Kids enjoy the science of growing plants. There’s just something fun and wonderful about watching them get a little bigger and different each day. Germinating seeds in a clear cup will show students what is going on underground before that first shoot is visible.
Growing Plants – Seed Germination in a Clear Cup
Materials
- paper towels
- clear plastic cups
- assorted dried beans – pinto beans, navy beans, etc.
- permanent marker
- measuring cup
- water
Instructions
- Fold a paper towel so it is as wide as one of the cups is high.
- Place the paper towel in the cup so it snugly lines the sides of the cup.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 so several of the cups have paper towel linings. You should have one cup for each type of bean.
- Insert 3 or 4 beans of one type in one of the cups so it is between the paper towel and the cup. You should be able to observe the beans from the outside of the cup.
- Mark the cup with the type of bean using the marker.
- Add some water to the bottom of the cup. The paper towel should absorb the water.
- Put the cups on a windowsill.
- Observe what happens over the two weeks. Keep the paper towels damp by adding water occasionally.
Notes about growing plants in plastic cups
Presoaking the seeds for 24 hours will help them germinate.
The paper towels should be kept damp, but not dripping wet.
More about germination
Plants: Mind-Boggling Experiments You Can Turn Into Science Fair Projects
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