Summer BoostGive Me Some Light
Type
Grade
2nd – 4th grades
Difficulty of Project
Cost
Less than $5.00
Safety Issues
Material Availability
Approximate Time Required to Complete the Project
About a week to collect data; one day to write the results and prepare the science fair display
To explore the affect of sunlight on a leaf
- Indoor plant with green leaves
- Black construction paper
- Scissors
- Tape
Plants use sunlight to grow. Sunlight also produces chlorophyll in the plant causing the leaves of the plant to be green.
In this investigation, sunlight is blocked from a leaf in order to see the affect that sunlight has on leaves.
Terms
photosynthesis: a chemical process that produces energy
chlorophyll: a chemical that gives leaves their green color
Concepts
Chlorophyll is a chemical that causes a plant’s leaves to be green. Plants need sunlight to produce chlorophyll.
Research Questions:
- Why are plant leaves green?
- What happens if a plant does not receive sunlight?
- Gather the necessary materials.
- Cut the construction paper into two pieces that are large enough to completely cover one leaf of the plant.
- Cover the front and the back of the leaf with the construction paper and tape around the edges.
- Continue to provide the plant with water.
- After seven days, uncover the leaf and record the results.
Articles
“Why Do Leaves Change Colors in the Fall?” at www.backyardnature.net
“The Busy Leaf” at www.ftexploring.com/photosyn/chloroplast.html
“Plants and Sunlight” at www.squidoo.com/plantsandsunlight
Websites
Biology 4 Kids at www.biology4kids.com
“How Plants Grow” at Science Kids at www.sciencekids.co.nz
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