8. Plant responses

• Experiment setup


  1. Put cotton wool into three petri dishes

  2. Add the same volume of water to each dish

  3. Add ten seeds to each dish

  4. Place them in a warm place where they won't be disturbed
• Seed germination


  1. Allow the seeds to germinate

  2. Add more water if the cotton wool dries out
• Seed thinning


  1. Ensure the petri dishes each contain the same number of seeds

  2. Remove any extra seeds if necessary
• Lighting conditions


  • One petri dish in full light on a windowsill
  • Second in a dark cupboard
  • Third in partial light
• Data collection


  1. Measure the height of each seedling daily for one week

  2. Record the results in a table
• Data analysis


  1. Calculate the mean of the seedlings each day

  2. Compare the mean heights in the three different locations