Power Seeds
Seeds are pretty amazing things. For something so small, they sure do a lot. Each seed has an embryo, or baby plant, as well as nutrients to get it started and a seed coat to protect it. One part of the embryo will become the plant’s stem and leaves and the other part becomes the roots.
Seeds do a lot for something so small, but how strong are they? Do they have the muscle to lift an object like a coin? We can do an experiment to find out.
Materials:
- Big seeds (like beans or peas)
- Soil
- Small paper cups
- Coins
- Toothpicks
- Water
The steps:
Step 1: Find a small container. This could be a paper cup, a recyclable yogurt cup, a small pot, you can even use a toilet paper tube.
Step 2: Poke a couple of holes in the bottom of your cup. This will help water drain out if you accidentally give your seed too much water. You may need to ask an adult for help if you’re using a plastic container.
Step 3: Fill it up with some potting soil. Make sure your soil is moist before you fill the cup. Press the soil down gently with your fingers.
Step 4: Set your seed on top of the soil in the very middle of your cup. Use your finger to gently push it into the soil about an inch. Keep track of where the seed is buried.
Step 5: Choose a coin and set it on top of the soil, exactly over where you pushed in your seed.
Step 6: Carefully stick 4 toothpicks into the soil so they touch the coin, making a square shape.
Step 7: Move your cup to a sunny window sill. Be very careful not to jostle your coin or seed!
