Science Projects for Sixth Grade: The Effects of Music on Plants

Teach:

It has often been said that plants enjoy music. Let students know that there is a way they can test to find out whether this is a myth or an actual fact. Ask students to name a type of music and write these types on the board. Tell students that they cannot play one type of music for a plant and use that to say whether plants like music or not. Students must try different types and report on the outcome of them all.

Materials:

1. Four identical plants
2. A tape of rock or heavy metal music
3. A tape of classical music
4. A tape of Christian music
5. Cassette player
6. Soil
7. Water
8. Measuring cup
9. Four lamps
10. Notebooks
11. Pencils

Procedure:

1. Ask the class for volunteers and then choose four. Have each student choose one of the four plants.
2. Make sure that each plant is given the same amount of soil.
3. Make sure that each plant is given the same amount of water by using the measuring cup.
4. Place one plant in each of the four corners of your classroom.
5. Label each corner as follows: Corner 1-No Music. Corner 2-Heavy Metal/Rock Music. Corner 3-Classical Music. Corner 4-Christian Music.
6. Give each plant an equal amount of light by using the lamps.
7. For one hour each day play music for the three plants using their designated tapes. You can use one tape player and just move it around the room to the next plant when the hour is up.
8. Ask students to write down in their notebooks what they think will happen to each plant. This is their hypothesis.
9. Continue giving the plants music therapy for one hour per day for a period of three weeks to one month.
10. Have students record every couple of days what they observe happening to the plants. Are the plants getting more colorful, bigger in size, etc. Are the plants growing faster with the music?

Review:

Ask the students what happened to the each of the plants. Did the plants seem to like the music and grow more quickly or did the plant that received no music grow the best? Have students write out the conclusion to this experiment in their notebooks and then discuss with the class if there was anything they were surprised about. Were their conclusions right? Why or why not?