Lab: Root View
JT Challenge Name: Root View
- Watch both videos as a squad, then answer the question(s) at your level.
Science Senses: Observing a Carrot - Science for Kids!
How Do We Know What's Alive? - Biology for Teens!
Level 1:
List or draw the 5 senses that scientists use to observe the world.
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2.
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5.
Level 2:
List 5 of the 7 criteria for determining if something is alive. You can use your own words.
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2.
3.
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5.
- Check your answers with the key. Figure out anything you got wrong and change it.
- Ask your squad leader to sign you off.
Squad Leader Signature _____________________________________
Experiment below from the book: Mason Jar Science by Jonathan Adolph
Root View: Introduction
Gardeners get a kick out of seeing their seedlings pop up each spring. But before those little green shoots can make their appearance, the seeds have to do something even more amazing. Buried in the ground, out of sight, they come to life through the process known as germination. Put some seeds in a mason jar filled with moist napkins, and you can see it all unfold before your eyes
Roles
Assign roles for this experiment. So that everyone has a chance to grow and contribute in different ways, never have the same hero do the same role two experiments in a row. On the lines, neatly write squad members’ names by the role they will do for this experiment.
Recorder/Supplier: ____________________________
(this person does any writing or labeling needed during the experiment and gets any needed supplies from the table and makes sure all supplies are cleaned and returned at the end)
Scientist #1: _____________________________
Scientist #2: __________________________
Scientist #3: __________________________
Materials
Recorder/Supplier: Get your supplies from the table. Check off each of these items as you verify that you have it or have access to it. If you don’t have one or more of these items, talk to a guide.
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Prep Work
Recorder/Supplier: Label the next five days of school on the chart below (the first day is labeled for you). Each day at school, write and draw some observations of what you are noticing in your jar. You can also ask any of the scientists to assist with recording observations.
| Wednesday
(after 1 day) |
_________
(after 2 days) |
_________
(after 6 days) |
_________
(after 7 days) |
_________
(after 8 days) | |
| Observations |
Instructions
Scientist #1:
- Line the inside of the jar with colored paper napkins (the colored napkins provide a darker background for viewing the roots). Ball up a dozen or so regular white paper towels and stuff them into the middle of the jar. See picture (you can’t see the white paper towels because they are in the middle).
Scientist #2:
- Add enough water to soak the paper towels. They should be evenly moist, with a small puddle of water at the bottom of the jar.
Scientist #3:
- Using a craft stick as a tool, tuck the four seeds between the colored napkins and the side of the jar, about halfway up, spaced evenly around the jar. The pressure from the wadded up paper towels should hold the seeds in place.
Supplier/Recorder:
- Label the lid of your jar with your squad name. Cover the jar with the lid and place it on one of the heat mats on the experiment shelf.
All Squad Members:
- Observe the jar for the next few days, recording written and drawn observations on your chart each time. You can roll the jar on its side from time to time to moisten the seeds and add water if the towels dry out.
Clean Up
Supplier/Recorder: If your paper towels are getting moldy or your jar smells when you open it, throw away the contents and wash and dry the jar. If it doesn’t smell and you want to keep observing it, keep it in a safe space, continue observing it and writing down your observations, then discard it.
Squad Huddle
0 = didn’t participate at all
1 = did an okay job
2 = stayed engaged the whole time and fulfilled their role
Decide together how each squad member contributed (or didn’t) and enter their points on the table below.
| Squad Member’s Name | Points for this Experiment |
