Teaching Children Science: A Project-Based Approach, 2/e

Joe Krajcik, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Charlene Czerniak, University of Toledo
Carl Berger, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

How Are Scientific Investigations Developed?

SPROUTING BEAN PLANTS

Materials Needed:


1		What follows is a scenario that describes an experiment that a group of students performed to study the influence of temperature on the sprouting of seeds. Read the scenario carefully. Heather, Michael, and Jackie wonder how temperature influences the sprouting of bean plants. They decide to modify a technique they used earlier in the school year. First, they will soak some kidney beans overnight. The next day, they will place moistened paper towels into two reclosable baggies. Then they will place five soaked kidney beans and a thermometer in each of the baggies. They will set one of the baggies on top of a heating pad on the window sill and the other baggie just on the window sill. Each day they will observe the beans in each bag, record the temperature of each bag, and moisten the paper toweling.



2		What are the independent and dependent variables in this experiment? What variables are being controlled?



3		Is the procedure complete? What is missing from the procedure? What else, if anything, might influence the sprouting of the bean seeds?



4		What are other pluses and negatives of Heather's, Michael's, and Jackie's plan and design?



5		How might you modify the design to better determine the influence of temperature on bean plants?



6		Record your ideas in your portfolio.

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