Celery Experiment
The students will learn about the importance of water and how plants need it in order to grow. They will investigate the color change in a celery experiment and record their findings in their plant observation journals.
Essential Question
Why is water important for plants to grow?
Grade(s):
- Kindergarten
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
-Computer
-Smart Board
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
-Video: https://scetv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/sesame-water/water-sesame-street/
-Chart paper
-Markers
-Celery
-Jars
-Water
-Four types of food coloring
-Pencil
-Plant Journals
-Crayons
Lesson Progression
- Students will start on the carpet. The teacher will begin the lesson by creating a KWL chart. The teacher will first begin by filling in the K(know) on what the students already know about plant needs.
- Have a few students share what they know about plant needs. After this section, the teacher will begin to fill in the W(What you want to know) on what the students would like to know about plant needs.
- After both of these sections have been completed, the teacher will play a video about water.
- After the video, the teacher will explain the importance of water, and why plants need it in order to grow. After the discussion, the teacher will walk the students through a celery experiment.
- The teacher will explain to the students that there are four types of colors. (Blue, pink, orange, and purple). Each color will be shown with food coloring and water in each of the four jars. The teacher will then show the students the celery and have the students pass around and look at a piece of it. The teacher will question the students about what they think might happen if they place the celery in the jars with the color.
- Have a few students share what they think will happen.
- The teacher will then explain how the celery will act as a ‘straw’ and suck the water upward. It needs water in order to stay healthy and grow. The teacher should ask if the students think the celery will change color overnight or will it stay the same. Keep a chart of tallies as to what the students think.
- Celery will sit in the jars overnight.
- After they have sat overnight, the teacher will bring the students attention back to the experiment. They will check to see if the celery changed colors or not.
- The teacher will hold a discussion with students on the changes that occurred and why they occurred.
- After the discussion, the teacher will send students to their tables to write their findings in their plant journals. Students will write 1-3 sentences depending on their level on what happened during the experiment and draw a picture.
- After the students have had time to do this, the teacher will have a few students share what they wrote.
Water Video
View ResourceStandards
- Life Science: Exploring Organisms and the Environment
- K.L.2 The student will demonstrate an understanding of organisms found in the environment and how these organisms depend on the environment to meet those needs.
- Science and Engineering Practices
- K.S.1 The student will use the science and engineering practices, including the processes and skills of scientific inquiry, to develop understandings of science content.
- C Communication
- W Writing
Assessments
Students will be assessed through the questioning that takes place throughout the lesson. The plant journals will also be taken up after the lesson to be assessed. If the students are able to write about their findings from the experiment, then I know that they understand this topic, if they are not able to write about their findings, then I know they they need more work on this topic.