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Performance Task:
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Your task is to view some seeds, select one type to
plant, and carry out an experiment to learn more about the growth of plants from seeds.
Your teacher will give you several different seeds. In groups of three or
four students, examine, compare and contrast your seeds. Note as many characteristics as you can; e.g.
color, shape, etc. In your science
journal, make a list of your seeds and tell how they are alike and how they
are different.
Draw a picture of each type of seed. In your small groups, discuss what makes plants grow. Discuss what you
think would happen to plants under different growing conditions. As a group, select one type of seed to
plant and carry out the following experiment.
EXPERIMENT:
- Prepare a soil mix as directed by your teacher.
- Place the soil mix in three flower pots.
- Plant three to five seeds in each flower pot.
- Place one pot in a spot that will not receive any sunlight. Label this
plant A.
- Place the other two pots in a spot where they will get some sunlight
each day. Label these plant B and plant C.
- Water plants A and plant B each day that you are in school. Do not water
plant C at all.
- Observe your flower pots each day until the plants emerge from the soil.
Note the number of days it took your plant to germinate.
- Observe your plants every few days. Measure their heights and observe
how they look.
- Record the height in a table in your science journal and write a brief
description of your plants. Draw a picture of your plants each time you make an entry in your
journal.
- Continue your observations for several weeks.
At the conclusion of the experiment, compare and contrast the three pots
that you planted. Write a brief summary of your experiment. State any conclusions that you can draw. Pull
out one plant from each pot (if any grew) and draw a picture of each. Include in your pictures the roots,
stem, leaf and flowers (if any) of your plants. Write in your journal a brief summary of what you learned from doing this
experiment and tell how plants grow from seeds. Discuss what you think are the best growing conditions for
plants.
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Knowledge / Skills:
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Know and apply the principles of scientific
inquiry. (s114)
Know the structure and functions of roots,
stems, and leaves. (s11)
Use writing as a tool for learning in formats
such as learning logs, laboratory reports, note-taking, and journals. (ela40)
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Rubric:
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Rate each of
the following criteria on a scale of 4 to 1, where
4 = excellent quality of
work,
3 = average
quality of work,
2 = minimum quality of work,
1 = unsatisfactory or
incomplete, needs improvement.
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CRITERIA |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
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Independence of Work |
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Cooperation with Other |
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Members of Group |
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Journal Entry Comparing and Contrasting Seeds |
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Execution of Experiment |
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Journal Entry Discussing |
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Outcome of Experiment |
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Understanding of Conditions that Affect Plant Growth |
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Communication of Ideas |
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