Factors affecting seed germination: practical | Science

Starter quiz

Which of the following are true about seeds?
- They are cells.
- They are zygotes.
- They are multicelluar. ✓
- They are living organisms. ✓
True or false? Seeds contain a food store.
- True ✓
- False
What is germination?
- The process where fertilisation takes place.
- The process where a seed is formed.
- The process where a plant grows from a seed. ✓
- The process where the nuclei of gametes fuse together.
- The process where a zygote is formed.
What type of reproduction produces seeds?
- Asexual
- Sexual ✓
Put the following stages of development in the right order.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Zygote
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Embryo
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  Seed
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Seedling
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  Plant
What do plants need to grow?
- Water ✓
- Space ✓
- A high temperature
- Light ✓
- Nutrients ✓

Exit quiz

Which of these do cress seeds not need to germinate?
- Water
- Oxygen
- Nutrient solution ✓
- Warmth
Match the variable to its description.
- Independent
  
  ⇔
  
  This is the variable that you change or choose in an investigation. ✓
- Dependent
  
  ⇔
  
  This is the variable that is measured. ✓
- Control
  
  ⇔
  
  These are the variables that are kept the same. ✓
Which of the following would not be part of a method?
- Step-by-step instructions on how to carry out a scientific investigation.
- The safety instructions.
- A drawing of equipment used in an experiment.
- A list of equipment used in an experiment.
- A picture of the experimental results. ✓
What is the independent variable in an investigation into the effect of age on heart rate?
- 'age' ✓
What would be the dependent variable in an investigation into watering frequency on the height of sunflowers?
- The height of the sunflower plants. ✓
- How much water the plants are given.
- The type of soil they are planted in.
- How often they are watered.
If you are investigating watering frequency on plant height, what variables would you need to control?
- The amount of soil. ✓
- The frequency you water the plants.
- The amount of water. ✓
- The amount of light. ✓
- The amount of warmth. ✓

Worksheet

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Some seeds (e.g. cress seeds) will germinate on cotton wool in the right conditions.
Planning an investigation and writing a method for factors affecting the germination of seeds on cotton wool.
Deciding which variable to change to become the independent variable and what values to investigate.
Deciding which variable to measure to conclude on the effect (the dependent variable).
Deciding which variables to keep the same to ensure a valid conclusion (control variables).

Common misconception

The independent variable is also measured, so this often gets confused with the dependent variable.

Use the definition for the dependent variable that it is being measured for the purpose of seeing what has happened at the end; the effect that the independent variable has had.

Keywords

Germination - Process where a plant grows from a seed.
Independent variable - Variable that you change or choose to investigate.
Dependent variable - Variable you measure to conclude on the effect of the independent variable.
Control variable - Variables that you keep the same.
Method - Describes how an investigation should be carried out, it has clear and detailed written instructions.