Toddler Science: Plants Absorb Water from their Roots
Toddler Science: A great way to introduce basic science concepts are through fun and visual experiments such
as this celery experiment. It requires just a few items and is a fun way to teach children about
how a plant absorbs water. This process is called Osmosis.
DESCRIPTION
Learn about how plants absorb water with a experiment using colored water and celery stalks
MATERIALS
Clear glass jar(s) or small clear vase
Celery stalks with leaves.
Water
Food Coloring
OTHER MATERIALS
Paper towels
STEPS
- Explain experiment. We are going to find out how plants absorb water and grow. See Educational note for more.
- Separate and select stalks of celery with leaves. Cut about a quarter inch off the bottom.
- Put water into glass jar or vase.
- Drop 3-4 drops of food coloring into jar.
- Place stalks into the water and using stalk stir very gently until food coloring is dispersed evenly.
- Have child make predictions about what will happen. Write it in a simple sentence and "point and read" together.
- Make 2-3 observations. Check after one hour, 4 hours and 8 hours or overnight to see developments.
- Cut the bottom of the celery and you can see where the water was transported up into the celery stem.
TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS
If you plan to do only one color, consider selecting blue. We found blue to have the most vibrant results. The three colors we tested were purple, red and blue.
The blue was significantly brighter. The first picture is after an hour and you can already see color in the leaves. The bottom picture is after 24 hours. You can
see how bright the blue is. Note also the level of the water which is something else you can discuss with your child.
OTHER IDEAS
Sequencing Board
Make a Sequencing board that you can use for other Toddler Science Activities or even for story retelling activities. Poster board, foam board or card board
and some self adhesive velcro dots or strips cut into small squares and you are ready to begin.
Select either the loop or the hook side to place on the board. If you select the hook side, you will always use the loop side for your cards.
Place a dot at the top for the title and 3-5 more dots in a row under it. You may want two rows of dots
Glue pictures of the experiment onto cardboard or construction paper and stick on a velcro dot on the back of each. Remember to use the opposite
piece as the one you put on the board for the pictures to stick.
Have your child place the pictures in the correct order. For older toddlers you can print a simple
sentence about each picture as well, cut out and mount on cardboard and match the sentence to the picture.
Our Celery Experiment Book
Take pictures of the major steps in this toddler science experiment, glue onto construction paper and add a sentence for each by printing on a computer or handwrite neatly.
Have your child tell you the sentence or phrase if they are able to. Your child is more likely to be able to "read" something he or she says. This is also a
great way to help reinforce and build comprehension skills.
Carnations
Another example of osmosis can be used with carnations. Use the same materials and steps above. You will have very pretty results!
Sequencing Game
Take pictures of the entire process Dropping coloring into glass, placing the stem into the colored water, Glue onto separate pieces of cardboard.
Have your child place in the correct order on a flat surface. Or cut out the pictures, have your child arrange them and glue them onto a single sheet of
construction paper and display.
EDUCATIONAL NOTES
A book is a great way to introduce a toddler science activity.
Go to the library or a bookstore and find a book on plants.
Plants absorb water through their roots through a process called osmosis. The water travels up tubes in the stems to all parts of the plants,
and is used during photosynthesis to make food for the plant.
When food coloring is added to the water, it travels with the water into the celery's stem and then into the leaves. Plants also absorb nutrients from the
soil through the roots and up through the phloem in the plant's stems. The food coloring illustrates how nutrients are delivered to all parts of
the plant.
SCIENTIFIC PROCESSES USED
Observation
Seeing the color of the celery leave change and the level of the water going down.
Hearing and listening to directions given.
Communication
Oral Explanation of how plants absorb water
Pictorial Showing pictures of plants in a book
|
