GREENHOUSE GADGETS
DESIGN CHALLENGE PURPOSE
Construct a greenhouse prototype that will successfully grow vegetable seeds.
DILEMMA
Your team just swam ashore after your boat sank during a storm at sea. Once on shore, you found that the island had some vegetation but no people. This is a tropical island; therefore, there is very little soil, mostly sand. In order to survive on this island until help arrives, you will need a food source. When the ship sank, several items, including vegetable seeds, washed up on shore. These items will need to be utilized in order to grow vegetables. In order to survive, you and your team will need to fi gure out a way to plant the seeds and get them to grow.
MISSION
Create a greenhouse prototype that supports the growth of vegetable seeds.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
When energy from the sun is absorbed by a plant, a chemical reaction occurs causing the formation of sugar, which serves as food for the plant. In order for this process known as photosynthesis to occur, plants need sunlight, water, air, and other nutrients.
The greenhouse effect is the trapping of the sun’s heat in the lower atmosphere. This effect can be used to promote warmth for plant growth.
Idea: How to demonstrate the greenhouse effect. Using two identical containers, place the same amount of water in each. Take and record the temperature of the water in each container. Put one of the containers in a sealed plastic bag. Place both containers in a sunny location (or under a heat lamp to simulate the sun) for 1 hour. Take and record the temperature of each container and discuss the difference in the water temperature and what caused it.
TARGET VOCABULARY
germinate
greenhouse effect
humidity
Photosynthesis
MATERIALS
1/3 cup of water
3 cups of potting soil
aluminum foil
compact disc cases
empty 2 liter soda bottles
index cards
paper towel
plastic freezer bags
plastic wrap
shoe boxes
tape
vegetable seeds
ENGINEERING TASK
TEST TRIAL
ANALYZE
REDESIGN
Construct a greenhouse prototype that will successfully grow vegetable seeds.
Test your greenhouses over a two-week period, making observations and comparisons every three days. (Germination can take up to 10 days.) Record any seed growth to the nearest ¼ in.
Reflect on your designs what would you do differently.
After 10 days, redesign your prototypes, including altering the original sketches using a colored pencil to show the changes you have made. The goal is a more effective greenhouse. The new design needs approval by both team members to move forward.
REFLECTIONS
AFTER TEST TRIAL 1
Did your greenhouse allow for germination of the seed?
ANALYSIS
What were the differences between the prototypes with the most and least growth of the seed? What was the difference in the water temperature and what caused it?
AFTER TEST TRIAL 2
What changes did you include that made your design more effective?
ANALYSIS
What were the differences between the prototypes with the most and least growth of the seed? What was the difference in the water temperature and what caused it?
AFTER TEST TRIAL 3
What changes did you include that made your design more effective?
TECHNOLOGY: Create an advertisement about your prototype. Be creative in your advertisement designs (e.g., include color, pictures, and lots of details.)
Arts: Write a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency convincing them to purchase your prototype design. https://www.epa.gov/students/forms/contact-us-about-environmental-education
Math: During all observations you were asked to measure the growth of their seed to the nearest ¼ of an inch. Now take all of your measurements and produce a line plot representing all of your data using Google Sheets, Numbers or Excel.