Soil Composition, Plant Growth, and Fish Health

How does soil affect plant growth? How does soil affect fish health? How do plants affect fish health? How can we examine this relationship in the classroom?

Materials: 2 plastic soda bottles 4 plant seeds Worm soil Regular soil Scissors Masking Tape Permanent marker Fish Water Mesh netting

Procedure: 1. Get in groups of 4 (you have 30 seconds – if you cannot find a group in that time, you will be assigned a group). 2. Acquire materials 3. Cut the bottle 1/3 of the way from the top with the scissors. 4. Fill the bottom 2/3 of the bottle ½ full of water and put a fish in the water. Drop 2 pellets of fish food in the water. 5. Invert the top 1/3 of the bottle and place the mesh netting over the hole. 6. Fill the top with REGULAR SOIL and plant two seeds. Water. 7. Use the masking tape and marker to label your plant with your group name and the words “Regular soil”. Place it in the windowsill. 8. Repeat steps 3 through 7. Except, instead regular soil, use a mixture of regular soil and WORM SOIL. 9. Use the masking tape and marker to label your plant with your group name and the words “Worm soil”. Place it in the windowsill.

Data sheet: 1. Create two data sheets to record the growth rate of your plant and the lifespan of your fish. 2. These data sheets should have two columns, one for plant height measurements and one for fish health observations. 3. These data sheets should have 12 rows, one for every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next 4 weeks. 4. You will fill in these data sheets every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next 4 weeks. Always BRING IT TO CLASS!!!!!!! 5. You will record the plants heights in millimeters and make observations about your fish’s health.

Predictions:

On your data sheets, make predictions about what you think will happen with the two soils regarding your: Plant growth Fish health Regular Soil Plant Height (mm) Fish Observations

Mon April 16

Wed April 18

Fri April 20

Mon April 23

Wed April 25

Fri April 27

Mon April 30

Wed May 2

Fri May 4

Mon May 7

Wed May 9

Fri May 11