ALA Gen Bio Laboratory Activity No.

1:
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD: Experimental set-up on Plant Responses to Light

INTRODUCTION: The Scientific Method

The Scientific Method, also called the “hypothetical-deductive method” is a way of formally and
objectively investigating natural phenomena. The Scientific Method provides scientists with a basis from which to
examine specific questions in a particular area of interest. For example, a biologist may want to understand
specific behavioral patterns of an endangered species in order to find a better way of protecting it from
exploitation or a medical doctor may wish to test the side effects of a particular drug or medicine, to make sure
that these side effects are not harmful or lethal to humans. The Scientific Method is the way all of these
problems or questions may be addressed.

The method consists of the following

generalized “steps”:
1. Formulation of a question or problem –
this part helps you identify what you want to
study or investigate. The question or problem
may be phrased in a simple and direct
question. Example: Why do the leaves of
the acacia tree fall-off every summer?

2. Formulation of a hypothesis – the

hypothesis is drawn from the observations
that you have made regarding your problem
or question. It is a potential and testable
“answer” of explanation regarding your
problem. Example: The leaves of the acacia
fall-off every summer due to the lack of
water.

3. Testing the hypothesis through

experimentation – the hypothesis must be
tested for its validity or if the hypothesis is
correct. This is one of the difficult steps in
the scientific method since there may be
several possible explanations or answers to
your problem. This is why it is best to keep
your hypothesis simple and direct as well as
develop a test (experiment) that is repeatable.

4. Formulation of a conclusion based on your

tests and observations – the first question
you must ask after you have completed your
tests and observations is: Does my results
support the hypothesis? If yes, then you can
now draw a general conclusion which can be
applied to different situations. If not, then go
back and re-examine your hypothesis and
formulate new ones but based on your
improved knowledge.

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 Life on earth runs on energy from the sun (solar-powered). Plants, algae and some bacteria utilize solar
energy and convert it into sugars. This process is called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis forms the foundation of
our food chain as well as producing most of the oxygen in the atmosphere. Plants and other photosynthetic
organisms produce tons and tons of food each year. The chemical energy stored in this food fuels metabolism to
sustain life (https://cleanet.org/clean/literacy/energy3.html)

Photosynthetic plants need sunlight in order to grow. As a result, most plants are predisposed by
genetic programming to grow towards a source of light (usually sunlight). The plant’s tendency to detect light is
called phototropism but how does the plant or (germinating seed) detect light when it is buried underground?
Another process, known as geotropism allows plants to determine the direction of the earth’s gravitational pull
and “knows” that sunlight is in the opposite direction. The embryonic plant’s first growth pushes it upward until
it emerges from the soil and tends to grow in a direction that maximizes exposure to light
(https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/phototropism).

Learning Objectives:
The study/investigation has the following objectives:
 Perform the basic steps involved in the Scientific Method.
 To illustrate the importance of sunlight young mung bean plants.
 To show the responses of plants (mung bean) to light (phototropism).

Laboratory Method/Procedure:
A. Experimental Set-up Materials
The following will be the materials needed for the experimental set-up:

 10 mongo seed (monggos)  Box cutter

 Shoe box with cover  Masking tape
 Used plastic lid or cover (e.g. Nescafe cap)
 Camera (your smartphone will suffice)
 Cotton

B. Selection of Seeds for Germination

Commercially available (mongo beans) will be used in this investigation. Viable seeds will be selected by
putting the all the seeds in a container of water. Discard seeds that float. Select 10-15 mongo seeds. These
mongo beans will be germinated on an improvised Petri dish (used plastic cover or lid/cap) using moist cotton as
the substrate for seed germination.

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C. The Experimental Set-up and Treatment
 Phototropism Maze. For this set up, cut an opening (approximately 5cm2) on one corner of the shoe
box Using card board install a simple “maze-like barrier” within the box with the opening of the box is
partially blocking the maze (see sample illustration). Install only a simple maze. Moist the cotton with
water and place it inside the plastic cap or lid. The moistened cotton will act as the substrate (“soil”) for
the plant. Place the mongo seeds on the moist cotton substrate. Take an initial photo of your
experimental set-up from the top view. This will be your first data (in the form of a photo observation).

