AQA new specification-REQUIRED PRACTICAL 8-Germination-B11.9

Germination Practical (RP 8). This practical was completed in 2 lessons. Students are required to collect data outside of lesson time. I’ve attached both lessons, mock data (lesson 2) and a sign in sheet so you can create your own groups and student rota. Good luck!

Lesson 1: Demo provided, students set up their practical, three conditions were created; full light-by windowsill, partial light-underneath windowsill and darkness-cupboard. The remainder of the lesson was spent discussing how to collect data, the student rota was explained. Students also used this time to assign roles to one another. Opportunity to collect data at break/lunch over 7 days (excluding weekends).

Lesson 2: Interpreting data, working out averages, plotting graph, biological drawings. Conclusion and evaluation of practical was given as homework.

Overall, this practical was very easy to set up but very fiddly to organise. Students need to take active approach as this practical needs to be done over 7 consecutive days, ownership to students. Mustard seeds were quick to germinate but were very poor at demonstrating phototropism. I would probably use coriander seeds next time. Also in the dark condition shoots grew very long, this confused students as light was absent (due to Etiolation), to complex for GCSE students to comprehend.

Spec ref: 5.4.1
Required practical: Investigate the effect of light or gravity on the growth of newly germinated seedlings. Record results as both length measurements and as careful, labelled biological drawings to show the effects.