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Celery Microclimate Experiment
Introduction:
Plants and animals respond to the climate that surrounds them. People
can adjust to the climate by choosing clothing to keep us at a comfortable
temperature. Plants respond differently to the climate where they are
growing. In this experiment we will observe how temperature can effect
the rate of liquid uptake in the celery plant.
Materials:
4 thermometers
4 jars
4 freshly cut celery stalks
potato peeler
red food coloring
cool water
Methods:
1. Locate testing sites: Where are the coldest and the warmest places
at your home/school? Brainstorm a list of places you could test the temperatures.
Find 4 locations if you can.
Test your ideas by placing a thermometer in each location and check the
temperatures a few times during the day. Experiment until you have the
biggest difference between cold and warm with variations in between.
2. Explain to the class that they will be carrying out an experiment with
celery and colored water. They will be putting the celery in 4 places,
each with a different temperature. Ask them to predict how long it will
take for the food color to be drawn up the stalks. Which location will
it happen the fastest, and which one will be slowest?
3. Create a chart to record your uptake measurements. Across the top of
the chart, head columns with the numbered site and the temperature you
recorded at each site. Label the rows, "Height of blue column at
time intervals." Your time intervals should be about every 5 minutes.
Title the chart "Measuring Uptake of Blue Solutions in 4 Microclimates."
4. Set up your experiment: Mix a solution of 2 cups of warm water and
12 drops of red food coloring. Place about a half a cup of solution into
each of 4 jars that are labeled 1-4.
Make a clean cut on the base of the celery stalk. Next, peel the outer
skin of the stalk from top to bottom to create a window to better see
the "strings" or vascular bundles. Insert the stalk of celery,
large end down, into each jar of solution. Place each jar into the site
you have chosen for it.
Recording your data:
Divide your class into teams for recording the height of the color at
the given time intervals. Come together as a class to record your results
on the class chart.
Discussion and Questions:
1. Did you find a fluctuation in temperatures at your different sites
when you were looking for sites at the begining of the experiment? Why?
What time would be the best time to try this experiment again?
2. Does temperature affect uptake of solutions in celery stalks?
3. Can you make a statement about this phenomenon?
4. If temperature can influence the uptake of a liquid, can you think
of other factors that might also influence plants? Make a list of the
factors. How would each of them influence plants?
5. How could different microclimates outside affect the plants in them?
Could you design an experiment that could test your ideas?
6. Can you graph the results of this experiment?
National Science Education Standards
Science as Inquiry
Ask a question about objects, organisms, events. (K-4)
Plan and conduct a simple investigation. (K-4)
Use data to conduct a reasonable explanation. (K-4)
Think critically and logically to make relationships between evidence and explanations. (5-8)
Scientists use different kinds of investigations depending on the questions they are trying to answer. Types of investigations include describing objects, events, and organisms; classifying them; and doing a fair test (experimenting). (K-4)
Life Science
All organisms must be able to obtain and use resources, grow, reproduce,
and maintain stable internal conditions in a constantly changing external
environment. (5-8)
Earth Science
The sun provides light and heat necessary to maintain the temperature
of the earth. (K-4)
National Math Standards
Data Analysis and Probability
Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize,
and display relevant data to answer them.
Measurement
Understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and
processes of measurement.
Apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements.
Copyright 2001 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
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