1. When will our daffodils flower?

2. What do plants need to grow?
Can you think of some different things that your daffodils need to be able to grow?
Air
Sunlight
Water
Soil for
Nutrients
Warmth
Room to grow

3. What do plants need to grow?
Using your rain gauge and thermometer, which of these are you measuring in the Bulb Project?
Air
Sunlight
Water
Soil for
Nutrients
Warmth
Room to grow

4. What can schools do to make the Bulb Project a fair test?
Remember: to be a fair test, only the factors we are measuring should change (water and temperature). Everything else should stay the same, even at different schools.

5. Rainfall
Your rain gauge is to measure the amount of rainfall – the amount of water your bulbs are getting. How can you work out the total amount of rainfall you measured in December?
Add all of your rainfall records for December together and write down your answer for later.

6. Temperature
The daily weather recordings include the temperature from your thermometer. How could you work out the average temperature for December at your school?
1. Add together all of the temperatures you recorded in December.
2. Divide the sum by the number of days for which you have weather records. Write down your answer for later.

7. Rainfall Across the UK
This bar chart shows the average amount of rain per school in December for the four countries taking part in the Bulb Project (based on weather recordings sent to us by schools – thank you!)

8. Wales recorded the most rain in December!
Rainfall Across the UK
39mm
Wales recorded the most rain in December!
23mm
13mm
11mm
1. Which area had the most rain in December? 2. Did your school have more rain than the average for your country, or less?

9. Temperature across the UK
This line graph shows the average (mean) temperature in December for the four countries. We don’t have the average for January yet!

10. Temperature across the UK
Wales recorded the highest temperatures in December!
5.8°C
4.6°C
3.7°C
Which country had the warmest weather in December?
How does your school’s average temperature compare to the average temperature in your country in December?

11. Making a hypothesis
A hypothesis is the starting point for a science experiment or investigation.
Use these questions to create your
hypothesis:
Based on the rainfall and temperature in December, which country do you think daffodils will flower in first?
Why do you think so?
Write out your answer as below to create your hypothesis!
“I think that daffodils will flower first in ________
because ____________________________________.”
Remember that Wales had the most rain and the warmest temperature in December.

12. Average Rainfall per school (mm) Average Temperature (°C)
More to think about…
Do you think your school’s daffodils will flower earlier or later than other schools in your country?
Average Rainfall per school (mm)
Average Temperature (°C)
Scotland 13
4.6
England 23
3.7
Northern Ireland 11
5.8
Wales 39
7.0
If your prediction turns out to be wrong, what might be the reason?

13. Compare the weather to last year
December 2016
December 2017
Total Rainfall Recorded
1,002mm
250mm
Average Temperature Recorded
8.6°C
5.3°C
There was more rain and a higher temperature in December 2016.
Which year had the most rain?
Which year had the higher temperature?

14. Compare the weather to last year
December 2016
December 2017
Total Rainfall Recorded
1,002mm
250mm
Average Temperature Recorded
8.6°C
5.3°C
The average flowering date last year was 9th March.
Do you think your daffodils might flower before then, or after? Write down your hypothesis: “I think that daffodils will flower ______ 9th March because ____________________________________.”

15. And now we wait…
Now you have some hypotheses for your investigation! We will have to wait and see if they are correct, as this is a real, ongoing investigation. Don’t worry if your predictions turn out to be wrong – real scientists can find their predictions are wrong too and have to rethink their ideas, and that is how we can make new discoveries!