Lesson Plan: Identifying Variables with Plant Growing

This lesson is intended to help students identify the differences between independent and dependent variables. 

Title: Plant Growing and Identifying Variables 
Grade Level: 5^th Grade (can be adapted for other grade levels)

Objective: Students will be able to identify variables by setting up a lab experiment.

Procedure:

• Split students into groups of 4.  Each group will plant 3 different cups with pea pod seeds.
• One cup will only contain the pea pod seeds, one will contain the miracle grow, and one will contain the jobe sticks.  Each cup will contain 3 seeds. Students must make sure the same amount of soil is in each cup.
• Students will take care of the plants for 3 weeks. When feeding the plants, they should measure the same amount of water each time and give each plant the same amount of light.
• Student must write down what the independent and dependent variables are in the experiment.
• Students will measure how must each plant has grown everyday for three weeks, and record the results.

Materials:

• Soil -
• Miracle Grow
• Ruler
• Water
• Jobe Sticks
• Measuring Cups
• Pea Pod Seeds
• Plastic Cups
• Light Source

Assessment: Collect the students' writings of the dependent and independent variables and results.