Plant Growth and Adaptations

NC Standard:  1.06, 1.03


Activity: Germination and Growth

Question: How do plants germinate and grow?

Vocabulary: germinate, adaptation

Materials: zip lock sandwich bags, lima bean seeds, paper towel,water, clothesline or fence, clothespin

Background: A plant hormone, called an auxin, is responsible for the elongation of the stems in plants. When a plant is placed on its side, those hormones migrate laterally to the downward side of the stem. Because there is a concentration of the auxins on the underside of the stem, the cells there elongate, grow, and generally right themselves so that the stem turns away from the pull of gravity - a negative geotropic response.


Procedure: 

  • 1. Wet a paper towel and put it inside the zip lock baggie.

  • 2. Put the lima bean seed between the paper towel and baggie so you can see the seed.

  • 3. Zip the baggie closed and hang it on a clothesline or fence with a clothespin.

  • 4. Observe your experiment and record data.

  • 5. Three days after roots and stems begin to grow rotate the zip lock baggie 90 degrees.

  • 6. Record data.

  • 7. Wait another three days and rotate 90 degrees.

  • 8. Record data.

  • 9. Wait another three days and rotate 90 degrees.

  • 10. Record data.

  • 11. Discuss your findings with your class.

Make sure you keep the paper towel moist!!

 

Answer the following questions:

How could you tell that your plant had germinated?
How did your plant adapt to the rotation?

Conclusion: Plants growing roots and stems indicate germination. Plants try to adapt to their environment and survive.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________


Line of Learning:  This line is drawn to provide students with a space to share their experimental learning in words or pictures.
__________________________________________________________________________________________