One of our earliest science investigations for Unit 2 explored the idea of plant growth, specifically, answering the question: Why do trees grow so tall?
Students learned that plants naturally gravitate towards the light because they need it to survive. After planting two identical seeds, one in the sunlight and one in a dark closet, students were surprised to see that the one in the dark closet did not grow leaves, turned slightly yellow, and grew the tallest, but then died shortly thereafter.
The one in the sunlight was shorter, however it grew wide, green leaves. Students could then deduct that the reason for this was because the plant in the darkness was groping (and hoping) to find sunlight, thus it kept reaching up, much like trees in a shaded forest do.
As an adaptation, when plants or trees become outgrown by other larger plants/trees around them, they shoot up to find the sunlight they desperately need to survive.
We also explored the idea that roots always seem to grown in a downward direction. Why is that? Are they looking for dirt, just as the top of the plant searches for sunlight? Would they know if we turned them a different direction? Would their roots actually move?
To find out the answer to these questions, we are conducting an experiment.
First, we planted radish seeds and placed them in the window. After only one day, the seed coat fell off and the seed began to grow a tiny root. Soon, root hairs were visible, then finally leaves grew. Now, the question is, what will happen to the roots when we turn our plant bags sideways?
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| This is the largest tree in the world. It's located in California and named Hyperion. The tree was discovered in 2006, and is 379.7 feet (115.7 m) tall. |
The one in the sunlight was shorter, however it grew wide, green leaves. Students could then deduct that the reason for this was because the plant in the darkness was groping (and hoping) to find sunlight, thus it kept reaching up, much like trees in a shaded forest do.
As an adaptation, when plants or trees become outgrown by other larger plants/trees around them, they shoot up to find the sunlight they desperately need to survive.
We also explored the idea that roots always seem to grown in a downward direction. Why is that? Are they looking for dirt, just as the top of the plant searches for sunlight? Would they know if we turned them a different direction? Would their roots actually move?
To find out the answer to these questions, we are conducting an experiment.
First, we planted radish seeds and placed them in the window. After only one day, the seed coat fell off and the seed began to grow a tiny root. Soon, root hairs were visible, then finally leaves grew. Now, the question is, what will happen to the roots when we turn our plant bags sideways?
Stay tuned!!
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| PS. How does that tree compare Big Ben and other famous trees? |
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