Eighth Grade, Plant Biology Projects, Lessons, Activities (Page 2)

Plants on the Move! Experiments with Phototropism

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Plants move—not very quickly compared to animals, but they do move. Their roots grow downward in response to gravity, and their stems grow upward toward the Sun. In this plant biology science fair project, you will investigate how young plants respond through movement to light. Read more

Study Photosynthesis with the Floating Leaf Disk Assay

Lesson Plan Grade: 6th-8th

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Plants carry out photosynthesis to produce sugars that they need as an energy source to live and grow. During photosynthesis, oxygen—a gas that many living beings need to survive—is released. This makes photosynthesis one of the most important biological processes on Earth. In Part 1 of this lesson plan, students will utilize the floating leaf disk assay to demonstrate the production of oxygen gas during photosynthesis. They will then continue to design and conduct their own… Read more

NGSS Performance Expectations:

MS-LS1-6. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms.

Upcycle Paper Products into Plantable Seed Paper

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Do you ever have notebooks and papers left over from the school year? Do you recycle them? What if you could use them to start your garden instead? In this science project, you will upcycle old paper into seed cards and test how paper compares to other materials as a fertilizer! Read more

Stomata Printing: Microscope Investigation

Lesson Plan Grade: 3rd-12th

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"Backlit Leaf" © 2011 Threthny Plants have many crucial roles on our planet, and among these is the gas exchange that happens within their leaves. As plants take in carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, they release oxygen and retain the carbon. In this lesson, students will investigate leaves up close to look for the structures responsible for gas exchange. Read more

Exploring the Chemistry of Red Flower Pigments

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Are all reds the same? Find out in this science fair project! Investigate if the pigments in one type of red flower are different from those in another type of red flower. Flowers contain an assortment of amazing chemicals that produce color. In this plant biology project, you will analyze the colored pigments in different plants' red flower petals using paper chromatography, and compare the pigments in the different flowers. Read more

Monitor Plant Health with a Color Sensor

Science Fair Project Idea

Engineering Design Process

Do you have a garden or houseplants? What about living on or a near a farm? How often do you check your plants' leaves for discoloration? What if you could build a robot to check for you, and warn you if your plants are getting sick? In this project you will learn to use a color sensor to identify different colors on leaves, which can give you a warning about problems like pests, diseases, or nutrient deficiency. Get ready to automate your gardening! Read more

Bubbling Plants Experiment to Quantify Photosynthesis

Lesson Plan Grade: 6th-8th

Students learn a simple technique for quantifying the amount of photosynthesis that occurs in a given period of time, using a common water plant (Elodea). They use this technique to compare the amounts of photosynthesis that occur under conditions of low and high light levels. Before they begin the experiment, however, students must come up with a well-worded hypothesis to be tested. After running the experiment, students pool their data to get a large sample size,… Read more

NGSS Performance Expectations:

MS-LS1-6. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms.
5-LS1-1. Support an argument that plants get the materials they need for growth chiefly from air and water.

Growing Great Gardens: Using Human Urine as a Fertilizer

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Every day farmers around the world apply commercial fertilizer to their fruits and vegetables to improve plant health and yield. But applying commercial fertilizer is expensive and not economically possible for some farmers in developing countries. What if they could find a way to fertilize plants cheaply? It turns out that human urine is rich in the nutrients that plants need to grow. Could urine serve as a fertilizer substitute? Find out for yourself in this plant growth science project. Read more

Chlorophyll Extraction

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Chlorophyll is a natural pigment found in green plants. It is the primary pigment that absorbs light energy from the sun for photosynthesis. This energy is then used by the plant to synthesize glucose from carbon dioxide and water. Chlorophyll in the leaves of plants can be extracted and separated using chromatography. A good source of chlorophyll for an extraction is a dark green leafy vegetable like spinach. Rub a fresh spinach leaf on the bottom of a strip of filter paper. You can get a… Read more

How Do Flowers Develop?

Science Fair Project Idea

Scientific Method

Flower development is an important part of plant growth. When a plant has reached maturity, it needs to develop flowers in order to reproduce. The male and female parts of the flower have specialized structures for reproduction that develop as the plant matures. How do flowers develop over time? Which structures develop first? You can answer these questions by dissecting the flowers of a gladiola. Gladiola flowers grow and develop along the stem, with the most mature flowers opening at the… Read more

Eighth Grade, Plant Biology Projects, Lessons, Activities (38 results)

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