Germinating Seeds in a Jar

Germinating seeds in a jar

Have you every wondered what plant growth looks like underground? Have you ever tried to explain this to a child? Germinating seeds in a jar can bring this hidden world to light. Watch as the seeds germinate, sprout and transform into seedlings. Children will gain a better understand of the natural world around them.

 

Seeds go through quite the transformation from the simple seeds we sow to the plants that flourish in our garden or flowerbeds. The process can be abstract and difficult for children to understand. Germinating seeds in a clear container is a simple way to allow children to see the process unfold. You will be able to care for the seeds while observing the changes over time.

What you will need:

  • Clear container- we used a mason jar pictured here but any clear container will work

  • Paper towels

  • Seeds

  • Water

Setting up:

  • Flatten a paper towel to line the inside of the jar. Once in place, fill the inside with balled up paper towels. Be sure the paper towels will hold the seeds in place on the sides of the jar but also allow room to grow.

  • Place your seeds around the container in between the paper towel and the glass. If you are hoping for quick results beans and peas are good choices.

To care for:

  • Use your judgement to find a good place to house your seed container. Keep the ages of your children in mind. You will want to be able to observe the changes in the jar. The seeds will need a good source of sunlight and regular water. You will also want to prevent over handling.

  • Include the child in caring for the seeds. This will provide opportunities to take ownership and pride in caring for living things. Be sure to water regularly. A tip to prevent overwatering is to provide children with a spray bottle rather than a watering can.

  • Provide tools appropriate for making observations. These may include a magnifying glass, measuring tape or ruler, a nature journal to sketch observations or a camera to capture the different stages.

  • One of my favorite aspects of this project are the discussions that unfold. I love hearing the observations in their own words. I love to hear the excitement and astonishment through each change. When paired with rich vocabulary and books, I can hear the learning come alive as they refer to the science in context.

We have created the perfect resource to compliment your experiment. Bonus- IT'S TOTALLY FREE!! You can download your copy of the “Stages of a Seed” resource here.

 
 
 
Heidi