Today we started our GBE Trial #1 and followed Fairchild's protocol step by step:
PART 1: Mini Botany Lab Set up
A. Shelving Unit was moved from the bottom, to 18 cm from the bottom.
B. Light Placement was tricky. It took the effort of 5 students to get the lights clipped on. Some fingers may or may not have been bruised along the way, but we are all okay.
C. Timer Setup: 12 hour light periods
D. Growth Chamber Assembly: Panels of the same size are parallel to each other and we used the adhesive corner strips to connect it. We placed the battery into the thermometer and attached it to the side panel of the Growth Chamber.
PART 2: Planting our Test Plants
A. Media Preparation: We mixed 6 L of Turface (clay) with 6 L of fafard (soil) in a container with the help of our 1st grade buddies from Ms. Paola's class. We then added our bag of pre-measured fertilizer mix and 3 L of Water. The 6th and 1st grade students mixed it all up nice and even.
Side note: Thank you 1st graders for joining us this week! We loved sharing this experience with all of you!
B. Pot preparation: We numbered the labels 1-16. We have not added the PLANT NAME or the GBE # to the labels. We will do this next week.
In pots 1-4 we planted Mizuna (Johny's Seed)
In Pots 5-8 we planted Pak Choi Red Tatsoi
In pots 9-12 we planted Mizuna (Baker Greek Heirloom Seeds)
in pots 13-16 we planted Pak Choi Li Ren
We filled the pots with media up to the fill line and did not press down or compact the media in any way.
C. Randomizing our Plants: We used Random.org.
D. Plant assignments: Students were each assigned a plant they were going to track for the next 28 days. CHECK PLANT ASSIGNMENTS HERE
PART 3 Data Collection:
A. Lab Notebook: Our lab notebook has been filled out with our day 1 information. Students will collect data in this notebook about 3-5 days a week. Students will note:
Temperature of the room
Temperature of the growth chamber
Humidity in the growth chamber
amount of water added
Any other observations
B. Google Sheets: Our google sheets have been updated and filled in with our plant information:
