Botany is the study of how plants grow and interact with their surroundings, from flowers to trees to crops. Through studying botany, we can understand the vital role of plants in ecosystems and learn how to care for them effectively.

The following experiments with plants can be used progressively through the plant units in the K-6 science curriculum. They are all based upon growing seeds in a sterilized baby food or Snapple ® jar filled with 3/4 inch of unflavored gelatin to which a few drops of liquid house plant fertilizer has been added for nutrients.

You might expect that seeds need light to grow. But do they actually need it to sprout? You place radish seeds on gelatin inside two clean jars. One jar stays open to indirect sunlight. The other gets wrapped in aluminum foil to block all light.

You set both jars side by side at room temperature and check them each day. Radish seeds sprout in less than 24 hours. You compare how quickly each jar germinates and how tall the stems grow.


Purpose:
What is the effect of light and dark on seed germination?

K-6


Materials:

unflavored gelatin (such as Knox Unflavored Gelatine ®) 3% hydrogen peroxide
(usual strength right from the bottle),91% isopropyl alcohol

liquid house plant food (such as Miracle-Gro ®),disinfecting hand soap

household disinfectant

tap water

seeds (such as radish, mung bean, lima bean, green bean, alfalfa, and corn)

clear, tall jars with lids (baby food, Snapple ® or other taller jars)

2 or 4 cup measuring cup

forceps or tweezers

spoon, glass rod, or other stirring instrument

transparent tape

aluminum foil



 Experiment:

1. Clean 6 or 8 baby food or Snapple ® jars. For this quick setup you can wash
jars and lids by hand with soap and water. Then swirl 91% alcohol around in the
jar and wipe jar and lid with a clean, alcohol moistened paper towel. Let jar
air dry upside down on the lid. You may get some microbial contamination, but
you will also see how quickly you will get results with the seeds.

2. Mix 2 packages of gelatin with 1 1/2 cups of water in a 2 cup measuring cup
and microwave it for 30 seconds after it starts to boil.

3. Let cool slightly and swirl the measuring cup to finish mixing.

4. Pour gelatin into 6 or 8 jars to a level of about 3/4 inch.

5. Add 3 drops of liquid fertilizer to each jar and swirl to mix it.

6. The gelatin will set up at room temperature in about 6 hours or overnight.

7. Disinfect radish seeds in 3% hydrogen peroxide for 15 minutes and place on
the gelatin with forceps rinsed with alcohol.

8. Remember to open the jars only briefly for each seed as described earlier.

Seeds will germinate in less than 24 hours and stems will grow 1 inch in 2 or 3
days at a warm room temperature. 


9. Set up 2 jars with 6 seeds each on the gelatin.
    
10. Wrap 1 jar in aluminum foil but do not cover the lid with foil so air can be
    exchanged.
    
11. Do not wrap the other jar.
    
12. Place them side by side where they will have a warm temperature and indirect
    sunlight.
    
13. Check them each day to compare how and when they germinate. Make a chart to
    write in the daily observations or draw a picture. Radishes (and most of the
    other seeds listed) germinatein less than 24 hours so they will get results
    very quickly.

Once they have determined whether or not light is necessary for germination,
they can continue to make observations for several days to see if the new plant
needs light to continue to grow and make food. They should make daily
observations of leaf color as well as stem length in each jar every day. Then
record the results and take an average. They can make a graph of the data, Y=
height of stem and X= number of days.

Results:

Seeds germinated in the light and in the dark. The stems in the dark grew the tallest. The leaves in the light were more green.

Conclusion:

The seeds can germinate both in the light and in the dark. The plants in the dark are looking for light so they grew taller. The leaves in the light photosynthesize so they were more green.



Light vs. Dark and Seed Germination

Light and dark on seed germination

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Biology is the study of living things and how they work. It helps us understand how plants and animals grow and develop, how they interact with each other and their environment, and how we can take care of them. By studying biology, we can learn about the amazing diversity of life on Earth and how we are all connected.

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Light vs. Dark and Seed Germination

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