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Tropism Investigation 
 
Created by: Rachel Heffelfinger 
 
Permission only to print for single classroom use. 

 
Instructions: 
The handout given to students can be found on page 3, and the teacher’s answer key is 
located on page 4. 
 
Students are asked to use the internet to fill out the table. This will require devices to 
be present in order to complete this assignment. 
 
Suggestions: 
This assignment is best given after students have learned about tropism. It can be 
given as an introductory assignment to get students thinking about this topic, but if 
this method is chosen, you will need to make sure students know where to find good 
reliable sources as they may not be able to critique websites themselves for reliability. 
 
Google Doc: 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wWImrzy-2-6chWknkp0AimfSroSEeOP-EU2Zq
RKXoYA/copy  

   
Name:​______________________________ 

Tropism Investigation 
Directions: Use the internet to investigate how tropism can be seen in different plants. Fill out the 
table with your findings. 

Type of Tropism  Plant Name  Description of what happens 

   

Positive Tropism 

   
Negative 
Tropism 

   

Phototropism 

   

Heliotropism 

   

Geotropism 

   

Thigmotropism 
Name:​_______​KEY​____________________ 

Tropism Investigation 
Directions: Use the internet to investigate how tropism can be seen in different plants. Fill out the 
table with your findings. 

Type of Tropism  Plant Name  Description of what happens 

Sunflower  Plant moves towards the stimulus 

Daisies 
Positive Tropism  Ivy 

Mouse-ear (thale)  Plant moves away from the stimulus 

Negative  cress 
Tropism  Sensitive Plant 

Mouse-ear (thale)  Plant moves toward or away from light. 

cress 
Phototropism  Sunflower 
Daisies 

Sunflower  Plant follows the movement of the sun. 

Daisies 
Heliotropism 

Bean sprouts  Roots move toward the center of gravity. Stem 

moves away from the center of gravity. 
Geotropism 

Venus flytrap  Plant reacts to touch. 

Sensitive plant 
Thigmotropism  Grape vines 
Ivy