1. Tomatosphere

2. Testable Question
How does exposure to the space environment or space-like conditions affect the number of tomato seeds that germinate?
Vocab:
Germinate= when seeds begin to sprout
Fair test= what the effects are of changing one variable (exposure to space)
Blind Test= not knowing which set of seeds is exposed and which is not

3. Variables Independent variable= space or no space
Dependent variable= germination rate
Controlled variables=?

4. What about space?
The “experimental” seeds spent almost 6 weeks (39 days) on the International Space Station in July/August 2016.
Microgravity (low gravity)
Watering (difficult in space, where do you get the water?)
Lighting (photosynthesis- irregular and different than on earth)
Ionization and Radiation

5. Make Your Predictions- Before
Yes or No…
Seeds exposed to a space environment or space-like conditions will germinate.
Plants grown from space seeds will look noticeably different that the plants grown from Earth seeds.
The number of days it takes the space seeds to germinate will be longer than the time it takes for the Earth seeds to germinate
The seedlings that develop from Earth seeds will grow taller and faster than the plants from space seeds.
Exposure to space or space-like conditions will alter the colour of the leaves of the tomato plants.
Tomato seeds are naturally resilient to extreme environmental conditions that exist on Earth.

6. Planting the Seeds
Label the planting containers accurately with the letter on the seed package.
Individually, have each student press one seed into each peat pellet (or soil) to a depth that is about the same as the length of the seed (2-3 mm).
*Ensure your labelling is accurate so that the seeds do not get mixed up. This is very important for accuracy of the final results*

7. Observing and Recording Results
Determine Germination
The primary objective of the Seed Investigation is to determine the number of seeds that germinate compared to the number planted for each of the two types of seeds (treated and untreated).
A seed can be considered to have successfully germinated when two (2) distinctly separate cotyledons (embryonic leaves) can be seen (image below).

8. Science Fair

9. Part 1- Identify your Topic
Outcome 2.3.1: Design and perform an experiment
Need to identify:
What is your testable question?
How will you answer that question (ex: what is your INDEPENDENT variable and your DEPENDENT variable? What are your CONTROLLED variables?

10. Part 2: Sources of Research
Outcome 1.2.1: Investigate and describe
You must include at LEAST 5 different sources of information
On sheet you must record the source (website address, links, book title etc), AND a description of the information given
You also have to write a one page summary of how your resources are useful to your topic

11. Rubric Part 1 & 2

12. Logbook
Keep a record of EVERYTHING you do for science fair in this booklet
Should be DATED and summarized every time you work on science fair project