Seed Growing Experiment

      

This experiment uses 3 samples to examine the growth of seeds. 

What you need:

  • three seeds for each child -- corn, bean and radish 
    • they are large seeds with different shapes and colors
    • they have different types of leaves/growth when they start
    • they all germinate fairly quickly.
  • 8 1/2 x 11 inch (ish) piece of cardstock or light cardboard
  • ziploc or plastic lunch bag
  • paper towel
  • tape
  • water
  • 2 to 4 weeks of experiment time
  • Optional:  Magnifying glass
  • Optional:  Seed Growth Printable Observation Sheets 
    • You can fill in these sheets daily, when something interesting happens or weekly (it's up to you). 
    • Make sure you complete a sheet when you first put the seeds in (making observations about what the seed coats look like, feel like, etc). 

 

Safety Considerations:

Some seeds have a pinkish colored poison covering them so that insects don't get to them.  Do not use seeds with this coating.

 

Directions - Preparation:

  • Fold the paper towel in half and crease.  Unfold.  (you can double your paper towel to make it a bit sturdier if you like)
  • Poke three very small small holes, equally spaced, along the fold of the paper towel (we used a sharp pencil to do this)
  • Place the seeds over top of the holes (one over each hole).
  • Fold the paper towel back up and staple up the side (to make a pouch).
  • Label the top of the paper towel (bean, corn and radish)
      
  • Carefully place the paper towel (fold side down, so the seeds don't fall out) into the ziploc bag.
  • Tape the ziploc bag onto the piece of card stock, leaving the top open.  Tape as firmly as possible.
      
  • Pour a small amount of water into the ziplock bag (the paper towel should end up damp)  Do not close the bag
      
  • Hang your experiment on the wall in a bright location

 

Directions - Maintenance:

  • Each morning, check the experiment.  Pour more water in to keep the paper towel moist.
      
  • Peek inside the ziploc bag/paper towel to see what the seed is doing
     
  • The seed should break open.  The roots should grow down through the small hole you poked in the paper towel.