Name: Milun
Year 7 Science 2023
Diversity & Unity of Life
Criteria C Assessment Task
Inquiry question:
How do humans alter the growth of plants?
The task:
Design an investigation exploring one factor affecting the growth of the seedlings. Now that you
have designed your experiment, you will need to record your plant growth for 10 days and record
the data. This data will form the basis for your Criteria C assessment.
The details:
You must collect quantitative data in a table (recorded daily in your logbook / on your computer)
and present it as a graph. Remember where the independent and dependent variables go in a
table. Ensure there is an appropriate heading and column units (if required).
Using your data table, construct a graph. You will be provided with graph paper in class.
Remember where the independent and dependent variables go in a graph as well as using an
appropriate title and axis labels and units.
You should also collect qualitative data (descriptions, annotated photos, other notes that might
help you explain what is measured.
The discussion (analysis of results) will be different to other students since they are
investigating different variables. However, there are some common aspects to consider:
What is the main trend of the results?
Are there any anomalies (results that don’t fit in with the general trend)? Does any of
your qualitative data help explain this anomaly?
How does the individual group data compare to the class data?
What are the scientific reasons for what was observed?
Does the data help support or reject the hypothesis?
The evaluation should reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of the experiment. You might
like to consider the following points….
o What was the error?
o What impact does this error have on the results collected?
o Explain improvements that would benefit the investigation.
The conclusion should validate the hypothesis and be supported by evidence. You might like to
follow the following format….
o The hypothesis of ….. was supported/rejected.
o The data that supports this is….. (use specific numbers here)
o Key errors were …..and could have been reduced by….
o Overall this experiment demonstrates ……
A guide to writing practical reports.
Results Exel Sheet
Discussion
After the first two days, there was no difference between the plants and the
fertilizer because the fertilizer had only just been added so it had no chance to
enter the plants system and start making a noticeable impact on their growth. It
will take a little more time for the plants to absorb the nutrients from the fertilizer
and for the fertilizer to work its magic.
By the third and fourth day, you could start to see the effects of the fertilizer, how
much faster the plants with fertilizer were growing, and that the plants without it
were falling behind in growth. It's quite interesting how much of a difference the
nutrients in the fertilizer can make in the growth of plants.
By days five and six it was quite shocking to see how much difference the fertilizer
makes to the growth of these plants, and how much it helps with processes like
photosynthesis. Both types of plants have grown a lot, but there is a whole 3
centimetres after just 6 days and 0.2 grams of fertilizer, if more was added this
could have been much more.
Conclusion My hypothesis was that it was predicted that the pots which had the fertilizer in them
would grow more because the fertilizer aids the plant and speeds up processes like
CRITERION C
photosynthesis. After getting the results, I found that my hypothesis was correct. The pots
that had the fertilizer in them grew significantly more than the pots without fertilizer. It is
remarkable to observe the significant impact fertilizer can have on plant growth. This
information would be crucially important to farmers that constantly need to make sure their
plants and crops are growing well but also at a fast pace. Fertilizers could solve lots of
problems if used in certain amounts.
Evaluation
What is the Effect of error on calculated result Explain an improvement to
error the method that would
benefit the investigation
and make it more reliable.
Amount of Because the plants were so far away If the plants were closer
Sunlight from each other on the window sill together it would mean
where they are getting sunlight, that the plants are closer
some plants were getting more together so that the data is
sunlight than others which could lead more accurate.
to inaccurate results and misleading
of information.
Amount of Since we were using a 50ml If we were to use a
Water measuring cylinder the marking on measuring cylinder with a
the cylinder had to be bigger than if lower volume (Ex: 25ml
using a 25ml measuring cylinder cylinder) then the marking
which means it is possible that some can be more accurate
plants were getting more water than which means the plants are
others. getting a more equal
amount of water.
Amount of For the plants that were getting 0.2 If the measuring was done
Fertilizer grams of fertilizer on the first day, over a series of different
there could have been a chance that methods, the measurement
the measurements could have been a is likely to be more
bit inaccurate which would lead to accurate which means the
the result of the experiment being results and data collected
wrong since there could have been will also be more accurate.
too much, or too little fertilizer
added.
Criterion C Rubric – Processing and evaluating
7-8 5-6 3-4 1-2 0
Correctly collect,
Results Correctly collect, Correctly collect and
organize, transform and Collect and present data
organize and present present data in Not
(Present collected present data in in numerical and/or
data in numerical and/or numerical and/or visual attempted
and transformed numerical and/or visual visual forms
data) visual forms forms
forms
Discussion
Accurately interpret data
Accurately interpret
(Interpret data and describe results Accurately interpret data Not
data and describe results Accurately interpret data
and results using using correct scientific and describe results attempted
scientific using scientific reasoning
reasoning
reasoning)
Conclusion Discuss the validity of a Outline the validity of a State the validity of a State the validity of a Not
hypothesis based on the hypothesis based on the hypothesis based on the hypothesis with limited attempted
(Discuss the
outcome of a scientific outcome of a scientific outcome of a scientific reference to a scientific
validity of a
hypothesis based investigation investigation investigation investigation
on the outcome of
the scientific
investigation)
Evaluation Discuss the validity of Outline the validity of State the validity of the State the validity of the
the method based on the the method based on the method based on the method with limited Not
(Discuss the
outcome of a scientific outcome of a scientific outcome of a scientific reference to a scientific attempted
validity of the
method) investigation investigation investigation investigation
Suggestions Describe improvements Outline improvements or State improvements or
State limited
or extensions to the extensions to the extensions to the
(Describe improvements or Not
method that would method that would method that would
Improvements or extensions to the attempted
extensions to the benefit the scientific benefit the scientific benefit the scientific
method
method) investigation investigation investigation
