📖

Setting Up the Experiment

Independent Investigation: Plants

Day 152of 180
Week 31of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand how to set up a fair scientific experiment

2

Learn to identify and control variables in plant growth investigation

3

Develop curiosity about how plants grow and change

📖 Scripture Connection

Genesis 1:11

“God said, 'Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit according to their kind, with seed in them, on the earth.' And it was so.”

— Genesis 1:11 (WEB)

This verse highlights God's design in plant growth and reproduction, connecting our scientific investigation to divine creation

📦 Materials Needed

  • 3-4 identical small plant pots
  • Potting soil
  • Seeds (bean or sunflower)
  • Measuring cup
  • Watering can or spray bottle
  • Observation journal
  • Pencil
  • BibleMouse Science Observation Sheet
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

Remind students about yesterday's lesson on forming a hypothesis. Discuss how scientists carefully plan experiments.

💭 Review Question: What question did we want to answer about plant growth?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explain the importance of a 'fair test' in scientific experiments. Show how changing only one variable helps us understand cause and effect.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • What makes a good scientific experiment?
  • How do we keep our experiment fair?
  • Why do we change only one thing at a time?
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What might happen if we change multiple things in our experiment?
  • How can we make sure our experiment helps us learn something new?
3Activity: Plant Growth Fair Test Setup (12 min)
hands-on

Students will set up an experiment to test one variable in plant growth

📝 Instructions:
  1. Label 3-4 pots with different conditions (e.g., different amounts of water)
  2. Fill each pot with the same amount of soil
  3. Plant the same number of seeds in each pot
  4. Decide which variable to change (water amount, light, etc.)
  5. Record initial observations in BibleMouse Science Journal
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use fewer pots and focus on one simple variable

Challenge: Add more complex variables like soil type or fertilizer

4Closing (3 min)

Review experiment setup and discuss expectations

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did we do today?
  • What variable are we testing?

Coming up: Tomorrow we will begin daily observations of our plant experiment

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Second graders are learning to think systematically about scientific investigations

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Help child focus on changing only ONE variable
  • Encourage careful, daily observations
  • Make this a fun, exploratory experience
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might want to change multiple things at once

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Careful labeling, consistent approach, curiosity about results

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a decorative science journal cover
  • Draw predicted plant growth chart
  • Sing BibleMouse plant growth song

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 153 →Back to Science