Performance Task – Science (PEP G5)

Ways of Growing Food

Name of Student:

Name of School:

Part 1 – Planning the Investigation

Jenna and Patrick want to grow tomatoes but disagree on the best method.
Patrick thinks chemical fertilizer will produce more and heavier tomatoes.
Jenna believes chicken manure is better.

They set up three pots:

• Pot A: Soil only (no fertilizer)
• Pot B: Soil + chemical fertilizer
• Pot C: Soil + chicken manure

1. Which method was used in Pot C?

Soil only Chemical fertilizer Chicken manure

2. Complete the hypothesis:
“If tomato plants are grown using chemical fertilizers, they will produce ______.”

nicer looking and heavier tomatoes healthier tomatoes that taste better heavier tomatoes in larger amounts nicer-looking tomatoes that taste better

3. Are Patrick’s steps correct?  Tick ✓ or ✗.

Steps	Correct (✓)	Incorrect (✗)
A. Use different tomato seedlings in each pot.
B. Use seedlings of similar size and leaves.
C. Give all pots the same sunlight.
D. Water Pot A in morning, Pots B/C in afternoon.

Part 2 – Observations

After 12 weeks, Jenna and Patrick counted soil organisms:

Week	Pot A	Pot B	Pot C
1	12	14	10
12	12	5	10

4a. What will likely happen to organisms in Pot A after 3 more weeks?

Increase Stay the same Decrease

4b. Why did organisms decrease in Pot B?

Part 3 – Results and Conclusion

5. Which pot produced the most tomatoes?

Pot A (soil only) Pot B (chemical fertilizer) Pot C (chicken manure)

6. How many more tomatoes did Pot C produce than Pot A?

8 12 20

7. Which method do you recommend?

Soil only (Pot A) Chemical fertilizer (Pot B) Chicken manure (Pot C)

8. Which pot grew the heaviest tomatoes?

Pot A Pot B Pot C

9. Compare Pot B and Pot C: Pot B’s tomatoes were _______ than Pot C’s.

lighter heavier the same

10. If Jenna and Patrick repeated the experiment but forgot to water the plants for 2 weeks, what would likely happen to the number of tomatoes in all three pots?

Increase (more tomatoes) Decrease Stay the same