Abel November 15- We chose two dates that we will do garden cleanup today. The plan is to work for one hour after school on each of the days for the necessary two hours.
Abel November - Today was the first day of garden cleanup. We cut the grass around the Kohlrabi plants and left the cut grass on the soil to fertilize the plants. We also pulled out weeds and put them in black buckets to compost.
Abel November - Today was the second and final day of garden cleanup. We cut more grass around the Kohlrabi and continued to pull out weeds. We also pulled out the grass next to the fence. Lastly, we also shoveled and wheelbarrowed mulch. We did this for an hour like the last day and we have finished our two hours.
Abel December 14- Today we finished the Outline, Budget Statement, Timeline, Photos/Videos, and the Project Activity Log.
Friday, December 15, 2017
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Blogpost #3 (by Maya Lewis)
The Kohlrabi plant has grown considerably since it was first planted in the garden. The plant has a brownish tinge to the edges of the leaves, but overall the plant has a healthy green color. Kohlrabi participates in the movement of water in the biosphere by using transpiration. Transpiration is evidence that the kohlrabi is receiving water and therefore growing. Kohlrabi also participates in the carbon cycle because the growth seen in the plant is dependent on photosynthesis and the intake of carbon dioxide. Without this intake, the plant would not survive. In the carbon cycle, the process of photosynthesis allows the Kohlrabi to take in carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and combine that with water. From that point, with the added power of the sun, the Kohlrabi turns it into sugars and oxygen. Kohlrabi is also a part of the nitrogen cycle. Nitrifying bacteria in the soil turn ammonia into nitrite and then after, into nitrate. This process is called nitrification. Plants can take up any of those compounds from the soil of which will be used in the formation of both plant and animal proteins. Our Kohlrabi plant most likely took up a plentiful amount of these compounds from the soil in which it's growing, which would have created proteins for itself.
Blogpost #4 (by Maya Lewis)
Blogspot #4
The kohlrabi plant need both abiotic and biotic factors for its survival. Abiotic factors the kohlrabi needs are water, sunlight, and soil in which will allow it to grow. While the kohlrabi needs all three of these to survive, it also needs biotic factors like decomposers to help make the soil suitable to grow in. But, not all biotic factors contribute to the well-being of the plant. Bugs eat at the leaves of the plant, while other plants around the kohlrabi create competition for much needed resources, like sunlight, making it harder for the kohlrabi to grow to its fullest potential. With other plants being in such close proximity to the Kohlrabi, it's obvious that the kohlrabi is also competing with other plants for space and water. In plant competition the 'winners' are the plants that get the most resources needed to survive and flourish, while the 'losers' are the ones the resources are being taken from by their competition. 'Winners' and 'losers' aren't always so distinctively identified because even though one plant may be 'losing' to another both still can survive. Plants and bugs are another interaction. For some bugs, plants are their main source of nutrition. The bug benefits from this, while the plant doesn't. Plants also have interaction with bacteria. They participate in mutualism. The plant provides a home for the bacteria and the bacteria helps to get the plant the nutrition it needs. There is evidence of secondary succession occurring because the garden already has an environment thriving on it and new plants continue to reproduce and grow.
The kohlrabi plant need both abiotic and biotic factors for its survival. Abiotic factors the kohlrabi needs are water, sunlight, and soil in which will allow it to grow. While the kohlrabi needs all three of these to survive, it also needs biotic factors like decomposers to help make the soil suitable to grow in. But, not all biotic factors contribute to the well-being of the plant. Bugs eat at the leaves of the plant, while other plants around the kohlrabi create competition for much needed resources, like sunlight, making it harder for the kohlrabi to grow to its fullest potential. With other plants being in such close proximity to the Kohlrabi, it's obvious that the kohlrabi is also competing with other plants for space and water. In plant competition the 'winners' are the plants that get the most resources needed to survive and flourish, while the 'losers' are the ones the resources are being taken from by their competition. 'Winners' and 'losers' aren't always so distinctively identified because even though one plant may be 'losing' to another both still can survive. Plants and bugs are another interaction. For some bugs, plants are their main source of nutrition. The bug benefits from this, while the plant doesn't. Plants also have interaction with bacteria. They participate in mutualism. The plant provides a home for the bacteria and the bacteria helps to get the plant the nutrition it needs. There is evidence of secondary succession occurring because the garden already has an environment thriving on it and new plants continue to reproduce and grow.
Chase's Seed Story (by Maya Lewis)
I have learned more about the carbon nitrogen water cycle. I learned more about the phosphorus cycles (nutrient cycles) and that these cycles include both the living biosphere, and the nonliving lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. I also learned that plants can grow upside down and can grow just as well as the right-side up plants, and I found that interesting. What made me think was what our plant played such a huge role in the ecosystem. As photosynthesizers, plants provide organic molecules for energy (food) for the entire ecosystem.
