

I will record all my results in my notebook. That way I will remember what I measured and noticed.

I will record all my results in my notebook. That way I will remember what I measured and noticed.

Each time I water the plants, I record the date. I also record my observations.

Each time I water the plants, I record the date. I also record my observations.

After 4 weeks look what happened to the plants. Results: This is what I observed and measured.

After 4 weeks look what happened to the plants. Results: This is what I observed and measured.

Data Table Showing the Growth of Plants Given No Salt, a Little Salt, and Very Salty Water.

Group of plants No salt 5 grams of salt/liter

Height at start (cm) 15, 15, 15 15, 15, 15

Height at end (cm) 16, 16, 16 15, 15, 15 15, 15, 14

Number of leaves at start 9, 9, 9 9, 9, 9 9, 9, 9

Number of leaves at end 9, 10, 10 9, 9, 9 8, 8, 6

25 grams of 15, 15, 15 salt/liter

Data Table Showing the Growth of Plants Given No Salt, a Little Salt, and Very Salty Water.

Group of plants No salt 5 grams of salt/liter

Height at start (cm) 15, 15, 15 15, 15, 15

Height at end (cm) 16, 16, 16 15, 15, 15 15, 15, 14

Number of leaves at start 9, 9, 9 9, 9, 9 9, 9, 9

Number of leaves at end 9, 10, 10 9, 9, 9 8, 8, 6

25 grams of 15, 15, 15 salt/liter

The plants given water containing no salt have each grown 1 cm. Two of the three plants have now got 10 leaves. They have grown a new leaf. They all look healthy and green.

The plants given water containing no salt have each grown 1 cm. Two of the three plants have now got 10 leaves. They have grown a new leaf. They all look healthy and green.

The 3 plants in this group have not grown. They are still 15 cm tall. None of the plants have any new leaves. The leaves look more yellow and they are curled. They do not look as healthy as the no salt plants.

The 3 plants in this group have not grown. They are still 15 cm tall. None of the plants have any new leaves. The leaves look more yellow and they are curled. They do not look as healthy as the no salt plants.

None of the three plants in this group have grown. One plant is now shorter and measures 14 cm. All three plants have lost leaves. They are shriveled, yellow and look unhealthy.

None of the three plants in this group have grown. One plant is now shorter and measures 14 cm. All three plants have lost leaves. They are shriveled, yellow and look unhealthy.

Now I can write my conclusion. From my data I have shown that the amount of salt in the water does affect plant growth. Plants getting water containing 5 grams of salt did not grow as well as those given water with no salt in it. Plants getting water containing 25 grams of salt did not grow at all, and lost leaves.

Now I can write my conclusion. From my data I have shown that the amount of salt in the water does affect plant growth. Plants getting water containing 5 grams of salt did not grow as well as those given water with no salt in it. Plants getting water containing 25 grams of salt did not grow at all, and lost leaves.

There is one more thing to do. Scientists always think about if there was a better way that they could have done their experiment. Is there anything I could have done to improve my experiment? I could have used more than 9 plants. Nine is a small number and using more would make my results more reliable. I could also have found a better way to measure the growth and health of the plants. It was difficult to measure the height accurately. Ill remember this next time.

There is one more thing to do. Scientists always think about if there was a better way that they could have done their experiment. Is there anything I could have done to improve my experiment? I could have used more than 9 plants. Nine is a small number and using more would make my results more reliable. I could also have found a better way to measure the growth and health of the plants. It was difficult to measure the height accurately. Ill remember this next time.

Here are the steps of the scientific method: Question: Prediction: Materials: What question do I have? What do I think will happen? What do I need to do my experiment? What will I change and what do I need to keep the same? What is my independent variable? What is my control? What steps will I follow to find the answer to my problem? What did I observe and measure in the experiment? What is my dependent variable? How will I display my data?

Procedure: Results:

Conclusions: What did learn from my experiment? Could I have improved what I did? Raven followed the scientific method to make sure his experiment was fair. What questions could you answer with an experiment?

Here are the steps of the scientific method: Question: Prediction: Materials: What question do I have? What do I think will happen? What do I need to do my experiment? What will I change and what do I need to keep the same? What is my independent variable? What is my control? What steps will I follow to find the answer to my problem? What did I observe and measure in the experiment? What is my dependent variable? How will I display my data?

Procedure: Results:

Conclusions: What did learn from my experiment? Could I have improved what I did? Raven followed the scientific method to make sure his experiment was fair. What questions could you answer with an experiment?