What do plants need in order to live?
This lesson developed by Reach Out!
Recommended Age: Preschool and Early Elementary
Questions
What do plants need in order to live and grow?
What you need:
- 4 potted plants that are the same kind and size.
- Water
- Place that is dark to put a plant.
- Place that gets lots of sunlight to put a plant.
Experiment #1 - What to do:
- Do you think plants need sunlight in order to live and grow? We can test this out by doing an experiment. Put one plant in a dark place like a closet.
- Put one plant in a place where it will get plenty of sunlight.
- Take a look at both plants for a few days.
What is happening?
Most plants must have light in order to grow. If they go for very long without light, they lose their green color, quit growing, and seem to wilt.
Experiment #2 - What to do:
- We know that plants need light in order to live and grow from our first experiment. Now, let's see if they need water or not. Put two healthy plants in a place where they get plenty of sunlight.
- Pick one plant to water every few days as it's soil dries out and it needs it. Pick one plant to leave alone- put no water in the soil of this plant.
- Watch the two plants over a few days or a couple of weeks.
What is happening?
Plants need water. If a plant doesn't get water, it will eventually wilt and die.