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Interpreting Plant Growth Through Linear Equations

A 9th Grade STEM Lesson

David Delikat

May 2024

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Notes for Teachers

Depending on what plant you use for the experiment, make sure you alot enough time for it to sprout and grow significantly.

(i.e. you may want to have the students plant their plant 4 weeks before the lesson and start collecting data)

If you’re short on time, you can choose a different science experiment to have them plot linear data. (i.e. how far can they throw a ball vs their height)

List of Materials

soil
individual pot
plant seeds
water
ruler
computer
paper/pencil

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Standards

Life Science

L1: Organisms are organized on a cellular basis and have a finite life span.

L2: Organisms require a supply of energy and materials for which they often depend on, or compete with, other organisms.

Standards

Algebra

A1.A-REI.D Represent and solve equations and inequalities graphically.

A1.A-REI.D.10 Understand that the graph of an equation in two variables is the set of all its solutions plotted in the coordinate plane, often forming a curve, which could be a line.

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Objectives:

Students will make observations about the growth of their plants.
Students will be able to interpret how adjusting different independent variables affect plant growth.
Students will be able to record and interpret data.
Students will be able to use collected data to create a linear graph.
Students will be able to interpret a graph and how slope relates to the context.

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Agenda

What are Linear Functions?

What is an independent variable?

How do we create a graph?

Introduction to linear functions

Introduction to what an independent variable is in the context of a scientific experiment

How to use the data to form a graph

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Linear Function Resources

Introduction Video

Webpage Resource

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Independent and Dependent Variables

a variable (often denoted by x ) whose variation does not depend on that of another.

The manipulated variable in the equation or experiment.��

Webpage

Video Resource

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Creating a graph and line of best fit

Steps:

Begin by plotting all your data.
Draw a shape that encloses all of the data, (try to make it smooth and relatively even).
Draw a line that divides the area that encloses the data in two even sized areas.

Line of Best Fit Video

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

How can we model plant growth through linear equations?

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Students can complete individually or in groups up to 4.
Give each group 2 plants to grow, one standard and one with a variable manipulated. (Students can choose their variable that they change.)
Each day/week have students measure their plant growth.
Students will create a graph for both of their plants and explain their thoughts on how their variable affected their plants growth.
Students will plot the data and create a linear equation to model the data.
Using the measurements they will create linear graphs for both of their plants and use them in their explanation.

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Assessment

Students will be assessed on:

The observations they make regarding their plants
The data they collected for both of their plants
The graph that they created baked on their data

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Differentiation

Can group students with strong peers to assist them with the over project.
Can use technology to help students create the graphs and equations.
Teacher can assist students throughout the process.
Can have students only grow one plant and monitor that.
Can use a fixed independent variable that has known results and then use guided notes to assist students in the process.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Students can continue their plant through and create more comprehensive graphs.
Give them more plants and have them form more hypotheses on different variables.
Give students new plants with different conditions and ask them to predict what height the plants will grow within a certain time frame.