Name: _____________________________________________ Date: ______________ Period: _____________
Fascinating Fact!
Israeli Scientists have been able to grow a date palm seed
that is the oldest known seed. It was 2,000 years old!
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/11/1122
_051122_old_seed.html
Materials:
Paper towels
Scales
Water
Masking tape
Rulers
Pea seeds
Baggies
Marker
Step 1:
Observe your pea seeds. Record your qualitative observations in this table (color, shape, texture, etc).
Table 1: Qualitative Observations of pea seeds before soaking
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Step 2:
Use the measuring devices (rulers and scales) to find the quantitative observations. Record your observations
in this table. Using the above title as an example, write a title for this table.
Table 2: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Number of
seeds
Total Mass of ALL
seeds (g)
The MEAN or Average
Mass of seed (TOTAL
Mass / number of seeds)
Diameter of each seed
(mm)
The MEAN or Average
Diameter of seed (mm)
Seed 1: _________
Seed 2: _________
Seed 3: _________
Seed 4: _________
Seed 5: _________
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How do you know something is alive?
Write a few characteristics of life in the chart below, INCLUDE an example for each characteristic.
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What could we change about the environment of the seed to see if they show characteristics
of life?
Make some inferences. What could you do to change the environment? Record your thoughts in the box below.
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*OUR PROBLEM: What are the effects of ______________________ on _______________________.
What do you know about seeds? Use your previous knowledge, what we recorded earlier in class, and your partner’s
knowledge as your “gather information”.
Step 3: Hypothesis
Write a hypothesis.
*IF a seed is alive, THEN _______________________________________, BECAUSE that is a
characteristic of living organisms.
Step 4: Experiment
1. One member of your group should tear off a piece of masking tape. Write your group number on the
tape and your class period. Place this piece of tape on the baggie at your table.
2. In the front of the classroom is the CONTROL GROUP. This baggie contains 5 seeds, but no water is
added to the bag.
3. Measure a paper towel that is 30 cm long. Tear it off from the roll.
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4. Using the faucets at your lab station, make the entire paper towel dripping wet. (there should be drips
coming off of the paper towel) ***PLEASE PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE SINK TO USE THE WATER. NEVER
TAKE THE HOSES OUT OF THE SINK.***
5. Take the five (5) seeds and place them on the wet paper towel. Fold the paper towel over the seeds,
and place the seeds/towel in the baggie.
6. Bring the baggie up to your teacher, who will store them until our next class.
*GATHER AND RECORD YOUR DATA:
OBSERVE YOUR SEEDS using your senses. Record your information below. Don’t forget to title this table.
Table 3: _________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Table 4: _________________________________________________________________________
Number of
seeds
Total Mass of ALL
seeds (g)
The MEAN or Average
Mass of seed (TOTAL
Mass / number of seeds)
Diameter of each seed
(mm)
The Mean or Average
Diameter of seed (mm)
Seed 1: _________
Seed 2: _________
Seed 3: _________
Seed 4: _________
Seed 5: _________
Identify the following:
Control group: _______________________________________________
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Independent variable: _________________________________________
Dependent: ________________________________________________
Two things that scientists KNOW about living things:
 ALL LIVING THINGS ARE MADE OF CELLS
 LIVING CELLS COME FROM OTHER LIVING CELLS.
If any new structures have formed from your seeds, these new structures will be made of cells (IF the
original seed is made of cells).
A plant cell looks like a “block” or a “brick”
under the microscope. Inside this cell are all of the
parts or machinery that keep the cell alive. When these parts die, so does the cell.
*There are microscopes set up in front of the classroom, please come up to the front to view a specimen in
the microscope, observe and draw a picture what you see in the field of view below (circle).
STEP 5: ANALYZE DATA AND CONCLUSIONS (Written in complete sentences)
1. What did you observe or measure about the pea seeds before conducting the experiment?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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2. Does the data you gathered during the experiment SUPPORT or DISPROVE your hypothesis? Why or
why not?
____________________________________________________________________________________
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3. Support the statement you made in question 4 above, with evidence from your experiment: What
characteristics of life (if any) did the peas show (i.e. ARE SEEDS ALIVE)? List your qualitative and/or
quantitative data to support this. (Be specific as to what you saw/measured/etc.) EXAMPLE: The mass
of the seeds increased by .5 grams, which indicated that they grew.
____________________________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________________________
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4. The seed you put in the paper towel did not receive any light, however, it still began to grow
(germinate). Why does an adult plant need light to grow, but a seed does not? Explain your answer.
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