Lab Zone

1
Lab Zone

• Direct Inquiry
• Explore
• In which soil do grass seeds grow best?

2
Materials

• 3 paper cups and a pencil
• Sandy, clay, and loam soils
• Grass seeds and a cup with water
• Spoon and masking tape

3
What to Do

1. Make 4 holes in the bottom of each cup with a
   pencil. Half fill the cups with soil. Put 2
   spoonfuls of water in each cup.
2. Sprinkle 1/2 spoonful of grass seeds in each cup.
   Lightly cover the seeds with more soil. Set the
   cups in a warm place with bright light.
3. Add 1 spoonful of water to each cup daily for two
   weeks.
4. Observe each cup daily.

4
Explore

• Record your observation of each plant after 2
  weeks. In top box write observation in bottom
  box draw a picture.

Sandy Soil Clay Loam Soil


What is your operational definition of grow best?
In which soil did the seeds grow best in?
5
Activity Rubric
Scoring Criteria 1 2 3 4
Student followed directions to complete this activity.
Student made an operational definition of grow best.
Student recorded information in the observation chart.
Student communicated which soil the seeds grew best in.
Student observed the cups daily.
Scoring Key 4 points correct complete detailed
2 points partially correct, partially complete,
lacks some detail 3 points partially correct,
complete, detailed 1 point incorrect or
incomplete, needs assistance