April


 * TITLE: Can a plant find its way through a maze? How does light affect color in a plants leaves?

GOAL:** Our goal is to observe and record the affects of light on plants. We want to see if a plant will grow around a wall if the light source is on the other side. Also we want to see how light affects color and photosythesis in plants that are close to the light and also far away from it.


 * EXPECTATIONS:** We expect the plant to grow towards the light source and demonstrate positive phototropism. And we also expect the leaves or tips of the shoots to be the greenest because they are closest to the light.

Day 1: we planted 4 bean sprouts in soil. Day 2: the beans just started to sprout. Day 3: beans were 2 cm long Day 4(after 2 day weekend): 26 cm (the plant was growing straight upwards instead of growing forward, on the bottom of the box, towards the hole that had light Day 5: the long bean sprout grew from 26 to 35 cm. Another bean sprout grew to 25 cm towards the light, over the wall, and its leaves were greener than the other sprouts hidden in the shade. __**Do Plants Grow by Following Light?**__
 * OBSERVATIONS: ( we observe each science class ONLY) 4 green plants**

The relevance for me finding out if plants follow light when they grow, can prove the theory of phototropism to me. My goal is to understand if plants really do follow light to grow stronger and better. A real world issue of relating the growth of plants can be a situation when an area of land doesn't get enough light in order to grow more plants for animals to feed on. For instance, if a farm has too many tall trees that shad the ground, it makes it hard for grass and green plants to grow, which can lead to starvation for many cows. If my investigation can prove that cutting the trees branches a bit to let in light, then the cows can produce rich milk! Also related to this scenario, my experiment has lead me to an extended investigation. My plant has grown quickly in a few days time, but since it doesn't get enough light its leaves are yellow-ish green instead of pure green. The chloroplasts aren't functioning well since the amount of light that is sealed on the top disables a decent photosynthesis process. Yellow leaves indicate that photosynthesis and plant growth have slowed. So for my extenefded experiment, I will test the result for what happens when plants don't get enough light. My expectation for the first part of my lab (proving photo tropism) is that my bean sprout will follow the light trail. As for the second part, I expect to prove that the more light the better the plant can grow through photosynthesis. The independent variable is the light and dependent is my plant. [| light maze.bmp]
 * Introduction:**
 * Procedure:**

^^ is a sketch of how the box should look like. 1. Use the box that you have, and cut a hole on one end of it. 2. Cut two cardboard pieces out into rectangular shapes, and tape each onto a different side of the box. 3. On the opposing side of the box that has a hole in it, place a pot that already is fiilled with soil and 5 beans in it. 4. Put the lid on top of the box, so that only light from the hole that was cut earlier can reach into the box. 5. Place a light next to the box, and make sure that its always on and placed right infront of the hole. (so the plant can follow the light and grow) 6. Record observations each class day and measure the growth of the plant towars the light.
 * BE EXTRA CAREFUL WHEN CUTTING A HOLE IN THE BOX.**
 * MAKE SURE THAT THE LID DOES NOT ALLOW ANY LIGHT INTO THE BOX.**

+soil +small flower pot +5 bean seeds +water +cardboard box +thick black paper (used for our lid) +a light +tape +scissors
 * Materials:**

__Appendix 1__ +Positive Phototropism**
 * Scientific Terms:**
 * +Auxin:** A type of plant hormone that regulates and promotes a plant's cell elongation in the plant's stems. The auxin is made up of indole-3-acetic acid. Chemical compound given below:
 * +Cell Walls**: They are found in bacteria, archea, fungi, plants, and algae.
 * +Chemical Substances**:
 * +Chlorophyll**:
 * +Chloroplast**:special organelles found in the cells of green plants in which photosynthesis takes place.(a green thing--cell)
 * +Energy**: all living things need energy to grow. Plants can produce and release it.
 * +Environmental Factors**: the way how plants grow are inflenced by their environments (temperature, light....air..etc)
 * +Glucose**:A type of sugar; the chief source of energy for living organisms. Plants produce glucose during photosynthesis.
 * +Hormone Receptor**
 * +Light**: a source of energy that plants need, in order to grow
 * +Meristems**:growing parts of plants, consisting of groups of cells capable of actively dividing.
 * +Negative Phototropism:** negative phototroism is when a plant grows away from a light source as opposing to growing toward it.
 * +Oxygen**: plants need oxygen to survive. it also helps in photosynthesis.
 * +Oxygen Molecules, Carbon Dioxide Molecules:** these two are related in diffusion of a plant, when going through photosynthesis
 * +Pholeom:**
 * +Photosynthesis**:Process by which cells containing chlorophyll in green plants convert incident light to chemical energy and synthesize organic compounds from inorganic compounds, especially carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water, accompanied by the release of oxygen.
 * +Phototropism**:A plant´s growth towards unidirectional light.
 * +Phototropic Reaction**:
 * +Plant Hormones**:area chemicals in plants that are used for regulating their growth.
 * +Plant Growth
 * +Produce**: plants produce glucose and oxygen after photosynthesis.
 * +Stimulus**: an action that stimulates plants to grow
 * +Target Cell**:are the sites where hormones act. Targets cells have receptors for hormones
 * +Xylem**:In vascular plants, **xylem** is one of the two types of transport tissue, pholem being the other one. The word "xylem" is derived from classical Greek ξυλον (//xylon//), "wood", and indeed the best known xylem tissue is wood, though it is found throughout the plant. Its basic function is to transport water.

__Phototropism:__ The process in which green plants grow and move in the direction of light.
 * Big Ideas:**

__Photosynthesis:__ is the process when green plants or bacteria use water and sunlight(energy) to produce sugars like glucose by converting water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates, the sunlight as the source of energy and the aid of chlorophyll.
 * 6H2O + 6CO2**

__Phototropic Reactions:__ Plants not only react to sunlight but also to artificial sources of light. Plant growth also reacts to light of different wavelengths. (Connection to CHEMISTRY) :] __Plant Hormones:__

> C6H12O6+ 6O2

Procedure Changes:

First we started the experiment by placing the lamp outside of the box so the light shines through the hole in the side of the box. However, it turned out that the plant did not recieve the light coming through the hole, so the plant started growing straight up leaning towards the side away from the wall. Because of this result, we decided to extend the experiment to observing chlorophyll in the leaves of the plant as an addition to our original experiment. After realizing that the time we had was very limited we moved the lamp into the box so there is direct light shining towards the plant. Soon after we applied this, the plant started demonstrating positive phototropism. Also, the tips of the plant which arched around the wall began to have a more greenish color. MORE DATA TO BE ADDED SOON.