| Explore | Before our experiment, we didn't know a whole lot about plants besides that they go through photosynthesis. Through background research, we have learned that plants play an ecological role in agroecosystems. Beyond this, plans play important roles in the production of food, recycling of nutrients, they regulate microclimates and they detoxify noxious chemicals. |
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| Research Question | We decided to test if plants grow better in a biodiverse culture or if they grow better in a monoculture. |
| Predictions | Before our experiment, our hypothesis was... |
| Experimental Design | Our plan was to set up three trials with three seeds. We used Pearl Millet, Peas, and Nasturtium. First, we germinated the seeds for about a week. After they germinated, we planted each specie in their own pot, along with planting all three species together in one pot. Over the course of 22 days, we observed the height and leaf sizes of all of the plants and compared the monocultures to the biodiverse culture. Our constants were the size of the pots, the type of soil, amount of water, and the amount of sunlight. We recorded all of the data we collected in our lab journal. |
| Investigation Theme | WOS |
| Grade Level | High School Students (Grades 9,10,11,12) |
| Session | Spring 2019 |
| About this Project | The effort and dedication demonstrated by this student group is what makes this a star project. They spend a great deal of time doing background research and communicating with their mentor prior to setting up their experiment. They were detailed in collecting data in a consistent manner without needing reminders. This team of students spent a great deal of time planning their experiment. They used scientific journals and communication with their mentor to have a detailed plan together prior to set up. They researched topics such as biodiversity and ecosystems. Throughout their project, they took detailed notes and measurements without needing reminders. They had a mix of both quantitative and qualitative data. They were diligent in recording data in their science notebook. In addition to being organized, these students used their mentor as a resource on a regular basis. |