experiment water leaves

How does water move in plants?

Have you ever wondered how plants are able to pull water out of the ground? It’s not like they have a heart to pump water around or even a digestion system to extract the water from the soil!

In fact, water movement in plants doesn’t rely on energetically expensive biological pumps or even magic. It relies on some pretty basic physical principles operating within unique plant structures, and anyone can understand it. We’ll see how in this home experiment.

3 glass or plastic cups (sturdy enough not to tip over) 300 g room-temperature water Food coloring Metric scale Fan Medium-to-large sealable plastic box (tall enough to fit an upright stalk of celery inside) 2 small squares of plastic wrap 2 stalks celery, leaves attached

• Pick two celery stalks that they have similar amounts of leaves. (Hint: If you can’t find celery with leaves attached in your grocery store, buy a head of celery. The small inner stalks usually still contain leaves.) Cut off the bases of the stalks so that they are roughly the same height.
• Place one glass on the scale and tare it: press the “zero” button so that the cup registers as “0 g”. Fill with 150 g of room-temperature water; gently place two drops of food coloring in the water; stir. Be careful not to spill any colored water! Repeat with the second glass.
• Place one celery stalk in each glass, leaf–end at the top.
• Wrap one square of the plastic wrap around the top of each glass and the celery stalk. This is to prevent any colored water evaporating into the air directly from the glass.
• Fill the bottom of the plastic box with roughly one inch of room-temperature water. Place one of the cups with the celery stalk inside the box and seal the lid to create a humid, closed environment.
• Place both the boxed celery and the naked celery in front of a fan, and turn it on the lowest setting. Record the time: _________
• Wait 24 hours.
• Boxed celery:___________________________________________
• Naked celery:___________________________________________
• Place the third glass cup on the scale, and tare it again so that the scale reads “0 g”.
• Boxed celery:____________
• Naked celery:____________
• Celery cross-section:____________________________

How does water move up the stalk?

Although plants don’t have circulatory systems like animals, they do have something quite similar—a network of small tubes called xylem , used for carrying water.

Xylem is composed of long, hollow tubes formed by overlapping cells. As these cells grow, they stretch out and elongate, die, and leave behind hollow cavities that are all interconnected to form one long tube. Plants contain many xylem vessels stretching from the roots to the tips of the leaves, just like a series of drinking straws. When you sliced the celery in half and saw colored dots in the cross-section of the stalk, you were actually looking at the xylem vessels!

Xylem works within some basic physical principles to bring water from the ground up into the rest of the plant. The whole process starts out in the leaves: when the plant is photosynthesizing, it opens tiny holes in the underside of the leaf called stomata . The plant does this so that carbon dioxide can flow in, but it also has a downside: water also diffuses out of the stomata at the same time, drying out the inside of the leaf ever so slightly.

As the plant dries out from the leaves, it brings more water in from the xylem due to some interesting chemical properties. Water is a polar molecule, meaning that it’s slightly “sticky”—it forms temporary hydrogen bonds with itself. This creates cohesion ; small quantities of water will tend to stick together rather than scattering and spreading everywhere (think of dew drops on grass). Water also sticks to the inside of small tubes due to a property called capillary action . These two properties allow the water to travel in one unbroken column through the xylem from the roots to the leaves.

What factors affect how water moves through the plant?

Water moves through plants thanks to a few basic principles, but none of these can work without the first step in the process: water loss from the leaves. This process, called transpiration , happens faster when humidity is low, such as on a hot, windy day. This causes water to evaporate quickly, so the plant needs to suck up more water from the ground (or from the cup) to catch up!

When you put the celery stalk inside the plastic box with water, it increased the humidity in the box, so the celery didn’t lose very much water from the leaves. On the flip side, when you placed the naked celery stalk in front of the fan, it was losing a lot of water! It needed to catch up, so it sucked up more water, and food coloring with it.

When you measured the amount of water left in the glasses at the end of the experiment, you found that the naked celery actually did suck up more water. And, in case you didn’t believe the numbers, you could actually observe that the naked celery had a lot more food coloring within its leaves.

Normally, we can’t see transpiration and water transport happening within plants, but rest assured: as long as it’s above freezing, this process is always happening on a mass scale all over the world!

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Lindsay graduated with a master’s degree in wildlife biology and conservation from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She also spent her time in Alaska racing sled dogs, and studying caribou and how well they are able to digest nutrients from their foods. Now, she enjoys sampling fine craft beers in Fort Collins, Colorado, knitting, and helping to inspire people to learn more about wildlife, nature, and science in general.

Plant Biology-boo

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Simple plant transpiration experiment

July 17, 2023 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

Transpiration is the evaporation of water from the leaves, stems or flowers of a plant.

You might have seen my transpiration experiments using celery and coloured water, and white flowers before. Today I have a slightly different way of demonstrating this important s cientific concept . It’s a great way to show transpiration in action, and all you need is an indoor or outdoor plant and a resealable plastic bag.

Plastic bag transpiration demonstration

You’ll need.

Small resealable plastic bag

Indoor or outdoor plant

Instructions

Transpiration is faster on a hot day, so this activity is a great summer science activity.

Carefully cover either a clump of small leaves or one large leaf with the plastic bag.

Check on the bag every couple of hours.

You’ll see condensation build up first, and then water will collect in the bottom of the bag.

The water that has been collected in the bag is water from transpiration that has moved up the stem from the roots and also water produced during respiration .

What is transpiration?

This plastic bag transpiration demonstration shows that water was released from the leaf while it was covered up.

Transpiration is the movement of water up the stem of a plant from root to leaf when water is lost from the plant due to evaporation and diffusion of water from a plant’s surface.

Water is absorbed by the root of the plant and moves through root hair cells via the process of osmosis . It then moves into the xylem vessel, which is the tube that carries the water up the stem. Water moves up the xylem vessel by adhesion (being attracted to the side of the vessel) and cohesion (water molecules being attracted to each other).

When water evaporates from the surface of the leaves, the pressure change pulls the column of water upwards to replace the water lost. This creates a constant transpiration stream of water through the plant.

More plant experiments

Discover how temperature affects the rate of transpiration .

Find out how seeds are dispersed by making a sticky seed pod.

Learn about the different parts of a plant by dissecting a flower .

Find out how plants breathe .

Science concepts

Transpiration

Evaporation

Transport in plants

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Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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Photosynthetic Floatation

Photosynthetic organisms capture energy from the sun and matter from the air to make the food we eat, while also producing the oxygen we breathe. In this Snack, oxygen produced during photosynthesis makes leaf bits float like bubbles in water.

• Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
• Liquid dish soap
• Spoon or other implement (for mixing solution)
• Soda straw or hole punch
• Spinach leaves or ivy leaves
• 10-mL syringe (without a needle)
• Clear plastic cup (1-cup size) or 250-mL beaker
• Incandescent or 100-watt equivalent lightbulb in fixture (preferably with a clamp)
• Notepaper and pencil (or similar) to record results
• Optional: ring stand, foil, thermometer, ice, hot water, colored gel filters

• Pour 150 mL of bicarbonate solution into the cup. Try to avoid making suds.

• Hold the syringe with the tip up, and expel the air by gently pushing on the plunger.

• Set up your light fixture so that it is suspended about 12 inches (30 cm) above the table. You may want to use a ring stand for this.

Turn on the light, start a timer, and watch the leaf disks at the bottom of the cup. Notice any tiny bubbles forming around the edges and bottoms of the disks. After several minutes, the disks should begin floating to the top of the solution. Record the number of floating disks every minute, until all the disks are floating.

How long does it take for the first disk to float? How long does it take for half the disks to float? All the disks?

When all the disks have floated, try putting the cup in a dark cabinet or room, or cover the cup with aluminum foil. Check the cup after about fifteen minutes. What happens to the disks?

Plants occupy a fundamental part of the food chain and the carbon cycle due to their ability to carry out photosynthesis, the biochemical process of capturing and storing energy from the sun and matter from the air. At any given point in this experiment, the number of floating leaf disks is an indirect measurement of the net rate of photosynthesis.

In photosynthesis, plants use energy from the sun, water, and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the air to store carbon and energy in the form of glucose molecules. Oxygen gas (O 2 ) is a byproduct of this reaction. Oxygen production by photosynthetic organisms explains why earth has an oxygen-rich atmosphere.

The equation for photosynthesis can be written as follows:

$$\ce{6CO2 + 6H2O + \text{light energy} -> C6H12O6 + 6O2}$$

In the leaf-disk assay, all of the components necessary for photosynthesis are present. The light source provides light energy, the solution provides water, and sodium bicarbonate provides dissolved CO 2 .

Plant material will generally float in water. This is because leaves have air in the spaces between cells, which helps them collect CO 2 gas from their environment to use in photosynthesis. When you apply a gentle vacuum to the leaf disks in solution, this air is forced out and replaced with solution, causing the leaves to sink.

When you see tiny bubbles forming on the leaf disks during this experiment, you’re actually observing the net production of O 2 gas as a byproduct of photosynthesis. Accumulation of O 2 on the disks causes them to float. The rate of production of O 2 can be affected by the intensity of the light source, but there is a maximum rate after which more light energy will not increase photosynthesis.

To use the energy stored by photosynthesis, plants (like all other organisms with mitochondria) use the process of respiration, which is basically the reverse of photosynthesis. In respiration, glucose is broken down to produce energy that can be used by the cell, a reaction that uses O 2 and produces CO 2 as a byproduct. Because the leaf disks are living plant material that still require energy, they are simultaneously using O 2 gas during respiration and producing O 2 gas during photosynthesis. Therefore, the bubbles of O 2 that you see represent the net products of photosynthesis, minus the O 2 used by respiration.

When you put floating leaf disks in the dark, they will eventually sink. Without light energy, no photosynthesis will occur, so no more O 2 gas will be produced. However, respiration continues in the dark, so the disks will use the accumulated O 2 gas. They will also produce CO 2 gas during respiration, but CO 2 dissolves into the surrounding water much more easily than O 2 gas does and isn’t trapped in the interstitial spaces.

Try changing other factors that might affect photosynthesis and see what happens. How long does it take for the disks to float under different conditions? For example, you can compare the effects of different types of light sources—lower- or higher-wattage incandescent, fluorescent, or LED bulbs. You can change the temperature of the solution by placing the beaker in an ice bath or a larger container of hot water. You can increase or decrease the concentration of sodium bicarbonate in the solution, or eliminate it entirely. You can try to identify the range of wavelengths of light used in photosynthesis by wrapping and covering the beaker with colored gel filters that remove certain wavelengths.

This experiment is extremely amenable to manipulations, making it possible for students to design investigations that will quantify the effects of different variables on the rate of photosynthesis. It is helpful to have students familiar with the basic protocol prior to changing the experimental conditions.

Ask your students to think carefully about how to isolate one variable at a time. It is important to hold certain parts of the experimental setup constant—for example, the distance from the light source to the beaker, the type of light bulb used, the temperature of the solution, the height of the solution, and so on. Certain treatments may eliminate photosynthesis altogether—water with no bicarbonate, very low temperature, and total darkness.

A typical way to collect data in this assay is to record the number of disks floating at regular one-minute time intervals. This is easily graphed, with time on the x-axis and number of floaters on the y-axis.

To make comparisons between treatments, the number traditionally used is the time point at which half of the disks in the sample were floating, also known as the E50.

This experiment was originally described in Steucek, Guy L., Robert J. Hill, and Class/Summer 1982. 1985. “Photosynthesis I: An Assay Utilizing Leaf Disks.” The American Biology Teacher , 47(2): 96–99.

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Buggy and Buddy

Meaningful Activities for Learning & Creating

March 16, 2014 By Chelsey

Science for Kids: Exploring How Water Travels Through Leaves

Our latest science experiments for kids is all about leaves! We used colored water to observe how liquids move through the leaves of plants. This post also includes a free printable recording sheet.

NGSS: Disciplinary Core Idea LS1.C

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With all the new growth in our yard this spring, we’ve been spending lots of time outside observing all the changes. Lucy has especially been interested in the parts of plants and flowers , so we decided to look more closely at the leaves of plants and trees in our yard with a leaf experiment for kids . (Be sure to check out our other plant & flower activities: Bean Dissection Experiment , Observing Plant Growth with Bulbs , and An Invitation to Explore Flowers .)

Science for Kids: Exploring Leaves

In this science experiment for kids we’ll be observing how liquids travel through leaves over a period of three days. (This post contains affiliate links.)

Materials for Leaf Experiment

• Red food coloring
• Magnifying glass (optional)
• Free observation sheet (optional)

Procedure for Leaf Experiment

1. Start by taking a walk outdoors and collecting various leaves.

2. Snip off the bottom of each leaf stem. Then place each leaf in a glass filled about a third of the way with water.

3. Add red food coloring to the water. (We made our water a very dark shade of red to increase our chances of seeing changes in the leaves.)

4. Observe the leaves closely. (You can use a magnifying glass if you have one.) Record your observations of how they look on Day 1 of the experiment.

5. Observe them for the next two days. Be sure to record your observations in the correct area on your observation sheet.

What’s Going On?

You should notice the red color move slowly through the leaf.

Here’s a close-up of one leaf over three days.

The colored water was moving through the xylem tubes of the leaf. The xylem tubes of plants transport water and minerals up from the roots through the entire plant. (Their thick walls also provide support for the plant.)

