Name_____________________ Date ___________ Block _____ IB Environmental Systems and Societies Title:

Growing Green Grass Lab

Overview:

In many ways, agricultural production is only as good as the soil that seeds are grown in. The transformation from seed to food sustains all of us. Due to its impact on society, soil quality is regarded as an extremely important resource. Around the world, poor soil conditions have lead to food famine and desertification. Additives are used regularly to increase crop production or just to maintain yields.

Your Job:

Design a unique experiment to determine how additives to soil impact the growth of a mixture of rye grass and Kentucky blue grass. You will be provided containers, water, fertilizer, grow lights and a generic potting soil. You are encouraged to test the effects of unique fertilizers or additives. Be sure to design the experiment so that variables are controlled and the impacts of your additive can be analyzed using data.

Grading:

Your final lab write-up is due on __________________. This is an IB Internal Assessment and you will be graded on the PLANNING and DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING and DISCUSSION, EVALUATION and CONCLUSION portions of the PSOW.

IB ES&S Science Inquiry Lab Report Write-up (PSOW)

Title: The title relevant to the experiment being conducted. Problem What are you trying to solve, or prove? What is the objective of the lab? Must be quantifiable. Background research and equations. Your background must be directly linked to your problem (objective). Include previous observations, research or other knowledge that you need for the lab. Often we will be testing or applying a fundamental concept that uses a mathematical relationship, INCLUDE IT! If you are using maps, charts, historical data, etc you may include these in the charts and graphs section. Make reference to these here by stating see charts and graphs section. Variables Clearly list the variables in question. A separate section for each of the following: Subcategories -Independent variable -Dependent variable -Controlled variables Procedures Provide a list of steps of how you are going to solve the problem and what materials you will use. Identify how you will effectively control variables. Describe the process for collecting data. Often a diagram or sketch and a description of what you plan to accomplish with your lab will suffice. Data Show an organized record of your observations and measurements in a data table (chart). Include units where relevant. Conduct enough trials so that conclusions can be drawn (as many as possible). Include a section for qualitative observations that were made during the experiment. Subcategories -Quantitative data - Qualitative data Analysis / Processed Data Calculate something (processing). Graph your data in some way that provides a simplistic summary of your data. Average your data. You may choose to explain the range, slope, median, etc Show calculations with work (yes, show your work!!). Provide at least a sample calculation if calculations are recurrent. Create and display necessary graphs. *Graphs and Charts (optional section) If your experiment uses many charts, diagrams, maps, models or graphs (for background purposes or data collection) you may choose to create a separate graphs and charts section. This may not be necessary for all lab write-ups Conclusions Summarize and state a conclusion with justification based on your data. Use your data to support your conclusion. Directly mention processed data points. Evaluate weaknesses and limitations of your procedure. Suggest improvements and further areas of study.