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Spotlite Design Challenge:

Can Plants Dance?

Sponsored by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

View this page in Spanish
Ver esta pagina en Espanol
Challenge Flyer
(English version) Challenge Flyer
(versión en español )
Register

Register your learner production teams to receive a Spotlite Design Challenge starter kit with certificates and badges.

A common misconception about plants is that they don't move. While it is true that many plants are rooted in place and don't move from one location to another, they do have a way of responding to their environment and moving in their own way.

Identify the problem: As botanists, your challenge is to gather and share evidence to confront the misconception that plants can’t move. Create a video that captures your questions and findings.

Follow these steps to think and act like scientists as you dig through data and experiment to support a claim that confronts a misconception.

MISCONCEPTION: Plants can’t move.
  1. Choose one of the three CLAIMS to refute or disprove the misconception that plants can’t move.
    • CLAIM 1: Some plants move in response to light.
    • CLAIM 2: Gravity influences some plants’ movement.
    • CLAIM 3: Some plants move toward water
  2. Do your own RESEARCH by conducting investigations to gather data and collect evidence to support your claim.

SAFETY WARNING

Safety is important anytime you conduct a science investigation. Common sense guidelines should govern all work.

  • Keep all workspaces neat and organized.
  • Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as closed-toed shoes.
  • Follow directions and ask for clarification.

Once you have completed your research, create a Spotlite video to share your findings and challenge others to gather their own evidence to confront the misconception.

  1. Review the Criteria for the Spotlite video.
  2. Create the Spotlite video.