Does Size Really Matter? Using Bulb Observations to Make Predictions Overview: Once you've observed tulip bulbs from the outside, in (Observing Tulips: Part 1 and Part 2), you can jump into making predictions about how the size or weight of bulbs might affect their growth in the spring. Laying the Groundwork Pull out the class list of bulb simililarties and differences you created in Part 1 of Observing Tulips. Exploration: Make Predictions Chances are, students noticed size or weight differences among the bulbs they compared. Ask, Do you think the size or weight of bulbs might affect their growth? If so, how? Why do you think that? Make some predictions individually or as a class. Use students' ideas (e.g., "I predict that bigger bulbs will have bigger flowers.") along with these fill-in-the-blank statements, reworded for your grade level: I predict that bigger (or heavier) bulbs will come up/bloom ________________ than smaller (or lighter) bulbs because ________________. I predict that ___________________'s (student name) bulb will come up/bloom first (second, last, etc.) in the spring because _______________________. Save class charts and predictions so you can revisit them in the spring. Spring Journaling and Discussion Questions How did what happened to the tulips compare with your predictions? How would you explain what happened? Does the size or weight of a bulb seem to affect when it blooms or what it looks like? What other things might affect these? What questions do you have? How might we find answers? This Season Teachers Kids Orientation Registration Search Copyright 1997-2008 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Contact us.