Exploring Seed Germination Name _____________________
Regents Biology Date
_________ per __________
Lab # _____
Part 1: Exploring Seed
Germination
Getting Started
Introduction: Seeds are remarkable living things. A seed protects a plant embryo (seed part that develops into a mature plant) and prevents
it from drying out. It also stores
carbohydrates, fats, and proteins that a rapidly growing young plant uses as a
source of energy and as building blocks for growth. Given the proper environmental conditions, a
tiny embryo will germinate (emerge
from the seed and begin to grow). Many
environmental factors can affect seed germination. Seeds from different plant species require
different environmental conditions to begin to grow.
1. List at least 5 environmental factors
that you think might affect seed germination:
Regents Biology I and II Refer to your text, Biology-
Visualizing Life, p. 384, 391-392, & 404-405
2. Label the following diagram using the
terms below (p. 384).
seed coat stem roots
cotyledons leaves seedling
insert
diagram
3. Answer the following questions about
seeds.
a) What part of a seed develops into a mature plant (see introduction)?
b) How does the cotyledon help the plant embryo during
its development (p.
384)?
c) What is the job of
the seed coat (p. 384)?
d) What happens when
a seed germinates (p. 384 &
405)?
e) How is a seedling different from an embryo (p.
384 & 391)?
f) What part of the seedling emerges first when a seed germinates (p. 391)?
g)
What is the
role of a root (p. 391)?
h)
Where does
most of the photosynthesis occur in
a plant (p. 392)?
i)
What is a job
of a stem (p. 392)?
j) What is seed dormancy (p. 405)?
5. You have now gathered
some background information about germination.
Refer back to your list of factors that you initially thought might
affect seed germination (question 1, p. 1).
a)
List any
factors that you would like to remove
from the original list.
________________________________________________________________
b) List any factors
that you would like to add to
the original list.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
6. On the following
page, create a concept map of all of
the factors that you and your classmates think might affect seedling
germination. Your teacher will help to
guide you.
Exploring Seed Germination Name _____________________
Regents Biology Date _________ per __________
Lab # _____
Part 2: Exploring
Seed Germination Selecting Environmental Factor
You will be designing and conducting an experiment about seed germination. You will select an environmental factor and a type of seed to investigate. Refer to the scoring chart (rubric) which shows how your teacher will award points for this part of the project.
1.
a) List the members of your lab team
(include yourself):
_______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
b) Record the team number provided by your teacher.
Team # __________
2. Select an environmental factor that
your group would like to investigate. _________________________
3. Use a minimum of
two reference sources and gather
background information about the environmental factor that you have
selected. Record any notes and
reference information in the space below.
Be sure to include all information necessary for a bibliography.
Reference 1:
Source
(book, internet, etc.): ________________________________________
Title:
___________________________________________________________
Author:
_________________________________________________________
Additional
bibliographical information
(see library reference sheet):
Notes:
Reference 2:
Source
(book, internet, etc.): ________________________________________
Title:
___________________________________________________________
Author:
_________________________________________________________
Additional
bibliographical information
(see library reference sheet):
Notes:
4. Select an organism seed type) that your
group would like to study.
Note: The same environmental factor may have a different effect on a different species. For example, light may effect germination of one seed type, but not another.
Common
name : _________________________
Scientific
name (genus species) : _________________________
5. Obtain teacher approval.
Exploring Seed Germination Name _____________________
Regents Biology Date
_________ per __________
Lab # _____
Part 3: Exploring Seed
Germination Planning and Data Collection
Team # _______
Team Members:
_______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
1. Experimental Design:
a) Species selected:
common name
_______________________________
scientific name
_______________________________
b) environmental factor selected:
____________________________________
c)
experimental (or independent) variable:
____________________________
(note: This is the variable
that you, the scientist, selects at the start of the investigation. The control group is not exposed to this
variable.)
d)
dependent variable:
_____________________________________________
(note: This is the variable that you, the
scientist, measures at the end of (or during) the investigation. Most students will use % germinated or time to 50% germination as the dependent
variable. You may need to take data over
different time periods and make a separate column in the data table for each
different set of readings. Each
different column may need a separate line graph.
e) sample size (# of seeds in experimental group
and control group): _________
f) Hypothesis: (This must include how a change in the independent
variable will affect the dependent variable for a single plant species.)
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
a) List
at least 4 conditions that will be kept the same
for the experimental group and control group.
_______________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________
b)
Draw a picture of your
experimental design: Include as much detail as possible.
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Control Group |
Experimental Group |
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2. Materials: List all of the
supplies and & equipment needed to perform this experiment) Please include quantities whenever
appropriate.
3. Procedure: List the steps
needed to duplicate this experiment.
Please add numbering for the steps.
4. Data Table: (Complete table in pencil). You may choose to design your own table and
not use this one. Set it up and complete
it on a separate sheet of paper and attach it to this packet.
Date
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Control Group
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Experimental Group
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Additional Observations/Notes
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5. Observations: Identify any problems that you had
or any unusual or unexpected observations that you made.
6. Make a line graph of your data. Be sure the label the axis and write an
appropriate title on your graph. If
necessary, include a key. Create your
graph on a sheet of graph paper and attach it to this packet.
7. Conclusion: Restate your
hypothesis. Was it supported or
rejected?
Exploring Seed Germination Name____________________
Regents
Biology Per______
Date____________
Peer Evaluation Sheet
Characteristic |
Rating
(circle one number) |
Team # ________
|
|
|
Hypothesis is clear
and makes sense |
1 2 3 4 - 5 |
|
Experiment is
clearly described & explained |
1 2 3 4 - 5 |
|
Conclusion relates
to hypothesis |
1 2 3 4 - 5 |
|
Poster is well
organized and easy to understand |
1 2 3 4 - 5 |
|
Poster is complete
and detailed |
1 2 3 4 - 5 |
|
Poster is neat and
attractive |
1 2 3 4 - 5 |
What did you learn about
seed germination from this experiment?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Characteristic |
Rating
(circle one number) |
Team # ________
|
|
|
Hypothesis is clear
and makes sense |
1 2 3 4 - 5 |
|
Experiment is
clearly described & explained |
1 2 3 4 - 5 |
|
Conclusion relates
to hypothesis |
1 2 3 4 - 5 |
|
Poster is well
organized and easy to understand |
1 2 3 4 - 5 |
|
Poster is complete
and detailed |
1 2 3 4 - 5 |
|
Poster is neat and
attractive |
1 2 3 4 - 5 |
What did you learn
about seed germination from this experiment?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Overview:
Take a survey of all
team projects in the class and complete the table below.
|
Environmental
factors that did affect seed germination (for a
particular type of seed) |
Environmental
factors that did not affect seed germination (for a
particular type of seed) |
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Factor |
Seed Type |
Factor |
Seed Type |
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