Old Bulbs, New Tricks
Each
fall you must plant NEW BULBS for your JOURNEY NORTH garden.
However, there are countless ways you can use
your old bulbs the following fall.
Growing Experiments
After investigating their own new bulbs, have students dig up the old bulbs.
The old bulbs, if they were properly watered and let die back naturally
over the summer will be in perfect shape for experimental projects.
Tulips generally can grow and flower with satisfaction for up to
5 years.
Before digging them up, predict
what they'll look like, thendig and inspect them, weigh them, measure
them, compare
them with new bulbs, and finally replant them. How are old
bulbs different from new ones? Have students predict how
each old bulb will grow the next spring, based on its unique
characteristics.
Re-use Old Bulbs for This Lesson
New Trick: Forcing the Issue
- Indoor Bulb Experiments (force tulips or grape hyacinth)
- Forcing Bulbs (force paperwhite narcissus)
Only a Few Will Do!
Keep in mind, you only need a few NEW bulbs each year. If your budget doesn't allow for new bulbs for
all students, just purchase a half dozen or so.
Designate the new bulbs as your "JOURNEY NORTH" tulips, and ONLY report to Journey North when the new bulbs emerge and bloom.(But tell us about your "EXPERIMENTAL" garden using old bulbs in the Comments of your report.) Don't forget, the planting instructions are an important part of the large Journey North tulip study, so follow them closely!
National Science Education Standards
Science as Inquiry
Ask a question about objects, organisms, events. (K-4)
Employ simple equipment/tools to gather data and extend senses. (K-4)
Scientists use different kinds of investigations depending on the questions they are trying to answer. Types of investigations include describing objects, events, and organisms; classifying them; and doing a fair test (experimenting). (K-4)
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