UVRays

Procedures for which wavelength do plants prefer?

The Question:

How do different wavelengths of light effect plants?

Background Information.

The Fast Plants experiments have a great reputation for being inquiry-based and innovative. By getting familiar with the Fast Plants format, students may be motivated to do more. The Fast Plants web site offers additional activities for genetic studies, which are worthwhile, yet the same simple procedure. Check these out: http://fastplants.cals.wisc.edu/
This activity focuses on how light affects the germination and growth of plants. Initially, students can make observations on ambient light and get familiar with using the film cannister as a growth chamber. Then they can choose which light source they want to expose their seeds to and make further observations on the germination and growth.

Procedure.

Please see this web site for detailed directions: http://fastplants.cals.wisc.edu/pdfs/know.pdf

Assessment 1.

Use this Lab Rubric to score students' experiments.

Lab Rubric

Scores/Criteria Statement of Problem Hypothesis or Research Question Procedure Visuals of Data and Results Conclusions

1
No problem stated

None present

No procedure tries things out systematically

None

No reference to patterns and data

Clings to original idea despite contradictory evidence

2
Problem is too general or not clearly stated

No relationship stated to human health or community

Present, but not aligned with problem statement

Outlines a general procedure, but no details

Doesn't manipulate all variables clearly

Attempts to transform data in a table, chart or graph

Lacks labels and clarity

Refers to some but not all patterns and data

3
Problem is too focused and states significance

Relationship stated to either human health or community

Aligns with problem

If hypothesis, no cause and effect

Outlines a detailed procedure

Clearly states the dependent or independent variables

Tranforms data into tables, charts, or graphs

Labels clearly
Attempts to state results

Clearly states reference to patterns and data to support conclusions

4
PLUS-
Relationship stated to both human health or community

PLUS-
If hypothesis, states cause and effect

PLUS-
Clearly states results

Shows replicates
Control is identified

PLUS-
Clearly states results

Abstract and other related artifacts displayed

PLUS-
Explains weaknesses in experiment

Able to make recommendations for further study

Procedures for which wavelength do plants prefer?

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Scores/Criteria	Statement of Problem	Hypothesis or Research Question	Procedure	Visuals of Data and Results	Conclusions
1	No problem stated	None present	No procedure tries things out systematically	None	No reference to patterns and data Clings to original idea despite contradictory evidence
2	Problem is too general or not clearly stated No relationship stated to human health or community	Present, but not aligned with problem statement	Outlines a general procedure, but no details Doesn't manipulate all variables clearly	Attempts to transform data in a table, chart or graph Lacks labels and clarity	Refers to some but not all patterns and data
3	Problem is too focused and states significance Relationship stated to either human health or community	Aligns with problem If hypothesis, no cause and effect	Outlines a detailed procedure Clearly states the dependent or independent variables	Tranforms data into tables, charts, or graphs Labels clearly Attempts to state results	Clearly states reference to patterns and data to support conclusions
4	PLUS- Relationship stated to both human health or community	PLUS- If hypothesis, states cause and effect	PLUS- Clearly states results Shows replicates Control is identified	PLUS- Clearly states results Abstract and other related artifacts displayed	PLUS- Explains weaknesses in experiment Able to make recommendations for further study