ADAPTATIONS OF PLANTS—AN INVESTIGATION INTO SNOWDROPS
For teachers – This is a good activity in encouraging independent scientists and helping students develop
their own investigation skills with a specific research question in mind. measuring into a break or at lunch
time keeping their record until their measurements are complete.
Pupils will learn that:
plants are adapted to survive in different conditions
Pupils will learn how to:
design their own experiment and test a hypothesis
You will need: snowdrops, thermometers and enthusiasm
Design a test
In January 2011 we explained that some people believed snowdrops did not fully open unless the
temperature was above 10 Celsius. This was because the few flying insects around in late winter early
spring such as the bumblebee cannot fly unless the temperature is above 10 Celsius as they need the air
temperature to be a certain warmth in order that their flying muscles work.
So can you really tell the temperature by observing snowdrops? We want you to test whether it is true or
not that snowdrops only open fully above 10 Celsius. Use the scaffold below to design your investigation.
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How can you design an experiment to test this hypothesis?
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What equipment will you need?
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When will you take your measurements?
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How will you display your results?
Handy hint — why not start this investigation by
asking students to bring in a photo of themselves
in the summer and the winter? Compare the
photos to see how they adapt to wintery
conditions? How else do they adapt to wintery
conditions—think of diet, drinks and how much
time they spend inside.
Health and safety considerations
Are students aware that they should wash their hands
after carrying out their measurements?
Check the area for contamination e.g. litter, muck,
before looking closely at the snowdrops.
Pictures of snowdrops with their flowers closed (left) and open (right)
Use the ‘heads and tails’ activity below to see how the snowdrop has adapted for colder conditions.
Sharp hard pointy leaves This means that they are sheltered from harsh winter winds which could dry them
out. Waxy leaves This means the plant does not have to rely on the sun to make energy through
photosynthesis and can get a head start because of all the energy in the bulb. Leaves contain antifreeze This means it is harder for water to evaporate from the leaf. Water is often frozen
at this tie of year and therefore the plant roots (which are like straws) cannot suck
water from the ground. The plant has to hold onto as much water as it can! Grow from bulbs This means that the water in the plant cannot freeze into ice. When water freezes it
expands and if water in a plant freezes the expansion breaks the plant cell walls. Grow close to the ground This means that the leaves can push up through the hard frozen ground