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Science at key stage 3    (Year 9)

Unit 9D: Plants for food
Section 5: b. How do fertilisers affect plant growth?

QCA

Objectives
Children should learn:
  • to decide which factors are relevant to a question
  • how to deal with factors that cannot be controlled
  • to decide which measurements/observations to make
  • to draw conclusions from results and explain the significance of these
  • to evaluate the method in terms of the data obtained

Activities

Outcomes
Children:
  • Extend this work by asking pupils to plan and carry out an investigation into the effects of fertiliser, eg of nitrate fertiliser concentration on duckweed growth, providing information about culturing the plant and a maximum concentration; the effect of different fertilisers on wheat growth. Ask pupils to produce a report of their investigation and to contribute conclusions to a class summary, indicating whether they think they should have confidence in what they found out.
  • identify relevant factors, eg concentration of nitrate, mass of fertiliser
  • choose an adequate sample size to deal with variation between individual plants
  • choose an appropriate timescale for measurements
  • identify differences in growth and relate these to variables, eg composition, mass, of fertiliser used
  • give reasons why they have or do not have confidence in their conclusions

Points to note
  • This investigation will need to run over 2-3 weeks.
  • Duckweed is an excellent organism for this investigation, providing good results in the space of 2-3 weeks. Growth is measured by counting the number of leaves in the culture. Samples can be obtained from local ponds.

    • Safety

    • some fertilisers will be oxidising and others may be harmful on contact. Eye protection should be worn. Pupils' plans must be checked for health and safety before practical work begins

Sections in this unit

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This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.
1. a. Where does our food come from?
2. b. Where does our food come from?
3. Checking progress
4. a. How do fertilisers affect plant growth?
5. b. How do fertilisers affect plant growth?
6. a. How does competition with other plants affect plant growth?
7. b. How does competition with other plants affect plant growth?
8. a. How do pests affect plant growth?
9. b. How do pests affect plant growth?
10. c. How do pests affect plant growth?
11. a. What is the perfect environment for growing plants?
12. b. What is the perfect environment for growing plants?
13. Reviewing work