Name:
The Martian Plant Growth Experiment
For this activity, you will be attempting to grow a potato in a closed system, just like Mark Watney did on
Mars! (A closed system means it must be air-tight and have water cycle on its own).
Part I: Research on terrariums and potatoes.
After searching online, please write down some basics for creating a terrarium.
Are there any special requirements for growing potatoes?
Part II: Design
Describe the design of your terrarium (include a drawing) and list the supplies that you will need.
Part III: The Experiment
After putting your terrarium together, you will check in on it every day that we have class. Describe what
it looks like, note if it has any growth of the plant or a mold developing. Include drawings.
Observation 1:
Observation 2:
Observation 3:
Observation 4:
Observation 5:
Observation 6:
Observation 7:
Observation 8:
Part IV: Conclusions
Did your potato grow? If yes, explain why your design worked. If not, explain why you think it didn’t
grow.
Was your terrarium air-tight? Did it keep the water you put in initially in, or did it dry out? Why?
What would you change if you had to do the experiment again, and why?
Would your design work on Mars? Why or why not?
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Teacher Notes
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You can alter this to fit your classroom in any way.
I told my students that I would provide potting soil, potatoes, water, and basic supplies such as
scissors, tape and glue. They would have to bring the rest of the supplies that they want for their
project. Something as simple as a 2 liter pop bottle can be used, but some students will want to
go all out and I like to give them the freedom to do so.
You will want to pick up the potatoes a couple weeks earlier than when you plan to start the
project so that they will have a chance to sprout.
This document is set up for a block schedule. If you have class daily, you may want to reword the
observations page to say every other day, or every 2 days.
Other plants besides potatoes can be tried; pinto beans grow very quickly from seed and may be
easier to work with.