Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I posted this a while back. We have completed the experiment and now we are stuck on how to write it all up. We used Fish, compost, 10-10-10 fertilizer and the three sisters planting as fun. We used a chart on the growth and completed a weekly study. Should we use a chart for the board? Would it be appreciate for a 2nd grader to include the growth rate and ear production? Or should he keep with just one topic as suggested before. He doesn't understand the full in depth details of everything and I'm trying to keep things on his level. Any suggestions will help! Thanks

Hi McGee,

This sounds like it was a really fun project, but I know how challenging data analysis is for younger elementary students. A second grader should be able to measure objects to the closest inch or centimeter, add and subtract, and be able to represent data in a bar graph. I assume the results include measurements of the 3 plants with each type of fertilizer. It would good if you could help your son compile the data in a bar graph using type of fertilizer on the x axis and plant measurement on the x axis. It sounds like you have a lot of data, so you could simplify the work by using just one plant and one or two time points. You can gauge how much to do from your son’s response to your encouragement. Just do as much as you can. Here are a couple of websites with information that might help you.

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ysis.shtml

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ysis.shtml

Please let me know if you need more help with this.

Donna Hardy

Thank you Donna, yes I agree with the bar graphs and math. He is able to do those task. I think I will encourage the bar graph. He did measure the plants once a week to start with and then once every two weeks until it was time to pull them. I think I will encourage him to stick with the plant growth and may be include the other observations briefly in his conclusion. Does that sound OK?

Hi,

Yes, your plan is a good one. Why don't you see if your son can state the hypothesis in his own words, present the data in bar graph form, and then state his conclusions, including whether or not the hypothesis was correct or not? Other observations about the experiments will definitely enhance the presentation. Pictures and drawings can be used in to show results. And since this is a science project, don't forget to include an explanation of why plants need fertilizer to grow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertilizer

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... oard.shtml

Good luck!

Donna Hardy

Thank you, You have been so helpful!