Biology A. Structure and Function of Biological Molecules Student Project Student Name: ________________ The Salt Assault! Biology PROJECT TASK The student will design, conduct, and evaluate an investigation to identify factors that affect the transport of materials in unicellular and multicellular organisms. DIRECTIONS 1. Read the scenario. 2. Read through the Project Steps. 3. Review the categories in the Project Scoring Criteria and discuss this information with the Project Monitor. 4. Determine a timeline for completing the project with your Project Monitor. The Project Monitor and student will specify dates for each CHECK POINT listed in the Project Steps. After the Project Monitor and student meet on the specified date, both must initial the CHECK POINT. 5. Complete the Project Steps. 6. Submit all completed project documents to your Project Monitor by the agreed upon due date. PROJECT COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS A completed project must include the components listed below. 1. Answerable scientific question 2. Testable hypothesis 3. List of materials 4. Independent and dependent variables clearly identified 5. Lab procedure 6. Data Table 7. Evidence that the laboratory investigation was conducted by the student ● Data and observations obtained during the laboratory investigation ● Electronic image of the laboratory setup 8. Graph of data (if appropriate) 9. Analysis of data supported by evidence from investigation 10. Research summary and references 11. Summary and conclusion statements 12. Confirmation, modification, or rejection of hypothesis SCENARIO During the winter, trucks salt the roads to prevent them from freezing. As you are driving down such a road you notice that all the plants along the side of the road are dead. You assume that since snow is frozen water that plants would be thriving with such an abundant source of water. You wonder if salt has something to do with the roots not bringing in enough water for the plants to live. PROJECT STEPS 1. Pose a meaningful, answerable scientific question related to this scenario. (See Category 1 in the Scoring Criteria) 2. Write a testable hypothesis related to the question (See Category 1 in the Scoring Criteria) CHECK POINT Date _____________ Student/Monitor Initials ________/________ 3. Select the appropriate materials needed for your investigation from the list below. Some of these materials may not be appropriate for your investigation, and you may add to the list. Include this list in your lab write up. (See Category 1 in the Scoring Criteria) Materials Triple Beam Balance Potato / other plant source NaCl solutions(3 concentrations) cork borer forceps Goggles Graduated Cylinder Plastic pipettes beakers plastic knife Distilled water Aprons gloves ruler 4. Identify and explain the following for your investigation: ● Independent variable ● Dependent variable ● Factors to be controlled during this investigation ● Safety precautions and equipment ● Possible sources of error (See Category 1 and Category 2 in the Scoring Criteria) 5. Write a procedure for your proposed investigation. Be sure to include how you will measure the affect of the salt solutions on plants. (See Category 1, Category 2, Category 3, and Category 4 in the Scoring Criteria) 6. Design a table for the data you will collect in the investigation and include the table in you lab write up. (See Category 2 and Category 3 in the Scoring Criteria) CHECK POINT Date _____________ Student/Monitor Initials ________/________ 7. Conduct the investigation. Be sure to record all numerical data and any other observations in the data table and include this data in your lab write up. CHECK POINT Date _____________ Student/Monitor Initials ________/________ 8. If appropriate, construct a graph of the data collected in your investigation, either by hand or electronically. The graph must be included in your lab write up. (See Category 2 and Category 3 in the Scoring Criteria) 9. Analyze the data in your table and graph to explain the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. (See Category 2, Category 3, Category 4, and Category 5 in the Scoring Criteria) 10. Research information related to water transport and mineral transport to answer the question(s), "How do water and minerals enter plants?" "How does the concentration of minerals affect the transport of water into plants?" Read and interrupt Technical Reading passage (see attachment). Cite at least three (3) references and summarize the relevant information from each reference. These may be Internet-based or print references, or a taped interview with a scientist working in the field. (See Category 1, Category 3, and Category 5 in the Scoring Criteria) Some websites to help you are: ● http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/waterproperties.html ● http://www.uni.edu/~iowawet/H2OProperties.html ● http://www.biology4kids.com/files/plants_xylemphloem.html ● http://www.biologycorner.com/bio1/diffusion.html ● http://biology.arizona.edu/sciconn/lessons/mccandless/reading.html ● http://www.northland.cc.mn.us/biology/Biology1111/animations/transport1.html ● http://www.tvdsb.on.ca/westmin/science/sbi3a1/Cells/Osmosis.htm ● http://www.biologyjunction.com/ap_lab1_osmosis_sample4.htm 11. Summarize this investigation by explaining: (See Research Information Sheet) ● Properties of water ● The structures that water moves through in plants ● Mechanism of water transport in plants ● Mechanism of mineral transport in plants ● The role of water in the chemical processes of plants (See Category 3 and Category 5 in the Scoring Criteria) 12. Use your data to confirm, modify, or reject your hypothesis from Step 3. (See Category 2 and Category 3 in the Scoring Criteria) FINAL CHECK POINT Date __________ Student/Monitor Initials ________/________
