Experiment #3:

Let The Sun Shine In

 

1.                  Display two healthy green plants.  Have children compare the plants to determine that they are alike and are growing well.

2.                Tell children that you are going to conduct an experiment to see if plants need light to grow.

3.                Place one plant in the sunlight.  Label it “Light.”  Tell children that you will leave it there for a few weeks.  Water it as needed.

4.                Place the other plant in a closet or cupboard.  Label it “No Light.”  Explain that you will leave it without light for a few weeks.  Water it as needed.

5.                Ask students to predict what will happen to each of the plants.  Have students complete the Science Experiment Form.  Help students fill in the sheet to tell about the experiment.

6.                After a week or more, compare the two plants.  Discuss the experiment and the results.  What happened?  (The plant in the sunlight grew.  The plant without sunlight became spindly and weak and lost its green color.)  Why was it important to water both plants?  (To make sure that any difference between them was only because of the different amounts of light they received.)

7.                Have children record their results on their Experiment Form.