STEAMwork | nature spotlight
spring seeds p. 1
let's get started!
Celebrate spring time with our STEAMwork Nature Spotlight! Learn how you can use everyday items in your pantry to start the germination process of growing plants. Let’s see your green thumbs, dreamers!
materials
Dry beans, raw nuts, or seeds
Kidney beans (these grow well in containers!) Peas (these grow quickly) Sunflower seeds (unroasted and unflavored) Corn (like the kind you use for popcorn!) Fruit seeds, like peach pits
potting soil
alternative: paper towels
water
something pointy such as a knife, pen, or pencil
optional, used by an adult or with appropriate instruction and supervision
what's next?
Once you’ve set up your growth experiment containers, leave them near a sunny window. Water the planted seeds lightly when the soil or paper towels feel a little dry, but know that you may not need to water them everyday. As the days go by, you will start to see the seeds germinate, or sprout little roots and plant shoots straight out of the seed itself. You should see some growth within 5-14 days (or sooner)!
If you used paper towels to germinate your seeds, transplant your plant shoots directly into dirt after they grow to be about six (6) inches tall, so you can continue your growth experiment.
additional resources
When you check in on your seeds, ask your young learner the following questions:
- What do you see in your seed container?
- What do roots look like? What direction do roots grow?
- What do plant shoots look like? What direction do plant shoots grow?
- What is the difference between roots and plant shoots?
- If you used different seeds, what are some differences you are noticing?
- How fast are your seeds germinating and growing?
- What type of environment requirements do seeds need to grow?
more STEAM learning
podcast
STEAM Daydream with National Children's Museum, a podcast that elevates children’s voices and answers their biggest questions.