What Do Plants Need to Grow? 

Materials:

• 3 small cups or pots

• Soil

• 3 seeds (beans or grass work well)

• Water

• Access to sunlight

• Labels

Instructions:

• Fill one cup with soil, the other with soil and water, and the third cup is nothing and plant a seed in each.

• Label one cup “Sun, Soil and Water,” one “No Sun,” and one “No Water.”

• Place the “Sun, Soil, & Water” cup near a window and water it daily.

• Place the “No Sun” cup in a dark spot but water it daily.

• Place the “No Soil&Water” cup in the sun but do not have soil & water it.

• Observe what happens over a week.

PK3 Questions:

1. What do you see happening to the seeds?

2. Which cup has the tallest plant?

3. What color is the sprout?

4. What does the plant feel like when you touch it?

5. Can you help measure how tall the plant is using blocks or a ruler?

PK4 Questions:

1. Which seed grew the fastest?

2. Why do you think one plant is bigger than the others?

3. What do the plants need to grow strong and healthy?

4. How does the plant in the dark look different from the one in the sun?

5. Can you measure each plant and tell me which one is the tallest and which is the shortest?