Want to go even further?

Even more activities to inspire creativity and critical thinking for various ages.

• Try out this fun leaf experiment to find out why leaves change color .
• Use leaves to make leaf prints .
• Make some leaf rubbings to compare the shapes and patterns of leaves.
• Do a similar experiment using celery .
• Use a leaf as your canvas for artwork.

Love awesome, hands-on STEM activities?

Check out our newest book, steam kids with over 50 science, technology, engineering, art, and math activities to instill a love of learning and creativity in your child or students.

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Science Projects > Life Science Projects > Leaf Experiments  

Leaf Experiments

Explore the science of fall with these leaf experiments for elementary students up through high school!

Leaf cells have a special feature: pigment-containing chloroplasts in certain cells that enable them to produce energy and their own food through photosynthesis.

What does that mean? Well, the chloroplasts within a cell contain different pigments, which are what gives a leaf its color.

Green chlorophyll is the most common type of pigment, but there are also xanthophylls (yellow), cartenoids (yellow, orange), and anthocyanins (red).

The chlorophylls usually hide the other pigments, except when autumn comes along and chlorophyll begins to break down. This is why leaves turn different colors in the fall.

Leaf Experiment with Photosynthesis

What is photosynthesis ? Simply put, it’s the capture of light energy to produce food. Light energy from the sun is transmitted through a leaf’s cells to chloroplasts, where chlorophyll and other absorbing pigments serve as receptors to collect the energy. In the process of photosynthesis, carbon dioxide from the air is converted into energy-rich carbon compounds called carbohydrates. As this happens, oxygen is given off into the air, providing the oxygen that we breathe.

You can test the importance of light energy in plant growth by doing a simple leaf experiment.

Use 2-3 small plants. (Bean plants are a good choice, as they sprout quickly.)

You’ll need one to be the control, with normal growing conditions, either outside in sunlight or inside by a bright window. See how light effects growth by covering the other test plants with a paper bag or small box during part of the day.

Try covering one for four hours during the morning, and another for the whole day.

Observe changes to the plants over the course of a week. Which grows the best? What is the result of light-deprivation? What might happen to a leaf with reduced photosynthesis?

Leaf Science Experiment with Color

To find out more about leaf pigments , do this next experiment. First, you’ll need to extract pigments from leaves. Collect several green leaves from different trees, a few from each one. Maples and others that have dramatic color changes in the fall will work best, but you can use any deciduous leaves (from trees that lose their leaves in the winter). Tear each set of different leaves into several pieces and place them in a glass beaker or small drinking glass, then add just enough rubbing alcohol to cover them. (You can cover the containers with foil or plastic wrap to keep the alcohol from evaporating into the air.) Put the containers in a dish of hot tap water for about 30 minutes, until the alcohol turns green as the pigments from the leaves are absorbed into it.

Next, test to find out what colors are really present in a leaf . You’ll need coffee filters, filter paper , or chromatography paper for this part of the experiment. Cut a strip out of the middle of a coffee filter, about one inch wide, for each of the leaf sets that you want to test. Tape one end of the paper to a pencil or stick, and suspend it across the container with the other end just touching the alcohol and pigment mixture. A bit of the mixture will travel slowly up the paper. After about 30-90 minutes you should be able to see the ‘green’ color break up into several different colors as the different pigments begin to separate. You’ll see different shades of green, and perhaps other colors as well.

Which type of leaf had the most colorful pigments? Based on your experiment, which trees’ leaves do you think will turn the brightest and least brightest colors this fall? Try the experiment again with evergreen leaves or needles to compare the results.

Leaf Experiments with a Microscope

Taking a closer look at plant cells.

Learn even more about plants by studying different sections of real leaves. You can make your own microscope slide of a leaf section and view it under high power with a compound microscope to see cell detail. All you need is a fresh leaf specimen (use one without many holes or blemishes), a plain glass microscope slide , slide coverslip , sharp knife, and water.

Before you begin, make sure the leaf is clean and dry. Lay it out flat on your working surface and slice about a 1” section crosswise out of the center using the knife. The cells surrounding the central vein of the leaf are what you will want to look at; so make sure you slice across a section of the vein. Then, starting at one of the short ends of the strip (the edges that you did not cut), tightly roll the leaf section. Carefully make several very thin slices off one end of the roll with a razor blade or knife. This is a ‘cross section’ of the leaf.

Make a wet mount on a plain slide with the inner part of the leaf section facing up (so the inner cells are visible). You can do this by adding a drop or two of water over the leaf section and then covering it with the coverslip. Look at the slide with your microscope’s 10x objective to see the general structure, and higher power to see cell detail. Record your observations on a copy of our free Microscope worksheets.

Click here to download the Microscope Observation worksheet (pdf)

Click here to download the Stereo Microscope Observation worksheet (pdf)

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Elementary Teaching Blog

Last updated by Linda Kamp on December 9, 2022 • 2 Comments

Breathing Leaves Photosynthesis Experiment for Kids

When we discuss the importance of plants in nature in second grade, it can be hard for students to fully grasp plants’ ability to create oxygen for us to breathe. This simple photosynthesis experiment is a great opportunity for hands-on learning in any Plants, Animals, & Life Cycles science unit.

How do plants create oxygen?

Plants release oxygen that all living things need. Plants also clean out air and absorb harmful pollutants through their leaves. This makes plants extremely important for other living things to survive on Earth.

As we breathe, the air we inhale is 21% oxygen. After we breathe in oxygen, we exhale carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is needed by plants for them to survive. Plants use carbon dioxide and sunlight to help them make oxygen. Leaves convert sunlight into energy as part of a process called photosynthesis. As the leaf takes in sunlight to create that energy, it expels, or breathes out, oxygen. But how can we see oxygen? Can plants produce oxygen without sunlight?

Think about when you are underwater holding your breath. If you release a little bit of air, you see bubbles. In this activity, students will observe a leaf using sunlight to create oxygen. Students will do a  demonstration using leaves in water to help them see the oxygen a leaf expels, or breathes out.

Pose this question to students to help introduce the lab: How can you see a plant creating oxygen?

The changes that take place in this lab activity occur over a 1-2 hour period, so make sure to plan for that ahead of time. I have found that it works for me to set up the lab in the morning and check it after lunch.

Easy photosynthesis experiment

• clear plastic cup or bowl
• fresh leaves
• small rocks

Place students in groups and pass out two cups of water, two fresh leaves, 2 small rocks, a hand lens, and a lab sheet.

Students place a leaf in a clear cup of water. Then, they place the other leaf in the other cup of water. Put one of the cups in a sunny spot and one in a dark spot.

Place a small rock on the leaf to keep it completely submerged in water.

