[in Spanish]

KidZone Science
How Do Seeds Grow?

This experiment uses 3 samples to examine the growth of seeds.  I always recommend that the adult leading the experiment, attempt it on their own before doing it with a group of children.

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 information sheet
• Optional:  Label the Seed Growth Worksheet
• 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). 
• Optional:  Plant Growth color and label page  (label the roots, leaves, stem, flower on the page)

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.