Virtual Garden Lab Instructions

Virtual Garden Lab Instructions

Title: Virtual Garden Lab

Objectives:

After doing this lab, you should be able to

Identify patterns in plant growth under varying conditions: such as sunlight, gravity, water, and soil pH.

Predict outcomes of plant growth under multiple parameters.

Materials:

Virtual Garden Simulation from lesson

Lap Report Form

Hypothesis:

(See procedures, part 3 for guidance on creating your hypothesis)

Procedures:

This is your chance to plant your own virtual garden. Don’t worry about making mistakes. You’ll have many chances to start over and try new conditions for optimum plant growth.

Note:

Read all the instructions for this lab before you begin working! Pre-reading the procedure will give you a mental picture of what you will be doing and a better understanding of the process.

Part 1: Place Your Seeds

Let’s plant your garden!

Design your garden by picking the rows you would like for each flower. Pay careful attention to the flower descriptions that appear when you roll over your choices. Each flower species prefers different conditions. Sunlight and soil acidity are important to plant placement and optimal growth.

Select each plant type and place it in the row of your choice. (Only one flower type can occupy each row.)

Place the name of each of your flowers under its assigned row in the Virtual Garden Observation Data Chart A and B.

Part 2: Germination

Set the water level for germination. Make sure you pick a level that will benefit all plant seeds and bulbs. Too much water can stifle seeds but too little water will prevent germination completely.

Select the water button and observe the steps of seed germination.

Record your observations for each plant in the Virtual Garden Observation Data Chart A for each of the nine days of germination. Identify each plant type as either monocot or dicot.

Part 3: Plant Growth

Let’s watch your virtual plants grow!

Before you begin this section, predict what water level and which soil pH will growthe healthiest garden. Place this prediction in the hypothesis section of this lab report.

Watering:

Select the water button.

The next screen will provide instructions and an example of a healthy plant. This example will allow you to compare your plants to the one shown once their growth is complete.

Set a water level that will benefit all plants. Review the water requirements for each plant by rolling over the picture.

Select the grow button and watch your plants develop during the six-week period. Record your observations in Virtual Garden Observation Data Chart B. Note in your observations the plants that look healthy and those that do not. You may move the slide ruler left or right on the time scale to watch growth again.

Select the measure button at the top of the screen at the end of the six-week growth period. Record the height of each of your plants in Virtual Garden Observation Data Chart B.

Select the back button. This will return you to the other variables. If you wish, you may repeat the watering section again to find a water level for optimum plant growth.

Soil pH:

Select the pH button.

The next screen will provide instructions and an example of a healthy plant. This example will allow you to compare your plants to the one shown once their growth is complete.

Set a pH level high or low based on plant descriptions. Review the pH requirements for each plant by rolling over the picture.

Select the grow button and watch your plants develop during the six-week period. Record your observations in Virtual Garden Observation Data Chart C. Note in your observations the plants that look healthy and those that do not. You may move the slide ruler left or right on the time scale to watch growth again.

Select the measure button at the end of the six-week growth period. Record the height of each of your plants in Virtual Garden Observation Data Chart C.

Select the back button. This will return you to the other variables. If you wish, you may repeat the pH section again to find a pH level for optimum plant growth. If you picked high pH for the first trial, pick low pH for the second trial to compare growth patterns.

Gravity:

Select the gravity button. Turn gravity off.

Select the grow button and watch your plants develop during the six-week period. Record your observations in Virtual Garden Observation Data Chart D. Note in your observations the plants that look healthy and those that do not. You may move the slide ruler left or right on the time scale to watch growth again.

Select the measure button at the end of the six-week growth period. Record the height of each of your plants in Virtual Garden Observation Data Chart D.

Select the back button. This will return you to the other variables. If you wish, you may repeat the gravity section again this time with the gravity on for comparision.

Part 4: Analysis and Conclusion

Using your data charts, answer the analysis questions.

Complete the conclusion question.

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