A fair test with four bean seed cups runs through this 3-page 2nd grade sheet. Cup A gets water and sunlight, Cup B water in a dark closet, Cup C sunlight and no water, and Cup D neither. On page 1 students predict yes or no for each cup. Page 2 shows the cups after two weeks, a tall green plant, a thin pale one and two dry seeds, and four questions ask which seeds grew and what plants need. It fits NGSS 2-LS2-1, with the answer key on page 3.
2-LS2-1
“Plan and conduct an investigation to determine if plants need sunlight and water to grow.”
Students compare cups with and without water and sunlight, then use the picture of the results on page 2 to say what plants need.
Four labeled cups with sun and water symbols, and a table where students write yes or no for whether each seed will grow.
Four cups drawn after two weeks. Cups A and B show plants, Cups C and D show dry seeds. Four questions ask which seeds started to grow, which plant looked healthiest, what seeds need to start growing and what plants need to stay green.
Cups A and B sprout, Cup A is healthiest, seeds need water to start and plants need water and sunlight to stay healthy. The predictions are marked as the student's own choices.
Predict, then reveal
Have students fill in the prediction table and share before they turn to page 2. Cup B is the one that surprises most of them.
Run the real test
Plant beans in four cups the week before and use this sheet to record what happens. Page 2 then shows what the class might see.
Evidence sentences
Ask students to start answer 5 with "Cup A is greener than Cup B because". It teaches them to point to the picture for proof.
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