After about 20 minutes, you will see tiny bubbles begin to form on the edges of the leaf. Many float upwards and stick to the side of the cup.

For a better look, students should use a hand lens to observe the bubbles. Explain to students that the small air bubbles are oxygen released by the leaf. The leaf remains active for a couple of hours. The process of photosynthesis will continue for a while if the cup is placed in the sun. During this process, the leaf expels oxygen into the water, which caused bubbles to form.

Students should check the cups every 30 minutes and record changes to both cups on their lab sheets. Ask students: “Which leaf produced the most oxygen? How can you tell?” Students should notice that the leaf that produced more oxygen has more bubbles.

Next, ask: “Why did one leaf produce more oxygen than the other leaf?” Guide students to notice that the leaf in the dark did not have sunlight, so it did not produce as much oxygen. A fresh leaf will remain “active” and still convert sunlight to energy and release oxygen for several hours.

Have students complete the questions on their lab sheets to consolidate their knowledge and make interpretations about the lab’s outcome.

Finally, discuss how this lab shows the importance of plants to animals. Besides food, what do plants provide for animals?

More Plants, Animals, & Life Cycles experiments and lesson plans

This photosynthesis experiment is perfect for helping students better understand the process of leaves producing oxygen. It’s an amazing way for students to really see the process of photosynthesis at work!

This fun photosynthesis experiment is part of a complete  Plant and Animal Needs, & Life Cycles unit for 2 nd grade that is also available in a digital format with narrated lesson slides.

Click here to see the yearlong 2nd grade science series.

Pin this photosynthesis experiment for later so you have it when you teach about plants!

Click on these these pictures for more hands-on science activities:

Happy teaching!

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August 15 at 10:16 am

Hi , is this lab sheet available for purchase on its own?

August 21 at 8:38 am

Hi Sarah, Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, I don’t have any of the labs available separately.

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Hello Friends

I’m Linda Kamp, a 20 year primary grade teacher with a passion for creating educational materials that excite students and make learning fun! I'm so glad you're here!

• Virtual Science Fair

Breathing Leaves

Have science fun as a family! Complete activities with parental supervision.

• Freshly collected leaf
• Clear bowl or cup large enough to submerge the leaf
• A sunny window
• Collect a fresh leaf from outside. A medium-sized leaf like a maple leaf is ideal. Make sure to include the leaf’s stem.
• Immediately bring the leaf inside and place in a bowl or cup of water. Be sure the whole leaf is submerged, including the end of the stem, so the leaf can still uptake water. A clear container is best so you can later see the air bubbles underwater.
• Place this container in a sunny window and leave it for 1-2 hours in the sun.
• Afterwards, check for tiny air bubbles around the leaf. Your leaf has been “breathing”!
• Be sure to take a picture or video to share in the Facebook comments on the Buffalo Museum of Science or Tifft Nature Preserve pages!

What’s it all about?

Plants make their own food through a process called photosynthesis. They use the sun’s energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and sugar. The gases carbon dioxide and oxygen travel in and out of the leaf through tiny holes called stomata.

By placing the leaf in water, you are trapping the exiting oxygen molecules and are now able to see them! Animals, like us, also breathe out carbon dioxide and we can see this as bubbles when we are underwater too.

Animals like us, breathe IN oxygen that is released by the living plants. Thank you plants!

• Do different types of plants behave differently? Try a single leaf from a couple of different plant species. Is there a difference? If you place the container where there is no sun, do air bubbles still appear?
• What happens with other parts of a plant? Try flowers—do you get the same results? Why or why not?

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Grab a thermometer for this Virtual Science Fair activity! Open Activity

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Believe it or not, mini golf is all about math and physics. Shoot for a hole in one in this Virtual Science Fair activity! Open Activity

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• Bubbling Plants Experiment to Quantify Photosynthesis

Hands-on Activity Bubbling Plants Experiment to Quantify Photosynthesis

Grade Level: 6 (5-7)

Time Required: 1 hour

Expendable Cost/Group: US $3.00

Group Size: 3

Activity Dependency: Do Plants Eat? All About Photosynthesis

Subject Areas: Biology, Life Science

NGSS Performance Expectations:

Activities Associated with this Lesson Units serve as guides to a particular content or subject area. Nested under units are lessons (in purple) and hands-on activities (in blue). Note that not all lessons and activities will exist under a unit, and instead may exist as "standalone" curriculum.

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Students perform data analysis and reverse engineering to understand how photosynthesis works. Both are important aspects of being an engineer.

After this activity, students should be able to:

• Explain that photosynthesis is a process that plants use to convert light energy into glucose, a source of stored chemical energy for the plant.
• Describe photosynthesis as a set of chemical reactions in which the plant uses carbon dioxide and water to form glucose and oxygen.
• Describe a simple experiment that provides indirect evidence that photosynthesis is occurring.
• Describe the effects of varying light intensity on the amount of photosynthesis that occurs.

Educational Standards Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards. All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN) , a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org). In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g. , by state; within source by type; e.g. , science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc .

Ngss: next generation science standards - science.

Common Core State Standards - Math

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International Technology and Engineering Educators Association - Technology

State standards, north carolina - math, north carolina - science.

• 5 liters (about 1¼ gallons) of aged tap water (tap water in an open container that has been allowed to sit for 36-48 hours to eliminate the chlorine used in municipal water supplies)
• 15-20 total Elodea plants; these are hardy freshwater aquarium plants sold in bunches at pet stores and suppliers such as Carolina Biological Supply Company (www.carolina.com)
• string, yarn or twist ties for tying Elodea plants into bunches
• small rocks or similar objects to serve as weights to hold the Elodea plants underwater
• 500-ml beakers, 1 per team
• baking soda, a few tablespoons (sodium bicarbonate)
• timers or watches with second hands, 1 per team
• small adjustable desk lamps that can be set up so that their light bulbs are a few inches above the beakers and shine vertically down onto them; flashlights with strong beams that are mounted on ring stands also work; 1 light source per team

An understanding of photosynthesis, as presented in the associated lesson, Do Plants Eat?

(Get the class' attention and ask them to do as you say.) With one hand, pinch your nose closed. Raise your other hand high in the air. Now take a deep breath and hold it for as long as you can. When you cannot hold your breath any longer, lower your raised hand and unpinch your nose. (Once all hands are down and no one is left holding their breath, move on.) Why did you need to start breathing again? (From their elementary school studies, expect students to be able to tell you that their bodies need air in order to survive.)

What, exactly, is in air? (Students may not know that air contains more than oxygen.) Most of the air we breathe—the atmosphere—consists of nitrogen gas (about 78%). Oxygen is the next largest component (about 21%) and a tiny part (1%) is made up of argon (an inert gas), water vapor and carbon dioxide.

