Looking for a school/science project for kids

[Bill Johnson]

Any thoughts or ideas out there for a good school/science project for kids that is related to growing tomato plants. I've have an eight year old son that I would like to have a couple of projects at that ready for him to try as a project for school, etc.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Bill

[PaulF]

How about the effect of sunlight duration on the growth of the plants. Effect of fertilization, music, thigmotropism (touch stimulus), watering, etc.

Only problem with tomatoes is that school is out for the year by the time the effects can be seen in the fruit unless it is a summer project where photo evidence can be used for the following year

[Sorellina]

Our 6 year old successfully raised a tomato hornworm caterpillar to a moth last summer. We documented the event with several photos and made a booklet together about it for him to take to school in the Fall. The booklet now lives in his classroom for the other children to learn about nature.

We've also taught him how to propagate tomato plants by rooting a sucker in some water and transplanting the cloned plant. He also found a volunteer in the garden that turned out to be an accidental cross of San Marzano and Yellow Pear. He saved seeds and is growing out the F2 generation this year.

Kids can learn what you know..you just have to go slower and it also helps if your child has an active interest. Another thing that works for success is to have your materials together before you start teaching, especially for younger children. I approach early childhood teaching like making risotto. Have all your ingredients in front of you before you begin, lol. Otherwise, impatience takes over and the focus is gone in a flash.

Buona Fortuna

[melody]

My niece and I did one that got rave reviews when she was 8. We called it 'Light Side Up'.

We took 3 tomato seedlings and put them in individual containers. One was the 'control' cup sitting upright and normal. One cup was laid on it's side and the last one was hung upside down in a contraption that I rigged with wire, coffee filter and a doll stand. (Just call me McIver)

Anyway, over 3 weeks she recorded what happened. It was simple enough for an 8 year old to understand and explain. The results were easily seen. And it was done with the Scientific Method that everyone was required to use.
It was a great success...and she actually learned something that she couls apply elsewhere.

[cdntomato]

Not sure if this fits the bill or not:

http://www.tomatosphere.org/

Googling gets more info on this project.
Kits can be obtained from
http://www.stokeseeds.com/cgi-bin/St...eds.storefront

Jennifer

[NCTIM]

My daughter is considering doing a project on the germination and growth rate of tomato seed in various mediums for earth science. If in fact she uses this idea, she will start 10 seed in the following... sphagnum peatmoss, a mix of sphagnum peatmoss and perlite (jiffy seed starting mix), garden soil, sterilized garden soil (oven baked), yard dirt and playground sand and regular potting mix(miracle grow).

Conditions and care for all will be the same.

Tim

[melody]

We did something similar with different soil types in another year. We used playground sand, clay, soil from the yard, potting mix and compost.

We used radish seeds as opposed to tomato seeds because she didn't tell me in time to get tomatoes up and going and the radishes matured faster.

(seems like I always get these requests at the last minute)

[valereee]

I think germination rates would be a fun project for kids that age. Sow one seed in each of 20 seed pots. Put ten seed pots on a heat mat, the other ten not. Record the temperature of the soil in one (centrally located) pot from each group each day. Record the number of days to first germination and 100% germination (or stop at 14 or 21 days) for each group. Make a chart showing germination rates for the heated vs. nonheated groups.

Val