D. Maintenance and Monitoring of the Set-up

Place you set-up in a dry, cool area with ample
amount of sunlight available (near a window). Monitor and
moisten the cotton substrate of your set-up every two (2)
days. Opening the box during monitoring should be done
briefly to ensure that germinating plant only receives
sunlight through the 5cm2 opening. Take photos & write
your observation on the Worksheet Matrix.

E. Data Gathering and Analysis

Take photos of the plant’s progress through the
maze. The photos will be used to compare descriptively
the effect of light (phototropism) on the direction of
growth the plant follows over time.
Formulate your conclusions based on the
descriptive data (photos) gathered. The photos should be
arranged in chronological order to show the effects of
phototropism on germinating mongo beans.
Accompanying the photos will be the written
descriptions/observations. Photos and written
observations will be placed in a matrix (or table) shown in ttps://www.agclassroom.org/me/matrix/lessonplan_print.c
the worksheet. fm?lpid=352

Answer A. Guide Questions on the Worksheet. Using the photos that you have taken over the
course of the experiment/lab activity, make a diagrammatic flow using your experiment results B. Draw a flow
chart… (i.e. photos & descriptions). You may pattern it from the illustration or diagram of the Scientific
Method shown in page 1 (see also inset). All your data (observations & photos) should be entered in the C.
Photo/observation Matrix in page 6.

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Laboratory Worksheet No. 1:
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD: Plant Responses to Light
Name: Werlyn Mae E. Gonzaga Date:
Section: A Score:

A. GUIDE QUESTIONS:

1. Write a simple hypothesis to suit the experiment: __________________________________________

he mongo seed grow so fast for how many days

__________________________________________________________________________________
only. Because the warmth of the sunlight makes the seeds germinated and grow better. The

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mongo seed has grown into a fully grown plant with healthy green leaves. Mongo seed grow

__________________________________________________________________________________
day by day iven in a small anount of sunlight.

2. What is phototropism? _______________________________________________________________

Phototropism is the developement of a living being because of a light

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improvement. Phototropism is regularly seen is plant, however can likewise happen in different

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creatures like parasites. The phones on the plant that are farthest from the light have a

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compound considered auxin that responds when phototropism happens.

3. Write your general conclusions about the experiment:

My hypothesis was that mongo seed would grow taller day by day. My results do support my
__________________________________________________________________________________

hypothesis. I think the Test i did went smoothy and I had no problems, except for the fact that
__________________________________________________________________________________

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few seed are growing not all and only one is growing taller not the other and I the tall plant in

__________________________________________________________________________________
other container ant it grow more that i expect for a day only. I like the result of my Assignment

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because my plant did not die i expect that i failed because i change mongo seed everyday.
Because my seed will die and the lizard or chicken eat my seed and when i check my seed in
__________________________________________________________________________________

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the morning i saw only few so i change the seeds agian and thank fully i can only grow one

__________________________________________________________________________________
seed.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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B. Draw a flow chart to represent the process of how you did or conducted the experiment:

The experiment is going to be the rate of the mongo seed in

growing for a small amount of sunlight and it grow faster for
how many days only.

Why does monggo seed grow so fast for a small

amount of sunlight only?

The mongo seed grow so fast for how many days

only. Because the warmth of the sunlight makes
the seeds germinated and grow better. The
mongo seed has grown into a fully grown plant
with healthy green leaves. Mongo seed grow day
by day iven in a small anount of sunlight.

Materials A mongo seed in a pastic lid that I put

-Mongo Seeds -Box cutter
-masking tape
near in a window.
-Shoe Box -camera
-plastic lids or cover -cotteon

After a day the seed will grow and it Pouring a small amount of water to
become a plant make the cotton stay wet.

First i make a hole from the top of the box and i put a card board inside to be look
like a maze in the inside. Then i pick some mongo seed and put it in the water,
and i get the plastic lid and I moistened the cotton and put it in side a plactic lid,
after i put the cotton i also put the seed on top of it. After that i put the box near in
the window to get some sunlight.

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C. Photo/Observation Matrix

Date of Photo Observations

Observation (Descriptive)

Note: You can regenerate (i.e. make a similar table on another sheet) the table/matrix above to fit your observations and photos.

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