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Ian's Seed Story (by Sam)
Q: What have you learned?
A: "I learned that plants can grow upside down".
Q: What surprised/amazed you?
A: "I was surprised that plants can grow upside down as well as they can right-side up, somehow".
Q: What made you laugh?
A: "I laughed when my teammates (Nate and Mario) yelled at each other over stupid things.
Q: What made you pause and think a little deeper?
A: " I thought a little bit deeper when I realized plants could grow upside down".
A: "I learned that plants can grow upside down".
Q: What surprised/amazed you?
A: "I was surprised that plants can grow upside down as well as they can right-side up, somehow".
Q: What made you laugh?
A: "I laughed when my teammates (Nate and Mario) yelled at each other over stupid things.
Q: What made you pause and think a little deeper?
A: " I thought a little bit deeper when I realized plants could grow upside down".
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Student Blog Assignment #5 (Abel)
This year I have learned about cells, photosynthesis, and many other science topics. It amazed me how tiny something can be while being complicated and hard to comprehend which in this case was the cells. The fun that came along with doing the labs often made me laugh during class. The presentations that were shown to us made me think deeper and to it was necessary to do so if I wanted to understand the concepts. One question I have is what will we be learning next year and will it be based off this one?
Mario's Seed Story (interviewed by Abel)
What have you learned?
Mario: I have learned the branches of biology and the different parts of a cell.
What surprised or amazed you?
Mario: I was surprised we had to do multiple service projects.
What made you laugh?
Mario: My own sense of humor made me laugh.
What made you pause and think a little deeper?
Mario: The slide shows made me think deeper to fully understand the concepts.
What questions do you have about things you observed or experienced in the garden?
Mario: I do not have any questions.
Mario: I have learned the branches of biology and the different parts of a cell.
What surprised or amazed you?
Mario: I was surprised we had to do multiple service projects.
What made you laugh?
Mario: My own sense of humor made me laugh.
What made you pause and think a little deeper?
Mario: The slide shows made me think deeper to fully understand the concepts.
What questions do you have about things you observed or experienced in the garden?
Mario: I do not have any questions.
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Monday, November 13, 2017
Abel Biogeochemical Cycle (Post #3)
Our kohlrabi plant has grown considerably since we planted it. The kohlrabi itself hasn't started forming yet; it's just leaves, but I predict in a couple of weeks that it will form. Compared to the other groups our plant is fairly small, and another plant has sprouted next to the main one.
Upon interacting with water in the ground, our plants bring it up into their leaves, and most of it is transpired into the atmosphere. Some of its water is also contributed in the water cycle through evaporation, and the process of transpiration and evaporation is called evapotranspiration. The rest is used for the growth and maintenance of the plant itself, which is the main factor along with sunlight that helps it grow. The reason why our plants have grown so much is due to the water cycle and how they deal with the water they receive.
During photosynthesis, our plants take in the carbon and convert it into food for themselves as well as oxygen. They also interact with carbon through respiration, when they take in oxygen and make carbon dioxide. Their growth is due to the carbon cycle in addition to the water cycle because when our plants photosynthesise, they take in the carbon and use it as food.
Our plants play a large part in the nitrogen cycle, whether they're taking it in or producing it. They get it through their roots (assimilation) and produce it once they die (ammonification). When plants such as ours are rapidly growing, nitrogen is required. Without it, our plants wouldn't have grown.
Abel Ecological Analysis (Post #4)
Some abiotic factors that affect our plants are sunlight and water. These are the most important ones, as they are essential for the plant's survival. Some biotic factors affecting our plants are all of the other plants. Since the nine plants are all in a confined area and are relatively close to each other, they are all in competition with one another. Bacteria affect plants too, whether it's helping make food for the plant, or harming it.
Like previously stated, our plants are in competition with each other due to the fact that they are in a somewhat small area and are all trying to get the same thing. Competition is another abiotic factor, and our plants are all competing for water (and in some cases) sunlight. Some of the bigger plants could potentially block out sunlight for the smaller plants, resulting in the smaller plants having stunted growth or just dying off completely. They're also competing for space. The bigger plants have already asserted their dominance in the area, and some of the smaller plants are struggling to find a space to grow.
The winners/losers are determined by who survives and who doesn't. And in some cases, there are no winners or losers. A plant could die off and then sprout back up a while later. Another way to determine winners/losers is which plant actually sprouts a vegetable and not just leaves. A loser won't sprout anything or will just die off, and a winner will successfully produce food that tastes good.
Not only do plants fight with each other for resources, but they also talk to each other. It isn't exactly talking as much as it is psychically warning each other that danger is near. They can do this by reaching the fungus in the soil and using it to send messages to each other.
