FRESHMAN CHALLENGE – THE GREENHOUSE

Congratulations! You’re almost done with Physical Science! WOO HOO! Here is one of your four
Freshman Challenge options: Build A ‘Green’ Green House and Conduct an Experiment. Should you
choose this option, these are the criteria you will need to follow:

• The objectives of this project are to

o Create an environment to grow plants using completely recycled materials.
o Conduct an experimental investigation using the environment you constructed.
o Summarize the findings of your investigation in a laboratory report.

• There are three main components to this project that relate to the four objectives outlined above.
• In the first component of the project, student will build an environment to grow plants using recycled
materials (soda bottles, newspaper, paper, cans, milk jugs, etc). The end result will be something that
is both functional and original. The only materials that should be used that are not recycled are seeds
to grow and dirt and water to grow the seeds.
• The second component of the project will require the student to conduct an experimental investigation
using their constructed plant environment. Students will examine the impacts of at least one
independent variable on another dependent variable (both to be determined by the student and
approved by the teacher). There should be one difference between the experimental group and the
control group (this difference is the independent variable). One possible dependent variable could be
plant growth. Students should be original in coming up with their independent variable to be
investigated. This project may require that students build two identical environments to grow seeds in.
The students would apply one difference to one environment. The environment with the seeds and
without the factor would be the control group. The environment with the seeds and with the factor
would be the experimental group. It is recommended that students use peas or peppers because they
are fast growing. It is also highly recommended that STUDENTS BUILD THEIR ENVIRONMENT
AND PLANT THEIR SEEDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE because it may take a few weeks for the
seeds to grow.
• The third component goes along very closely with the second component of the project (the
experiment) and will require the student to write a lab report reporting their findings. The lab report
should have:
o A title
o An introduction
 The introduction should describes the purpose of the experiment
 The introduction should also have a hypothesis (that should be completed before the
experiment is conducted)
o A procedure describing what you did step by step
o A data table displaying all results
o A conclusion that reflects on
 The results
 The hypothesis (do the results it be support or reject it?)
 Any sources of error or ways to improve the experiment.
• Timeline:
o BUILD THE ENVORNMENT AND PLAY SEEDS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
o May 13 - A written summary of the experiment should be approved (including variables)
o May 15 - Completed environment with seeds planted
o May 22 - Title, introduction, and procedure portions or lab report should be turned in
o May 28 - Final lab report should be completed and turned in