Factors affecting growth - Woolly Sheep and Eggshell Person

Glenholme Primary

Year 5 & 6, 2007

Making Grass Pets - Woolly Sheep and Eggshell Person

• Which type of seed will make the best grass pets? Seed to be used known to students only as Seed A and Seed B (grass and cress seed)

• Which medium will be the best for growing a woolly sheep - cotton wool or potting mix?

Demo of what is expected in investigations as trying to ensure fair testing

Model investigations which students can then complete. Use the scientific method to test both seed types and growing medium as students make grass pets.

Hypothesis

Hypothesis: I think that seed type..... will make the best grass pets because........

Investigation

Method:

1. Cover desks with newspaper

2. Collect 4 eggshells, egg carton, potting mix, spoon and seed per table.
3. Draw faces on eggshell with vivid

4. Spoon in potting mix into eggshell, then add seed, cover seed with soil, add one spoonful of water and leave to grow.

5.Cover grass pets with gladwrap for first few days.

6. Add up to one spoonful of water each day.

7. Keep a record each day of observations and decide on how to measure growth.

8. Care for grass pets until roots break through shells.

Class to work in pairs and make their eggshell pet.

Demo how to make a woolly sheep out of a potato. Let's set up another investigation as a fair test. See what medium works best for seed - cotton wool or potting mix. Scoop out potato, add legs from ice block sticks and make face. Write name on underside.

Start observation record for eggshell person and woolly sheet experiments. Show students how to set up and record day 1 and 2. Care for pets in class over the next few weeks. Think about where to place them.

Class Brainstorm:

Time to research (links to relevant websites and articles provided) then brainstorm the following:

What are some factors that affect the growth of plants?

Given our three key understandings use question matrix re other questions that would be interesting to investigate.

Homework Task

Today you have been given a seed to grow and look after for five weeks. There are containers and potting mix available in the classroom that you can use.

Which student can turn their seed into the biggest and healthiest plant over the next 5 weeks.

Take your seed home and think about factors that might affect the growth of the seed.

What should you do to it before you plant it?

Where should you keep it?

What should you feed it?

What other things might help it to grow big, strong and healthy?

Seed issued - broad bean seed - but students not told what it was.