Children can learn about plant growth through planting popcorn kernels.
Young kids commonly plant radishes, alfalfa and bean seeds to learn about plant growth. Popcorn kernels will work just as well. Using kernels will help children understand that what they use to make popcorn comes from a corn husk and the kernel is also the seed used to grow a new corn plant. Take this opportunity to encourage your children to perform an experiment and to delve into the basics of the scientific method. By placing popcorn kernels in different conditions, they can form a hypothesis as to which plant will grow the most successfully. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Read "Popcorn Plants" by Kathleen V. Kudlinski, or a similar book, to your children, so they can start to understand where corn comes from and the basics of plant growth.
2. Give each child three clear jars with lids or three sealable bags with zippers. Tell them they are going to plant corn. Ask them to soak several pieces of paper towel with water, to place the towels in their first jar, then to place three popcorn kernels on top of the paper towels. They should seal the jar and label it with a piece of masking tape that says "sun, water" and their name. Tell them to place this jar on a sunny windowsill (If you are using plastic bags they can tape it on or near the window). The second jar should include wet toilet paper, but be placed in the dark, while the third jar should have dry paper towels, but be placed in the sunlight. They should label these jars "no sun, water" and "sun, no water" respectively, along with their names.
3. Ask the children to write down a hypothesis as to which popcorn kernel will start to sprout first and which one will grow the highest. Also ask them to write down a prediction as to whether the roots or stems will sprout first.
4. Tell the students to observe and measure their plant growth each day and to record it in a table with the appropriate dates. If you notice that there is no condensation on the bags or jars that received water, add more water to the paper.
5. Transplant the seeds to pots with soil as they begin to grow stems. The children can continue to monitor the plants for as long as you see fit.
6. Ask the children to summarize and chart their observations; they may need assistance with this. They should also write a concluding sentence indicating whether their hypothesis was correct.
7. Organize a group activity where the children create a poster of a corn plant with its leaves, roots and tassel, plus a corn husk where a corn kernel (seed) is highlighted.
Tags: plant growth, They should, about plant, about plant growth, comes from, corn husk