Seasons
and Cycles:
Indoor Bulb Experiments
 |
What
would happen to my bulbs if…
While waiting for your garden to grow, you can use the time to experiment with
bulbs indoors. "Forcing" bulbs can bring your experiments conveniently
closer to your classroom.
How to Start?
Selecting Bulbs for Forcing
Choose bulb varieties clearly marked "good for forcing." Store
the bulbs in a cool, dark location (35-55 degrees F) until you're ready
to plant them. (A refrigerator is ideal.) Do not subject the bulbs
to extreme heat or freezing temperatures.
Setting Up Your Experiments
|
What
effect does the cold have on the bulbs?
Include a fair test placed at room temperature. |
1. As a class, have students brainstorm and list all the possible variables that might affect the bulbs. What research questions do you have about each variable?
2. Go through the list you created. Ask students how they might design an experiment to test each question on the list.
Inquiry
Strategy Spotlight |
Planting
Your Bulbs
Plant the bulbs in big enough pots and fill these with potting soil.
 |
 |
 |
|
If
the pots are deep place small rocks in the bottom for drainage.
|
It
is recommended that you position the bulbs level with
the top of the pot with a small gap between each bulb and the
edge of the pot.
|
Cover
the bulbs with soil and gently pat it down. Label each pot
with the type of bulb, the date planted and the experimental
treatment.
|
Then water
the pots well and let drain.
Now the bulbs are ready for their
cold treatment experimenting to begin.
Go
to Part 2- Putting Bulbs
into Cold Storage
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