So, specifically what component(s) of air do our bodies need? (Expect them to be able to answer that it is oxygen.) And what do our bodies do with oxygen? That's right, oygen from the air is picked up in the lungs by the blood and carried to all parts of the body, where it is used by muscles and the brain and all the other organs and tissues of the body. We cannot live without it.

From where did the oxygen in the atmosphere come? (They may know or be able to reason that it is the result of all the plants that have lived on the Earth and have been doing photosynthesis for many millions of years.) Today, you will work in teams to conduct an experiment to see if the amount of light plants receive can affect this production of oxygen.

Overall Experiment Plan

• In a class discussion format, students establish a hypothesis to be tested by the class in the experiment.
• Working in teams, students set up and conduct the experiment. Each team conducts two trials: one with the plants lit only by the ambient light available in the classroom when some or all of the room lights are turned off, and one with the plants receiving bright light from the desk lamps. The data collected are the number of bubbles of oxygen that are given off by the plants in a five-minute period, first at low-light levels, and then at high-light levels.
• Then the groups come together to pool their data from each of the two trials. From these data, students individually determine the mean, median and modes for the numbers of bubbles produced during the two different light conditions.
• Then students individually graph the data, using bar graphs that show the mean numbers of bubbles and the ranges for each test condition.

Part 1: Generating a Hypothesis

Explain to the class that before researchers start experiments, they first create a prediction about the expected outcome of the experiment. This prediction is known as a hypothesis. A hypothesis is not simply a guess, however. Instead, it is a prediction based on prior knowledge of or experience with the subject. For example, if a gardener wanted to find out if it was really necessary to fertilize zucchini plants, they might grow 12 zucchini plants, but fertilize only half of them. In this case, the hypothesis being tested might be: Fertilized zucchini plants produce more zucchinis than unfertilized zucchini plants. The data collected to support or refute the hypothesis would be the total number of zucchinis produced by the fertilized plants, compared to the total number produced by the unfertilized plants.

Point out that in the zucchini experiment, the gardener collected data that involved numbers. In science, this is usually the case, because numbers can easily be compared and are cumulative for many things that actually happen, as opposed to things that the experimenter thought might happen.

Then, explain briefly how the photosynthesis experiment will be set up and ask the class to determine a hypothesis to be tested. It shouldn't take them long to come up with a statement such as: The plants that receive more light produce more bubbles than the plants that receive less light.

Part 2: Setting up the Experiment

Perform the following steps with some or all of the classroom lights turned off. Ideally, the room should not be brightly lit, nor should it be dark; adequate light should be present for students to easily see.

• Each team fills a beaker with about 500 ml of aged water for the Elodea. To this water, add a scant one-quarter teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to provide a source of carbon dioxide for the plants, since they cannot get it from the atmosphere like terrestrial plants do. Stir the water until the sodium bicarbonate is dissolved and the water looks clear.
• Each team obtains enough sections of Elodea plants so that it has about 18-24 inches of total plant length. Arrange them so that all of the plants are at least 1½" under the water in the beaker. Use string or twist ties to hold them together, and then add a small rock to keep the plants from floating to the surface. Point out that the more area exposed to the light above the plant, the more photosynthesis can occur within the leaves. If students form clumps of Elodea, many of leaves will be shaded by those above, and thus may not be able to perform as much photosynthesis. It is best to form the plants into loops that cover the entire bottom of a beaker, instead of a single clump in the middle of the beaker.

Part 3: Running the Experiment

• As soon as the plants are arranged in the beakers, have the team start timing for five minutes. Direct two team members to have their eyes glued to the beaker for those five minutes, watching for bubbles to rise to the water surface. Announce to the third team member the sighting of any bubbles that rise, so s/he can keep count (using tally marks is helpful) and monitor the time, indicating when the five minutes are up. The bubbles are fairly large, about 2 mm in diameter, and so are easily seen when they rise to the surface.
• When all teams have counted bubbles for five minutes (it is quite possible that some teams see no bubbles at all), turn on the room lights and have students position the desk lamps directly above the beakers with the light bulbs only be a few inches above the beakers. Once the lights are in place, have the teams again begin timing and counting/recording bubbles for five minutes.

Part 4: Pooling and Analyzing the Data

• Make a large chart on the classroom board in which teams can fill in the number of bubbles they counted during each of the two light conditions.
• Once the chart is filled in, have students work individually to determine the mean, median, mode and range of each of the two data sets. Allow enough time so that all students arrive at the same answers.
• Provide students with grid paper and direct them to make vertical bar graphs that compare the mean number of bubbles in the two light conditions. Be sure that students include titles, axes labels and legends if different colors are used for the two bars. Then show them how they can indicate the ranges of the data by adding a vertical line segment to the center top of each bar, with the lower end of the line segment situated at the lowest number of bubbles observed by a team, and the upper end of the line segment at the highest number of bubbles observed.

Part 5: Interpreting the Data

• As a class, examine all the data and graphs and revisit the hypothesis. What do these numbers tell us about the amount of photosynthesis that occurred in each of the two light conditions. In other words, was the hypothesis the class tested supported or not?
• Continue with a class discussion to analyse the data. How do you know that the bubbles you saw rise to the surface were bubbles of oxygen? Students may answer that they know photosynthesis produces oxygen, so the bubbles must have been oxygen. However, without a way to determine the chemical composition of the bubbles, it is only an assumption that the bubbles contain oxygen. They might just as well have been bubbles of nitrogen or carbon dioxide, or some other gas from some other process that was occurring in the plants instead of photosynthesis. Nevertheless, since the plants were exposed to light, the bubbles were most likely made of oxygen. Point out that it is important for researchers to make sure they recognize the difference between what they know about an experiment and what they assume about it.

mean: The sum of all the values in a set of data, divided by the number of values in the data set; also known as the average. For example, in a set of five temperature measurements consisting of 22 ºC, 25 ºC, 18 ºC, 22 ºC and 19 ºC, the mean temperature is 106 ºC divided by 5, or 21.2 ºC.

median: Tthe middle value in a set of data, obtained by organizing the data values in an ordered list from smallest to largest, and then finding the value that is at the half-way point in the list. For example, in a set of five temperature measurements consisting of 22º C, 25º C, 18º C, 22 º C, and 19º C, the ordered list of temperatures would be 18º C, 19º C, 22º C, 22º C, and 25º C. The middle value is the third value, 22º C. If the data set consists of an even number of values, the median is determined by averaging the two middle values. For example, in a set of six temperature measurements consisting of 20 ºC, 22 ºC, 25 ºC, 18 ºC, 24 ºC and 19 ºC, the middle values are 20 ºC and 22 ºC. Thus, the median value is the average of 20 ºC and 22 ºC, which is 21 ºC.

mode : The value in a set of data that occurs most frequently. For example, in a set of five temperature measurements consisting of 22 ºC, 25 ºC, 18 ºC, 22 ºC and 19 ºC, the measurement of 22 ºC occurs most frequently, so it is the mode. It is possible to have two or more modes in a set of data, if two or more values occur with equal frequency.

Questions : Evaluate students' comprehension by asking them questions such as:

• What "things" are needed in order for photosynthesis to occur?
• What are the products of photosynthesis?
• Where in the plant does photosynthesis occur?
• Why do plants need water in order to survive?

Graph Analylsis: Provide a graph of data from an experiment similar to the one students just performed, and ask them to draw conclusions from it. For example, the data could represent the heights of corn plants, half of which were grown in the shade of a forest and half of which were grown in an open field.

• What do you think would happen if you left some plants in a completely dark closet for two or three weeks? Why do you think that?
• Why is it important for crop plants to receive enough rainfall?
• The Earth's atmosphere did not always contain as much oxygen as it does now. In fact, at one time it probably contained no oxygen at all. How do you think the oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere got there? Why do you think that?

The light that comes from the sun consists of light waves of many different wavelengths. In the visible spectrum of light, these range from red with the longest wavelength, to violet with the shortest wavelength. Chlorophyll does not respond equally to all wavelengths, or colors of light. Have students use the same experimental setup to determine what color or colors of light result in the most photosynthetic activity. The only modification they need to make is to loosely cover the beaker with colored plastic wrap or cellophane during the five minutes of bubble counting. Since blue wavelengths are the best for most plants, be sure that this is one of the colors available. If possible, have red and one other color available as well.

Through a teacher-led discussion, students realize that the food energy plants obtain comes from sunlight via the plant process of photosynthesis. By counting the number of bubbles that rise to the surface in a five-minute period, students can compare the photosynthetic activity of Elodea in the pre...

Students learn about photosynthesis and cellular respiration at the atomic level and study the basic principles of electromicrobiology—a new field of research that may enable engineers to harness energy at the molecular level.

Contributors

Supporting program, acknowledgements.

This content was developed by the MUSIC (Math Understanding through Science Integrated with Curriculum) Program in the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University under National Science Foundation GK-12 grant no. DGE 0338262. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the NSF, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

Last modified: July 12, 2023

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Preschool STEAM

STEAM Activities for Preschoolers

Leaf Science Experiments for Preschoolers

This is a fun roundup with a wide variety of activities using leaves for STEAM projects. Whether exploring the green leaves of summer, the red and yellow leaves of autumn, or even artificial leaves, you’ll be amazed at all the ideas leaves have generated for STEAM!

Natural materials such as leaves are perfect for STEAM projects. Leaves are colorful, come in all shapes and sizes, and are fun for young scientists to explore.

Don’t feel limited if natural leaves are not available in your area. There are lots of beautiful store-bought leaves at your local dollar store that can be used for many leaf science activities.

Textured Leaf Rubbings that Really Work / Preschool STEAM

Experiment with frozen leaves  / Preschool Powol Packets

Measure and sort leaves  / Inspiration Laboratories

Why do leaves change color?  / The Preschool Toolbox

How does a leaf get water?  / Learn Play Imagine

Explore colors and chlorophyll  / A Little Pinch of Perfect

Investigate leaves with leaf rubbings  / Learn With Play at Home

Match the leaves / School Time Snippets

Falling leaf art  / Fantastic Fun and Learning

Explore how water travels through leaves  / Buggy and Buddy

Observe leaves drying indoors  / Preschool Toolkit

Crunchy leaves science and math  / Teach Preschool

How do leaves breathe?  / KC Edventures

Do basic math with fall leaves  / View From a Step Stool

Trace the veins of the leaves  / Go Science Girls

Pound leaves to transfer / Carrots are Orange

Leaf chromatography  / Playdough to Plato

Explore leaf shapes / To Be a Kid Again

This roundup makes it easy to experiment and discover with colorful leaves. Add some fall STEAM to your daily activities with these fun leaf activities!

Welcome to Preschool STEAM!

I'm Jamie a STEAM educator and certified art instructor with more than 12 years experience.

My passion is to show how you can inspire and encourage your students’ creativity through hands-on learning and problem-solving.

You do not need to be an artist, scientist or mathematician to make learning fun and engaging for your students.

Let's get started STEAMing!

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Easy Fall Leaf Science Experiment: Exploring Colors & Chlorophyll with Kids

After exploring and Learning About the Parts of Leaves we decided to learn about leaf color and chlorophyll with an easy science experiment.  I found…

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Before you start this activity the first thing is to go and enjoy the outdoors and gather up some fall leaves. The kids and I feel so lucky to live close to mountains that are ablaze with the beautiful fall colors–one of my favorite times of the year! We went on a little hike, gathered leaves, and other nature treasures and headed home to be scientists.

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Fall Leaf Science Experiment

3.  Observe what color the alcohol is. Come back throughout the day and check to see if the alcohol has changed color. We let our experiment sit overnight and in the morning the colors were even darker but the second night resulted in no change.

4.  Discuss experiment and compare differences between the containers. We recently continued our learning with a STEAM Coffee Filter Art Activity to make Fall Leaves that would be a perfect addition to this activity.

See More: Science Activities Here

See more: fall activities here.

Leaf Chromatography Experiment

STEAM Leaf Art

Fall Tree Crafts

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13 comments

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I love this, when I was a young mom I worked so much just as both my kids do now but finding activities such as this are wonderful. I love these hands on experiments to share with my grandkids. I am a young grandma but It gives me an idea to maybe take the kids to share these experiences with the elderly, they love company.

Great activity for my class! I love science and so does my preschoolers!

• Pingback: Fall Leaves | Science in Storytime

This looks really cool. My son is only 3 so may do this multiple time as he gets older but I know the color changing aspect of the experiment will be most appreciated by him.

Hi Kristen, Thanks so much! I totally agree, it’s great for any age!

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What a great idea! I can't wait for the leaves to start turning here. 🙂 Thank you so much for linking up at the Learn & Play Link Up. Your post is featured this week on Christian Montessori Network!

This is a great idea. I have a high-schooler doing Biology dealing with plants, and I have a fourth grader who watches the Biology videos with his sister. This would be great to do along with what we are already doing now! Thanks for the idea!

This is such a great way to learn about leaves. If I can find some containers, we may just have to do this, even though we finished our leaf unit already. I will be sharing your post with my My Fat'er'hs World Kindergarten group on Facebook , because I am sure there are some moms there that still have to do the leaf unit., and would love to do this. Thank you for stopping by and sharing with Littles Learning Link Up. I hope you can stop by again this week. Have a great day!

What a fun idea! I love the hands-on way of exploring the color of fall leaves! #ThoughtfulSpot

Hi Emma, Thanks so much! My kiddos definitely thought watching the experiment magically change during the day was fun.

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8 Brilliant Leaf Science Experiments for Elementary

Categories Science Experiments

If you are teaching elementary science, you’ll love this collection of leaf science experiments for elementary!

These fall science experiments cover everything from photosynthesis to a leaf’s life cycle and will show kids everything they need to know about fall leaves and the science behind them!

If you like these leaf science experiments, you’ll also like these pumpkin science experiments , creative STEM activities for kids , and our complete list of science experiments for kids.

NGSS Alignment

If you are following NGSS or some other state science standard, these are some of the catagories that these experiments align with:

• K.Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Animals, Plants, and Their Environment
• 2.Earth’s Systems: Processes that Shape the Earth
• 3.Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Life Cycles and Traits
• 3.Weather and Climate
• 5.Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems
• 2.Structure and Properties of Matter

If you want more NGSS aligned experiments, check out our NGSS science series here.

Leaf Science Experiments for the Classroom

While most of the experiments on this list were first done at home, they can be used in a classroom setting as well.

If you do any of these experiments in the classroom, you’ll want to have supplies for groups of 4-5 students at a time.

Here are some of our favorite science kits!

Elementary Science Kits for Kids

Here are some of our favorite science kits to do in the classroom as a group in elementary!

STEM Kits for 1st Grade

How to Set Up a Leaf Science Experiment

Most of the experiments on this list take 2-3 sessions to complete.

Each kid needs some sort of science journal or worksheet to record their observations during the experiment.

Make sure you have all supplies for the experiments on hand and divide everything into groups before handing out to students.

If you’re doing the experiment at home, you can just set up everything ahead of time.

Go over science safety and the science behind the experiment before allowing kids to start. Once the lesson is completed, then you can hand out the supplies.

This will help eliminate waste, mess, and misuse of the equipment.

If you don’t want kids to use breakable materials, you can switch out most of the glass supplies for plastic equipment for these experiments as none of them have any material that has to be in a glass beaker.

And now, on to the leaf science experiments!

Brilliant Leaf Science Experiments for Elementary

These leaf science experiments will teach kids everything they need to know about leaves, why leaves change color, a leaf's life cycle, and more!

Leaf Chromatography Experiment 

Chromatography is a really fascinating part of chemistry. CHromotography sheets are used to determine and prove what materials are in a substance based on how far that substance travels up the chromatography strip.

In this leaf chromatography experiment, kids can find out what colors are hiding inside of fall leaves, as the chromatography strips stratify the colors inside of each leaf.

Apple Tree Life Cycle Worksheet

The apple tree life cycle worksheet shows kids the process of leaf transformation and tree formation from seed to fruit. While this worksheet is aimed at younger elementary students, older kids can help use this worksheet to go deeper into photosynthesis and the life cycle of trees from a cellular level.

How Do Trees Make Oxygen?

Trees make oxygen through leaves through the process of photosynthesis. While learning about photosynthesis and the cell structure of leaves, kids can do this simple experiment to determine how much oxygen trees are producing and if different leaf varieties create different levels of oxygen.

If someone were wanting to plant trees to create more oxygen in an area, what would the best variety be?

Salt Crystal Leaves Science Experiment

Crystals are fascinating for kids, and salt crystal leaves are simply a fun leaf-themed way to explore crystals during the fall.

Salt crystals will always form in a square shape due to their ionic bonds and molecular bonding patterns. Kids can use this experiment to explore a variety of crystal science and leaf science at the same time.

Exploring How Water Travels Through Leaves

In this simple leaf science experiment, kids can explore how water gest to tree leaves from the roots. Colored water shows the path the water travels!

Leaves Shapes Botany

Learn about the types of leaf shapes and their scientific definitions. Both younger and older elementary students will learn a lot with this activity.

Exploring Colors & Chlorophyll with Kids

Using rubbing alcohol, kids can extract color from leaves and find out what chlorophyll is, and why it changes color during the seasons (and why sometimes it doesn't!)

Photosynthesis Project & Science Lesson 

Get an in-depth lesson plan on photosynthesis that you can use to go along with any of the other leaf science experiments in this list.

What are your favorite leaf science experiments? If you try any from this list, let us know how your experiment went!

Use #steamsational to share photos and videos of your experiments on social media!

Share this project with a friend!

Embrace the gorgeous colour of fall this year by conducting a science experiment that shows the colours leaves turn in the fall and explore the science behind this gorgeous transformation that occurs every autumn. We love a simple science experiment and this Leaf Lab is perfect for fall as we explore the big question: Why do leaves change color? Kids from preschool to high school will enjoy this easy and fun Fall science experiment!

Fall Science Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?

What you will discover in this article!

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I have a love-hate relationship with fall. I love the gorgeous colours and the crispness of the air. And don’t forget all the amazing freshly harvested fruits and vegetables.

But there is also the dread that means winter is coming, and when you live in a place with brutally cold temperatures and snow up to 8 months of the year, it makes the signs of it’s arrival, a little panic inducing.

It’s like a warning sign… GET OUTSIDE NOW!

That’s what makes this Fall Science Experiment so perfect. Not only do you get to learn something fascinating about nature, like exploring how leaves change color, but you also get to spend some time outside!

I highly recommend doing this experiment just as the leaves start changing, while some are still green, and others are at various stages of changing colours.

LEARNING EXTENSIONS EXPLORE MORE FALL STEM ACTIVITIES

Leaf Science Chromatography Experiment

When I first looked into this activity, I came across some sites claiming that this activity would reveal what colours the leaves turn in the fall. After doing a few tests we knew that claim was not accurate. Instead, what this activity does is separate out the active colours in the leaves. By active, we mean the colours need to be at least a little bit visible in the leaf. That means for the best results, try picking handfuls of leaves from the same tree but that are at different stages of changing colours. We have a Mountain Ash that gave us leaves in 4 different colour groupings.

Or you can pick different leaves, from different trees, but don’t expect colours to magically appear that are not visible already in the leaf with this simple science approach.

For a more advanced type of Leaf Chromatography experiment for your middle school and high school students, check out this Leaf Lab . We haven’t done this technique but it looks like it might provide a slightly different result from this more simple science, Leaf Chromatography experiment. And may reveal more of the hidden colour pigments in the leaves.

Our Experimental Method

With this experiment we started by doing the steps with leaves from different trees on our property. These are trees we know very well. Beloved trees we have watched move for the seasons for at least a decade. So we are very familiar with their fall colours.

That’s how we discovered that this experiment doesn’t show what colour the leaves will turn in the fall, and therefore doesn’t really answer our big question: Why do leaves change color? Our tree that we know turns a gorgeous red in the fall, did not show any red at all in the chromatography.

