Sponge and Seeds



This lesson developed by Reach Out!
Recommended Age: Preschool and Early Elementary


Question

What do seeds need to grow?



 What You Need

  1. Large sponge
  2. Water
  3. Radish seeds (others work, too!)
  4. Plate
  5. Table or counter near a window



What You Do
  1. Soak the sponge in water. Squeeze the sponge to get rid of extra water. The sponge is now nice and moist.

  2. Open a package of seeds. Carefully put some seeds into the holes or crevices of the sponge.

  3. Put the sponge on the plate. Put the plate on a counter top or table near a window.

  4. Watch what happens for the next few days!



What Is Happening

Seeds are super little things. They have inside of them all they need to start growing. All they need to sprout or germinate is some water, sunlight and a warm temperature. Many people think seeds have to have dirt or soil to start growing. Not true! When a seed gets some water around it, the little plant inside breaks open- splitting right through the outer seed protective coating. Once the seed uses up its own food supply, it grows roots to go down into soil for food and leaves to get soak up sunl ight. That's when it needs soil. You could start or germinate lots of different kinds of plants in a sponge. When the little plants start growing leaves and roots, you need to transplant them into some soil!