The Great Sunflower Project

Students can measure growth rates, seed weights, number of flowers produced, plant height, number of leaves on any sunflower. Sunflowers can be grown in shade, sun, low water, high water, with and without fertilizer (I'd use osmocote, a slow release fertilizer). They can map where all the sunflower data are in your city and then graph how the times to 1st or last bee are related to distance to park or wild area, density of housing...

Life Sciences Standard
Investigation and Experimentation

Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will:
Select and use appropriate tools and technology (including calculators, computers, balances, spring scales, microscopes, and binoculars) to perform tests, collect data, and display data.
Use a variety of print and electronic resources (including the World Wide Web) to collect information and evidence as part of a research project.
Communicate the logical connection among hypotheses, science concepts, tests conducted, data collected, and conclusions drawn from the scientific evidence.
Construct scale models, maps, and appropriately labeled diagrams to communicate scientific knowledge (e.g., motion of Earth's plates and cell structure).
Communicate the steps and results from an investigation in written reports and oral presentations.