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Seventh Grade Life Science Hands-on Experiments

Seventh-grade life science provides many opportunities for you to perform hands-on science experiments. Life science is the study of living things and life processes. It includes biology, medicine, anthropology, botany, genetics, food science and environmental science, as well as many high-tech specialized areas of study. As you learn about humans, plants and animals, conduct some experiments to enhance your understanding of life science.
  1. Growing Algae

    • Experiment to find out what encourages algae to grow.

      Obtain algae from a pond or aquarium. Put half the algae in each of two clear plastic bottles of purified water and squeeze two drops of 10-15-10 liquid plant food into each bottle. Pour enough water out of a third water bottle to leave 1 inch of air space at the top. Drill a hole in the cap large enough for aquarium tubing to fit. Push the tubing through the hole so it will end in the bottle’s air space. Add 1 tsp. brewer’s yeast and 2 tsp. sugar. Screw on the cap and use silicone sealant around the hole where the tube enters the bottle. Put the bottles outside, out of direct sunlight, keeping the temperature between 20 and 24 degrees Celsius. Place the free end of tubing halfway into one of the algae bottles. Monitor the bottles for a month and compare the results.

    What Makes Tomatoes Ripen and Germinate?

    • What makes tomato seeds germinate and tomatoes ripen?

      On a tomato plant with 10 or more full-grown green tomatoes, label five tomatoes “C” (control) and five “E” (experiment) using a permanent marker. One at a time, lower each “E” tomato into a pan of very hot water for five minutes. Observe the plant for about three weeks. Record how many of each type of tomato ripened. Line the sides of two glass jars with moist paper towels. Label the jars “C” and “E.” One at a time, cut each tomato open, remove 20 seeds and put them in the appropriate jar between the glass and paper towel. Put the jars in a sunny spot for several days and record the number of sprouts in each.

    Is Wi-Fi Radiation Safe for Plants?

    • Place four identical healthy plants near the Wi-Fi spot in your home. Find the spot in the house where the Wi-Fi signal is absent or faint, using the signal detector of a wireless device. Place four more identical plants at this location. Perform the same care for all plants and use plant lights. Observe the plants after one month and record any differences.

    The Effect of Temperature on Mold Growth

    • Find out if temperature affects the growth of mold on cheese.

      You’ll need two clear, plastic containers, two identical size chunks of cheddar cheese, two thermometers, a towel and a digital camera with tripod. Put a piece of cheese in each container, take a picture and close the lid. Put one container in the refrigerator and the other covered with a towel in a warm room. Record the temperatures of the refrigerator and the air in the room. Every two days, record the temperatures and take new pictures of both containers from the same angle and height as the first pictures. After two weeks, take final pictures and temperature readings. Measure the area of the mold and its height to see if temperature affects mold growth.

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