There weren't any major recent disasters or lava flows, so there doesn't seem to be any kind of succession, but recovering from the drought from a couple years back could be a form of secondary succession. Another possibility is that the garden is recovering from last summer's sweltering heat, and our plants are the start of secondary succession.
Friday, November 3, 2017
Ecological Analysis (Post #4)
Some abiotic factors that affect our plants are sunlight and water. These are the most important ones, as they are essential for the plant's survival. Some biotic factors affecting our plants are all of the other plants. Since the nine plants are all in a confined area and are relatively close to each other, they are all in competition with one another. Bacteria affect plants too, whether it's helping make food for the plant, or harming it.
Like previously stated, our plants are in competition with each other due to the fact that they are in a somewhat small area and are all trying to get the same thing. Competition is another abiotic factor, and our plants are all competing for water (and in some cases) sunlight. Some of the bigger plants could potentially block out sunlight for the smaller plants, resulting in the smaller plants having stunted growth or just dying off completely. They're also competing for space. The bigger plants have already asserted their dominance in the area, and some of the smaller plants are struggling to find a space to grow.
The winners/losers are determined by who survives and who doesn't. And in some cases, there are no winners or losers. A plant could die off and then sprout back up a while later. Another way to determine winners/losers is which plant actually sprouts a vegetable and not just leaves. A loser won't sprout anything or will just die off, and a winner will successfully produce food that tastes good.
Not only do plants fight with each other for resources, but they also talk to each other. It isn't exactly talking as much as it is psychically warning each other that danger is near. They can do this by reaching the fungus in the soil and using it to send messages to each other.
There weren't any major recent disasters or lava flows, so there doesn't seem to be any kind of succession, but recovering from the drought from a couple years back could be a form of secondary succession. Another possibility is that the garden is recovering from last summer's sweltering heat, and our plants are the start of secondary succession.
Like previously stated, our plants are in competition with each other due to the fact that they are in a somewhat small area and are all trying to get the same thing. Competition is another abiotic factor, and our plants are all competing for water (and in some cases) sunlight. Some of the bigger plants could potentially block out sunlight for the smaller plants, resulting in the smaller plants having stunted growth or just dying off completely. They're also competing for space. The bigger plants have already asserted their dominance in the area, and some of the smaller plants are struggling to find a space to grow.
The winners/losers are determined by who survives and who doesn't. And in some cases, there are no winners or losers. A plant could die off and then sprout back up a while later. Another way to determine winners/losers is which plant actually sprouts a vegetable and not just leaves. A loser won't sprout anything or will just die off, and a winner will successfully produce food that tastes good.
Not only do plants fight with each other for resources, but they also talk to each other. It isn't exactly talking as much as it is psychically warning each other that danger is near. They can do this by reaching the fungus in the soil and using it to send messages to each other.
There weren't any major recent disasters or lava flows, so there doesn't seem to be any kind of succession, but recovering from the drought from a couple years back could be a form of secondary succession. Another possibility is that the garden is recovering from last summer's sweltering heat, and our plants are the start of secondary succession.
Biogeochemical Cycles (Post #3)
Our kohlrabi plant has grown considerably since we planted it. The kohlrabi itself hasn't started forming yet; it's just leaves, but I predict in a couple of weeks that it will form. Compared to the other groups our plant is fairly small, and another plant has sprouted next to the main one.
Upon interacting with water in the ground, our plants bring it up into their leaves, and most of it is transpired into the atmosphere. Some of its water is also contributed in the water cycle through evaporation, and the process of transpiration and evaporation is called evapotranspiration. The rest is used for the growth and maintenance of the plant itself, which is the main factor along with sunlight that helps it grow. The reason why our plants have grown so much is due to the water cycle and how they deal with the water they receive.
During photosynthesis, our plants take in the carbon and convert it into food for themselves as well as oxygen. They also interact with carbon through respiration, when they take in oxygen and make carbon dioxide. Their growth is due to the carbon cycle in addition to the water cycle because when our plants photosynthesise, they take in the carbon and use it as food.
Our plants play a large part in the nitrogen cycle, whether they're taking it in or producing it. They get it through their roots (assimilation) and produce it once they die (ammonification). When plants such as ours are rapidly growing, nitrogen is required. Without it, our plants wouldn't have grown.
Upon interacting with water in the ground, our plants bring it up into their leaves, and most of it is transpired into the atmosphere. Some of its water is also contributed in the water cycle through evaporation, and the process of transpiration and evaporation is called evapotranspiration. The rest is used for the growth and maintenance of the plant itself, which is the main factor along with sunlight that helps it grow. The reason why our plants have grown so much is due to the water cycle and how they deal with the water they receive.
During photosynthesis, our plants take in the carbon and convert it into food for themselves as well as oxygen. They also interact with carbon through respiration, when they take in oxygen and make carbon dioxide. Their growth is due to the carbon cycle in addition to the water cycle because when our plants photosynthesise, they take in the carbon and use it as food.
Our plants play a large part in the nitrogen cycle, whether they're taking it in or producing it. They get it through their roots (assimilation) and produce it once they die (ammonification). When plants such as ours are rapidly growing, nitrogen is required. Without it, our plants wouldn't have grown.
Monday, October 9, 2017
Kohlrabi
Seed Germination Lab
By The Cool Kohlrabi Kids (Abel Spackman, Maya Lewis, Samuel Albert)
Purpose- The purpose of the lab is to determine whether mixing different materials with soil that is growing Kohlrabi will affect its germination rate.
Hypothesis- If goldfish is mixed with soil growing Kohlrabi, than the germination rate will be higher than the other soil mixes.
Materials-
- Foxfarm Soil
- 30 Kohlrabi seeds
- Crushed Cheddar Goldfish
- Crushed Honey Maid Graham Crackers
- Up and Up Hand Sanitizer
- No. 2 Pencil Shavings
- Five plastic cups
Procedure-
- Put ¾ cup of soil in all six cups.
- Mix goldfish with soil in one cup, crushed grahams in another, hand soap in another, and pencil shavings in another leaving one cup with just soil.
- Plant six Kohlrabi seeds in each cup spread out and ½ inch deep.
- Water plants with 30mL daily for five days and take data on germination rate of the Kohlrabi on that fifth day.
- Water with 30mL for two more days and take data on the germination rate once more on the seventh day.
- From this data create a bar graph of the data so that it is easy to compare the results from each of the soil mixes.
Seed Germination Lab Data
9/5/17
Soil
|
Goldfish + Soil
|
Crushed Graham Crackers + Soil
|
Pencil Sharpenings + Soil
|
Hand Sanitizer + Soil
| |
Number of of Germinated Seeds
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
9/7/17
Soil
|
Goldfish + Soil
|
Crushed Graham Crackers + Soil
|
Pencil Sharpenings + Soil
|
Hand Sanitizer + Soil
| |
Number of Germinated Seeds
|
4
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
Number of Kohlrabi Seeds Germinated
Different Types Of Soils
Qualitative Data-
When looking at the soils and plants over many days, there were some observations made that seemed irregular. The hand soap with soil was always very wet every day. It was quite irregular considering the fact that the rest of the soils were all very dry. Also, although the Kohlrabi growing in nothing but soil produced the highest germination rate, the tallest plant by far was growing in the goldfish soil mix. Also, in the hand soap soil mixture, it seemed as though the hand soap was almost like a layer in the middle of the soil preventing the germination and growth of the Kohlrabi.
Lab Report -
Introduction
Over the discussion to find an experiment to conduct, the idea of adding items into the soil arose. The idea was if goldfish, graham crackers, pencil shavings, and hand soap were put in different cups of the same type of soil and then were all compared with just soil, then the given plants, Kohlrabi, would be tested to see which combination would have the highest germination rate. Therefore, a hypothesis was produced. If goldfish is mixed with soil growing Kohlrabi, than the germination rate will be higher than all of the other mixes of soil.
Methods
To recreate the experiment is an easy process but must be done correctly and with precision. First, put ¾ cup of soil in all six of the cups. Then, mix the goldfish with the soil in one cup, crushed grahams in another, hand soap in another, and pencil shavings in another leaving one cup with just soil. After that, plant six Kohlrabi seeds in each cup and make sure that they are spread out and ½ inch deep. Over the next five days, water the plants with 30mL daily and take data on germination rate of the Kohlrabi on that fifth day. Lastly, water the Kohlrabi with 30mL for two more days and take data on germination once more on the seventh day.
Results and Data Analysis
As of 9/7/17, the final results were in showing that the soil with nothing mixed with it ended up having the highest germination rate of 66.6%. The hand soap produced the lowest germination rate of 0%. The graham cracker soil and the pencil shavings soil ended up with a 50% germination rate, while the goldfish soil ended up with a 33.3% germination rate. To show this, making a bar graph was the most efficient choice because it’s somewhat tracking the change over time but it is mostly a good choice because it is easy to compare the the results from each plant when it is a bar graph. Also, the first date is not important to the lab, it is simply showing the change over time.
Conclusions
As shown in the results, it was obvious that adding some of the items into the soil did not help the germination rate get higher. The items simply interfered with the germination of the Kohlrabi and in the end, the results proved it with the Kohlrabi growing in soil had the highest germination rate. From this further experiments could easily be made. Instead of something in the soil that would interfere with the germination, perhaps adding something into the water the Kohlrabi receives would help it. From this experiment it is quite obvious that having things in the soil that do not mix in well or do not decompose simply do not help. That would be the optimum choice of a follow-up experiment.
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