Section 4: The Experiment
The study of Biology starts with a study of the characteristics of life. These are features common to
all organisms that biologists use to determine if an object is living or non-living. There are many
different lists of characteristics of living things. Most lists say that all life is organized, made of cells,
has the ability to reproduce, has variations, is capable of adapting to the environment, responds to
stimuli, grows and develops. You will be doing an experiment this summer to begin investigating two
of the characteristics of life. You will investigate the characteristics of growth and development.
Growth is defined as an increase in the number of cells in an organism or an increase in the amount of
living material in a cell. Development is defined as a change in the form of an organism as it goes
through its life cycle from embryo to adult. Students usually find it difficult to distinguish between the
two – thus the experiment.
You will be investigating the two characteristics of life mentioned above and using the scientific
method to do so. This experiment is mainly observational – in it you will observe the growth and
development of a bean seed. But you will also test this hypothesis: If seeds need water to germinate,
then seeds given water will germinate faster than those not given water, because water is one of the
basic requirements for plant growth. The data that you collect will be recorded on lined paper in word
description, tables with measurements, labeled sketches that you make, and in the form of pictures
that you will take with a camera.
You will need the following materials to do this assignment: notebook paper, a camera, dried
beans, 3 clear plastic cups, metric ruler, sharpie or other permanent marker, and potting soil. I have
materials available in the main office if needed, as well as pictures of the materials on line. If you need
help or have questions about the assignment, email me at: [email protected] I will try to
respond within 48 hours. Do not wait until the last minute to begin your assignment.
Procedures:
Day 1:
On a piece of lined paper, write the date, record the hypothesis, and then sketch a picture of the
outside of a red bean. The outside of the bean should have a concave area. Using the information in
the handout label your drawing.
Place 3 red beans in a plastic cup pour water into the cup until it is about 2.5cm over the top of the
beans. Leave the beans in the water overnight. These will be the fully watered beans.
Place 3 red beans in a plastic cup pour water into the cup until it is about 2.5cm over the top of the
beans. Leave the beans in the water for one hour. These are the lightly watered beans.
Place 3 red beans into a different clear plastic cup. DO NOT add water to these beans this is your
EXPERIEMENTAL CONTROL GROUP.
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**Take a picture of the beans in the cups making sure you are in the picture. Create a caption for the
picture and label each cup.**
Day 2:
1. Describe the beans in each of the 3 cups noting any changes in the beans- changes in size,
shape, color, texture, etc.
a. **Take a picture of the beans in the cups making sure that you are in the picture.
Create a caption for each cup and make sure the cups are labeled.**
2. Pour out the water from one of the water beans and place the beans on a napkin. Clean out
the cup and put potting soil in the cup until it is about 2.5cm from the top of the cup. Place the
beans about an 2.5cm below the soil around the edge of the cup. You want the beans to be up
against the sides of the cup so you can see them through the plastic. Add 0.5 oz. of water
about 1 tablespoon of water to the soil. With a Sharpie, label this cup W for watered.
3. Repeat step 2 with the other beans in the cup with water, ONLY THIS TIME DO NOT ADD THE
WATER AT THE END. With a Sharpie, label this cup LW for lightly watered.
4. Before planting the beans from the non-watered cup, you must dry out the soil by placing it in a
baking pan in the oven @ 200 degrees for about 30 minutes. (the dollar store sells disposable
aluminum pans that are perfect for this job. Plant the beans in the non-watered cup in the
same way as you did in steps 2 and 3, BUT DO NOT ADD THE WATER AT THE END. With a
Sharpie, label this cup NW for not watered.
5. **Take a picture of the beans after planting making sure you are in the picture. Create a
caption for the picture and label each cup.**
Day 3- Day 14: Follow the steps below that describe the watering protocol and data collection.
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Watering protocol
o Fully watered plants (W): Add 0.5oz (1 Tablespoon) of water each day
o Lightly watered plants (LW): Add 0.5oz (1 Tablespoon) of water every 3 days (days
5,8, and 11)
o Non-watered plants (NW): DO NOT ADD ANY WATER!
Data collection- continue to take pictures of the 3 bean plants in each cup every day with
you in the picture. Be sure to caption and label each cup. In your caption:
o Describe the beans in each of the 3 cups noting any changes in the beans- changes in
size, shape, color, texture, etc.
o Measure each plant in centimeters (cm) once it emerges from the bean. Make sure
you assign each plant a number (1-3). You must remember these numbers and
label them in your notebook each day, as well as record individual heights in the
data table.
** If you have no growth in any of the cups after 3-4 days, start over. Do not come to
school and say that your beans did not grow. You may have an idea about what should
happen in the cups- if it does not happen it does not mean it is wrong. You record what
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happens. One cup with no growth is acceptable. This does not mean that NO GROWTH OF
ANY OF THE BEANS in any group is acceptable. IF THERE IS NO GROWTH AFTER 3-4 DAYS
YOU WILL NEED TO START AGAIN.**
Use this diagram to help you identify the different parts of you beans as they grow and develop.
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Use the data table to record your findings…
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