How plants grow (Germination)

-By Alexandra Kremmyda

Aim: To explain how plants grow

Age: 6-15

Complexity & duration: Low; 1-3 weeks

Location: Inside

Cost: < £5

Materials & Equipment: an empty and clean yogurt pot or something similar for example, cotton, seeds (beans, lentils, wheat, chickpeas)

Procedure: 

• Place a bunch of cotton in the yogurt pot (fill more than the half of the pot)
• Add different seeds (more than 5) in different pots on the top of the cotton and water them
• Place the pots in a sunny place and label the pots in order to remember what kind of plant you are growing
• Check everyday if the cotton is dry or wet (if dry add some water)

Q. What do you observe every day? Can you see any differences? If so, what kind of differences? Are there any difference between the different seeds/ plants?

Learning outcomes:

• The experiment gives an idea of how the plants grow and what is germination and what do they need in order to achieve that.

Check this video explaining germination

Science fact: Plants come from the seeds and they need water, soil and sun (in this case the cotton is the soil) in order to grow. The seed contains many necessary nutrients the plant uses when germinates. The nutrients are used by a part of the seed called the embryo which grows in the form of a tiny root. In few days-week time the roots emerge and get bigger. The seed opens to reveal the leaves of the new plant and starts germination. 

RISK ASSESSMENT

Adult supervision is required for any experiment!

Remember - never do experiments alone!