Power of Sunlight Investigation

Ms. Schraeder10-12th Grade/ Concepts of Biology Greater Nanticoke Area High School

Nanticoke, PASpring 2011

Background Information

• 5 schools are currently working on the Power of Sunlight Inquiry Project:

1.

2. Nautilus MS, FL3. Legacy HS, CO4. Lake Orion HS, MI5. Rockwell Heath HS, TX

Project Sponsors

• Botanical Society of America• National Science Foundation • Texas A&M University• And more!

Ms. Schraeder’s Summer Training Experience at Texas A&M University

College Station, TX- June 21-29, 2010

In this lab, YOU are the scientists!

• You will be:

- Learning background knowledge and techniques

- Applying what you learn by designing and carrying out your own experiment with your team

- Creating and presenting a research poster to showcase your findings

The 1st tool you’ll need:

• Science Journal

Your Science Journal is…

• Your silent partner “on the bench,” open and ready, before work can begin.

• A place to record what you see and do.

• A place to record what you THINK about what you see and do.

• A place to ask questions about experiences.

Your Science Journal will…

• Serve as a record of all observations, thoughts, and feelings as you work.

• Contain responses to assigned writing prompts, like, “Today, I noticed that…” or “I wonder what would happen if…”

• Include drawings, diagrams, data tables, graphs, etc.

• Be graded and scored with a rubric.

Science Journal Rules:

• Write your name on the front cover.

• No ripped out pages or torn corners.

• No doodling that doesn’t relate to science.

• Notebooks should only be used for science class only.

• Date each page.

• Be colorful and love your notebook!

Let’s get started!

Power of Sunlight Investigation: Alignment to PA State Standards

• PA Standards for Science and Technology:3.1.10.A1, 3.1.10.A2, 3.1.10.A5, 3.1.10.A7, 3.1.10.A8, 3.1.10.A9

• PA Standards for Environment and Ecology:4.1.10.C

Power of Sunlight Investigation Essential Question

• How can using the scientific method help clarify the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration?

Power of Sunlight Investigation Objectives

• To better understand the scientific method, particularly that science is not a linear process- it includes repeated activities throughout the inquiry cycle.

• To gain a better understanding of the relationship between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in plants.

SCENARIO:

• Tanner and Tracy had been saving to build their own house ever since they met ten years earlier.

• Tanner was an artist who worked in stained glass and had completed several large commissions in local churches and businesses.

• Tracy owned a florist shop and nursery and loved exotic plants.

• Tracy envisioned a large family room with a cathedral ceiling and a vast glass wall to provide plenty of light for her to grow a variety of exotic tropical houseplants.

• Tanner thought this was a great idea because it would allow him to showcase is art in the stained glass wall.

• The house, and particularly Tanner’s stained glass wall, was a huge aesthetic success and were even featured in an issue of Better Homes and Gardens.

• How well do you think Tracy’s plants grew? Why?