Investigating Seed Germination: SNSE 121 Assignment, Grade 5 Science

This assignment analyzes a seed germination experiment suitable for Grade 5 learners, following the SNSE 121 curriculum. It begins with an introduction to seed germination, outlining the essential external and internal factors influencing the process. The assignment then addresses specific learning objectives by formulating three lesson outcomes aligned with subject-specific aims within the CAPS Natural Science framework. It includes a problem statement, a three-step experimental method, and identification of independent, dependent, and constant variables. The analysis incorporates questions based on Bloom's taxonomy to interpret the learner observation table and a graphical representation of the results. The experiment investigates the effects of water, oxygen, temperature, and sunlight on seed germination, providing detailed observations and conclusions about each setup. The document also provides references to relevant scientific literature and presents the experimental results in a table format.

The Germination of Seed

The Learner Observation Table
Introduction
The fundamental process of growth of a plant species from the single seed to that of a mature
plant via the intake of water and oxygen, in the presence of the correct temperature and light
intensity, is considered as the process of Seed Germination (Bradbeer, 2013). Example –
Sprouting of seedling from a seed (angiosperm or a gymnosperm)
The process influences the crop quality and crop yield and is dependent on essential External
and Internal factors.

The External Factors are that of – a) water b) oxygen/air c) temperature d) light (sunlight as
the environmental trigger).
Internal Factors causing seed dormancy are – a) Seed coat being water resistant and
resistant to gases restricts oxygen and water uptake b) immature or under-developed embryo
prevents germination c) presence of plant growth regulators (PGRs) inhibiting germination d)
more time required for some seed species before they germinate.
Q1) Make a copy of the relevant page in the CAPS
Natural Science Grade 5 and formulate three lesson
outcomes which focus on the three subject specific
aims.
Aim of the Experiment
Three aims on the concerned subject are provided below:
1. To investigate the presence of ‘water, oxygen and temperature’ as external factors
affecting seed germination
2. To investigate upon the absence of ‘water, oxygen and temperature’ as external
factors affecting seed germination
3. To investigate the absence of ‘sunlight’ affecting seed germination
Outcome of the Experiment
Three experiment outcomes focused on the aforementioned aims are provided below:
1. The seeds growing under the presence of all three external factors – water, oxygen
and temperature will attain good growth and best development. This is due to the
presence of all the 3 necessary external factors which aids in seed germination.
2. The seeds in absence of the three factors – water, oxygen and temperature will not
grow at all and eventually die as they need water and necessary temperature to be
activated and oxygen for further growth and development.
3. The seeds in absence of sunlight will grow and develop but will not be green in
colour due to absence of sunlight and will eventually wane off. This is because plants
need the presence of sunlight to make their own food via the process of
photosynthesis.

Q2) Formulate a problem statement for the experiment
Problem Statement
Would the absence of water, oxygen, temperature and sunlight affect the total number of
germinated seeds?
Q3) Write down a three step method to perform the
experiment
Apparatus Required for Experiment
i. 5 Boiling tubes
ii. Boiling tube racks
iii. Cotton
iv. Water
v. 5 seeds – bean/gram
METHOD OF EXPERIMENT
STEP 1: 5 boiling tubes are taken with cotton swabs for casing material and a seed inside
each filling 4 with water. Leaving 1 for “seed without water” condition, Setup B.
STEP 2: Out of the 4 boiling tubes with water - 1 is kept inside a dark cupboard (Setup C
“seed without sun-light” condition), 1 is placed inside refrigerator (Setup D “seed without
warmth/right temperature”), oil is poured over 1 boiling tube (Setup E “seed without
oxygen/air”) and 1 is kept as under indirect sunlight (Setup A).
STEP 3: The seed height (cm), Germination, Colour and Seed Development is noted in the
end for all the seeds.
Q4) Using the learner observation table identify (a)
independent variable/ (b) dependent variable/ (c)
constant variable in the experiment
From the learner observation table, we can see that the dependent, independent and constant
variables are as under:
a) Independent variable – warmth
b) Dependent variable – seed germination

c) Constant variable – cotton area, boiling tube surface provided, light, water, oxygen.
Q5) Formulate five more questions which aid learners
to interpret the information from the observation table.
The questions must be aimed at the first three levels of
Bloom’s taxonomy.
The Bloom’s Taxonomy, named after Benjamin Bloom, consists of 3-hierarchical model set
used in classifying the learning objectives in education into the levels of specificity and
complexity, covered in the domains of cognitive, sensory and affective domains. The major
focus lies on that of the cognitive domain in the traditional education system used frequently
for providing a framework to learning assessments, learning objectives and activities (Adams,
2015). The 6 levels in Blooms Taxonomy are: (1) Knowledge- consisting of recalling and
recognising facts (2) Comprehension – consisting of interpreting, classifying, exemplifying,
summarising, comparing, inferring and explaining (3) Application – consisting of executing
and implementation (4) Analysis – consisting of organising, differentiating and attributing (5)
Synthesis – Critiquing and Checking (6) Evaluating – Generating, Producing and Planning.
In this section 5 questions have been formulated to address the 1st three level of Bloom’s
Taxonomy.

