Activity 7: Activity Overview
This activity provides an opportunity for the students to learn about the water cycle and also the role of transpiration in the cycle. They conduct an experiment measuring the rate of transpiration. The main purpose of this activity is to hone the students’ skills in doing experiments as they investigate factors that could affect experimental results as well as possible experimental errors. The students are also given a chance
to investigate and appreciate human’s role on the water cycle.
Preparation and Materials Needed
Preparation
At least one day before the experiment, have all the materials ready and place them
on a table accessible to all the students. Have For You To Do as an assigned reading the night before the experiment. This is to familiarize the students with what is expected of them while doing the experiment the next day. Have the groups count off from 1 to 4. Give designated functions for each group member: 1 is responsible
for getting the materials, 2 is the reader, 3 is the recorder, and 4 is responsible for cleaning up the assigned work area.
On the day of the experiment, list the required materials for each group on the board.
Write the assigned function of each group member.
Materials/Equipment Needed (per group)
- 40-cm piece of plastic tubing
- 0.1 mL pipette
- water tank or wide-mouthed jar made of plastic or glass
- branch of Coleus or Zebrina
- garden scissors
- paper towels
- iron clamp
- timer
- graph paper
- ruler
- calculator
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