Download Activity # 1: Gizmo

Activity # 1: Gizmo
Directions:
Write your name on a worksheet.
Prepare your seed environment and watch plants grow!
As you experiment, record data on you worksheet.
Teacher Information Card
Activity #1
Title: Gizmo Activity (Simulated Experiments)
Topic: Life Processes
Grade Level: 4
Standards:
4.1 The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific reasoning, logic, and the nature
of science by planning and conducting investigations in which
e) predictions and inferences are made, and conclusions are drawn based on data from a variety
of sources
th
i)
data are collected, recorded, analyzed, and displayed using bar and basic line graphs
4.4 The student will investigate and understand basic plant anatomy and life processes. Key
concepts include
b) processes and structures involved with plant reproduction;
c) photosynthesis
Explanation of Concepts:
This Gizmo allows students to manipulate variables relating to plant growth to discover
how plants grow most effectively. The Gizmo allows students to work with light amounts,
quantity of water, seed types, and soil types. Students will explore what nutrients plants need,
how much is too much, and how much is too little. This gives students an opportunity to
experiment, to ask questions, and to find answers in a timely way.
Materials: 7 laptops, Gizmo website, student worksheets
Discussion Questions:
• Is light necessary for plant growth?
• How does light change the way the plant grows?
• Does the plant grow faster in bright light, or in the dark?
• Do these things work the same way with real plants?
Adapted From: explorelearning.com
Notes: Photosynthesis is the process by which plants transform the energy from sunlight into
nourishment. Photosynthesis happens in the leaves of a plant.
Name: _________________________________________
Question: How does the amount of light affect how plants grow?
1. Form hypothesis: Do you think seeds need light to start growing? Explain why or why not.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2. Experiment:
• Click turnip seed and drag it into each pot
• Drag the water slider up or down to set the amount of water each pot will get to 50
mL
• Click on the light bulbs to turn them on or off
•
Set up the three pots with turnip seeds in plain soil (do not add fertilizer or compost)
and 50 mL of water per day:
a. Pot A: turnip seed, three lights, 50 mL of water per day
b. Pot B: turnip seed, one light, 50 mL of water per day
c. Pot C: turnip seed, zero lights, 50 mL of water per day
•
Click Play. (
•
After 30 simulated days, click Pause (
)
).
3. Collect data: In the table below, write the height of each plant and describe how each plant
looks after 30 days.
Pot
Number of
lights
A
3
B
1
C
0
Height (cm) on
day 30
Appearance on day 30
4. Draw conclusions: Select the Data tab. Look at the graphs for Plant Height. How did the
amount of light affect the growth of plants?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
CHALLENGE!!!!
Activity B:
Get the Gizmo ready:
Design an
experiment
•
•
Click Reset.
Click Clear pots.
Question: You come up with the question! (See below.)
1. Create question: Fill in the blanks below with the variable and the type of plant you would
like to study in this activity. (Do not repeat an experiment you have already done.)
How does ___________________ affect a __________________ plant?
2. Form hypothesis: What is your hypothesis for the question above?
_________________________________________________________________________
3. Set up Gizmo: Set up the pots to test the variable you are investigating. Describe how you
set up each pot in the table below.
Pot
Type of seed
Water/day
Number of lights
Type of soil
A
B
C
4. Experiment: Click Play to start. When the simulation is done, observe the plants.
5. Collect data: Examine your plant data on the Data tab. Record your results here.
Pot
Height (cm)
Mass (g)
Appearance
A
B
C
6. Draw conclusions: What did you discover? Why do you think it happened that way?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________