(Source: Seaman, 2011)
Q1) In which of the underlying cases will the seed germinate and grow to survive?
A. Dry cotton surface, inside room
(Setup B)
B. Wet cotton, inside
refrigerator (Setup D)
C. Wet cotton, under sunlight
(Setup A)
D. Wet Cotton, inside cupboard
(Setup C)
Answer: C
Q2) In Setup C what was the reason behind the seeds to develop at first but die without
forming green leaves later?
A. Lack of water
B. Lack of air
C. Lack of Sunlight

D. Lack of temperature
Answer: C
Q3) In Setup B and Setup D what prime external factors were missing resulting in seed
death?
A. Lack of water
B. Lack of temperature
C. Lack of food
D. Lack of both water and temperature
Answer: D
Q4) In Setup E, the seeds sprouted first due to presence of water but later died due to
absence of which factor?
A. Air/Oxygen
B. Water
C. Food
D. Temperature
Answer: A
Q5) In Setup A the seed germinated (sprouted) into roots (radicle) under presence of all
external factors – water, oxygen, temperature and adequate sunlight. Which plant part
will be the next to develop as it grows under indirect Sunlight?
A. Stem and seed
B. Leaves and Stem
C. Flowers
D. Fruits and Seed

Answer: B

Q6) The results from the germination experiment in a
suitable graph. Ensure to include a heading, labels for
axes and the appropriate scale per axis.
Results (Appendix)
 Setup A – Presence of all external factor – water, oxygen, indirect sunlight,
temperature. Growth is graphically represented on a scale of 10 (Appendix).
Seed Germinated. This is due to the presence of all the 3 necessary external factors which
aids in seed germination (Bradbeer, 2013).
 Setup B – Presence of oxygen, sunlight, temperature. Absence of water. Growth is
graphically represented on a scale of 10 (Appendix).
Seed failed to Germinate. Seed requires water for activation and to break away from
dormancy, absence of which prevented seed Germination.
 Setup C - Presence of oxygen, water, temperature. Absence of sunlight. Growth is
graphically represented on a scale of 10 (Appendix).
Seed Germinated but Dying
Seed initially sprouted due to presence of other external factors like water and temperature,
but eventually is dying due to absence of sunlight. Plants need the presence of sunlight to
make their own food via the process of photosynthesis (Rajjou, et al., 2012). This helps them
to Survive.
 Setup D - Presence of oxygen, sunlight, water. Absence of correct temperature.
Growth is graphically represented on a scale of 10 (Appendix).
Seed failed to Germinate. Seed requires warmth or right temperature for activation and to
break away from dormancy, absence of which prevented seed Germination.
 Setup E - Presence of sunlight, water, temperature. Absence of oxygen. Growth is
represented graphically (Appendix).
Seed Germinated but Dying
Seed initially sprouted due to presence of oxygen dissolved in water. But later after that was
used up, lack of oxygen, prevented seed growth and resulted in wilting.

References
Adams, N.E., (2015). Bloom’s taxonomy of cognitive learning objectives. Journal of the
Medical Library Association: JMLA, 103(3), p.152.
Bradbeer, J.W., (2013). Seed dormancy and germination. Springer Science & Business
Media.
Rajjou, L., Duval, M., Gallardo, K., Catusse, J., Bally, J., Job, C. and Job, D., (2012). Seed
germination and vigor. Annual review of plant biology, 63, pp.507-533.
Seaman, M., (2011). BLOOM'S TAXONOMY. Curriculum & Teaching Dialogue, 13.

Appendix
Table – Germination of Seeds
A B C D E
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
6
4.5
15.1
0
5
15.6
5
16.3
0
6.5
17.6
0
8
0
5.6
Survival Chart
Height (cm) in 1 week
Growth achieved
Set-Up
Height
(cm)
(Day 3)
Height
(cm)
(Day 5)
Height
(cm)
(Day 7)
Survival
A 6 15.6 17.6 Survived
B 4.5 5 0 No
Germination
C 15.1 16.3 8 Germinated
but Dying
D 0 0 0 No
Germination
E 5 6.5 5.6 Germinated
but Dying

External Factor
(Water) External Factor
(Oxygen) External Factor
(Sunlight) External Factor
(Temperature) Growth Status
10 10 10 10 10
Setup A
Growth Factors
Range of Presence
External Factor
(Water) External Factor
(Oxygen) External Factor
(Sunlight) External Factor
(Temperature) Growth Status0
10 10 10
0
Setup B
Growth Factors
Range of Presence
External Factor
(Water) External Factor
(Oxygen) External Factor
(Sunlight) External Factor
(Temperature) Growth Status
10 10
0
10
5
Setup C
Growth Factors
Range of Presence