Students will observe evapotranspiration. (Students can find the instructions for the activity on the last page of
Station 4: Ikenge in the Companion Reader).
Materials Needed
- Indoor or outdoor plant (depending on your local weather conditions and climate)
- Clear plastic bag
- String, twist tie, or tape
- Magnifying glass, smartphone camera magnifier lens, or portable USB microscope
Instructions
- Place a clear plastic bag over a leaf of your plant* and seal the bag with string, twist tie, or tape so that all water from the leaf will be trapped inside the bag.
- Observe what happens over the next 72 hours.
- Examine the bottom of the leaf using a magnifying glass, smartphone camera magnifier lens, or portable USB microscope.
- Use your observations to explain the role of plants in the water cycle.
* If using an indoor plant, provide a source of light for photosynthesis.