But interestingly, our purple leaf tree, that starts in the spring with green leaves, that turn purple in summer, then orange/yellow in fall, gave us the most dynamic chromatography. We even made a cool heart chromatography!

So our next step in the study we went to our Mountain Ash tree. A HUGE very loved, majestic part of our yard. It also possesses the most amazing array of colours as it enters fall. Right now it has green, yellow-green, purple-green and a gorgeous bright berry red. So many beautiful leaf colours in one massive tree!

Then we redid the experiment. If it was true that the experiment would reveal what colours would appear in the fall, then all the chromatography should have revealed the same colours since the leaves were all from the same tree, picked at the same time, just at different stages of turning to the fall colours.

It turns out that wasn’t the case at all. It was only the active colours that were revealed. Which was a great finding! Which turned this Leaf Lab into an amazing journey of discovery and the scientific method .

To do this fall leaf experiment you will need:

Leaves ! See tips above for the best leaf selection Jars with lids (or plastic wrap will work if you don’t have lids) Rubbing Alcohol Butter knife (or other item that can “mash leaves”) Large bowl or dish that fits the jars Hot water Coffee filters Plates Scissors

Time needed:  2 hours and 30 minutes

Reveal the secret colours of leaves with this science experiment.

Start by heading outside and collecting leaves. I used small bags to keep my leaves organized. In total we did 6 different types of leaves. You want to gather 4 to 6 leaves of each type. Try and get leaves that are at different stages of turning colour for the best results.

Set out one jar for each type of leaf you collected. Into each jar start ripping up one type of leaf. You want to tear the leaves up nice and small. Really tear it up!

Add just enough rubbing alcohol to cover the leaves, then using a knife or other utensil mash up the leaves into the alcohol even more. You should start to see the rubbing alcohol turning a bit green.

Set the jars in a large dish or bowls. Add hot water to the bowl or dish and cover the jars with lids or plastic wrap.

Now let them sit for approximately one hour. Give the jars a little swish every once in a while to help release the chlorophyll. Your alcohol should be turning a nice green. You can also refresh the hot water if it cools too much.

Cut a coffee filter into quarters and place on a plate. Using a teaspoon or dropper add a couple of drops of the liquid to the tip of the filter.

Wait approximately 30 min to one hour to see how the colours move up the filter paper and separate. Pretty cool!

What happens if you leave it in the solution even longer? Maybe overnight? The colours will become more bold and larger, making the colours easier to see.

The Science Of Leaf Color Changes In Fall

Let’s dig into the big question: Why do leaves change color?

Why are Leaves Green?

Leaves, like all green plants, contain Chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the molecule that traps the energy of the sun and is called a photoreceptor. It is found in the chloroplasts of green plants, and is what makes green plants, green. It is also a key part of photosynthesis which is what allows plant to get energy from sunlight.

Leaf Coloring

Leaves are actually more colours than just green but Chlorophyll is so dominant most of the summer that its green colour covers up all the other natural colours in the leaves. We can separate the colours of a leaf by doing this leaf chromatography science experiment.

We have done chromatography experiments before, check out our gorgeous Circuit Chromatography Flowers that light up!

In this science experiment we used rubbing alcohol and two types of energy to separate the colours. We used mechanical energy by ripping up the leaves and mashing them, plus heat energy from the hot water.

Look closely at the rubbing alcohol, do you see any other colours in there?

Most commonly you will see green, but depending on the type of leaf you may also see purple, red, yellow, or orange.

What about Purple Leaves?

First a bit of science behind purple leaves. Some plants have a lot of compounds called anthrocyanins which can be red or purple in color. If a plant has enough anthrocyanins, the purple will block out the green color even though the chlorophyll is still there. With this particular type of tree we see that in action because the leaves are green in the spring and turn purple for the summer.

During our walk about collecting leaves we came upon a tree with purple leaves. These trees are quite common around here and we were excited to see how it performed in this experiment.

It was interesting to note that the rubbing alcohol turned green initially, then became purple over time.

Another cool fact about purple leaves, the purple colour protects the leaves from sun damage. It’s like tree sunscreen! So cool!

Leaf Coloring Vocabulary Words

Yellow leaves have pigments called xanthophyll .

Carotenoids are the pigment in orange leaves.

And, as we just learned, anthocyanins , give leaves intense red and purple colouring.

Plus of course we have chlorophyll which gives leaves their green colour.

When looking at your chromatography, each colour in your papers is created by those molecules.

What Makes Leaves Change Color?

OK, time for the big question… what makes leaves change colour ? As we know, Chlorophyll gives leaves their green colour and is so dominant that it hides the other colours in the leaves during the spring and summer. But in the fall, chlorophyll in the leaves breaks down, finally allowing the it’s other natural colours to have their moment in the sun!

The beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges might be short lived before the leaves fall to the ground. This year, think about the amazing science behind those changing colours as the trees around you put on their colourful fall displays.

MORE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS

18 Leaf Science Experiments & Projects for Fall

By: Author Jacquie Fisher

Posted on Published: October 5, 2020

Categories Nature & Outdoor Activities , Science Experiments

Try a few of these easy Fall leaf science experiments, projects and activities using real leaves!

Autumn is definately the season for some outdoor Fall science activities !  And you know me — I’m all about EASY when it comes to projects — what’s easier than walking out your door and rounding up a handful of leaves 😉

So send your kids out on a quick romp around the yard or park to grab some leafy friends, head back home and enjoy a few of these leaf science experiments & activities!

18 Leaf Science Experiments & Activities

Although we adore leaf rubbings and ‘ match the leaf’ games , there’s really so much more you can explore & do with leaves!

Before we even get into the projects, I’m going to ask you for a favor — please ask your kids to collect leaves from the ground when they prep for these activities. No jumping up to pull them off the tree 😉

Look for leaves that have recently fallen from the tree and are still pliable so they won’t fall apart during the craft or experiment. 

And many times, the type of leaf won’t matter.  In fact, collecting a wide variety of leaves will usually help to enhance the beauty of the project and increase your child’s understanding during the experiement.  Items with an (*) appear in each of the photo collages.  And we’ve also included affiliate links for a few items we use when exploring & crafting with leaves!

Fall Leaf Science Experiments

Learn about why leaves change colors | Playdough to Plato*

Put together a Fall Nature Tray & use a magnifying glass to get an up-close look | Edventures with Kids*

See how leaves breathe with this easy science experiment | Edventures with Kids*

Grab some playdough & make leaf prints to better view leaf veins | Learn, Play, Imagine*

Explore how water travels through leaves | Buggy & Buddy*

Enjoy some hands-on science with the *NEW* Leaf STEAM printable worksheets !

Identify leaves & trees with these free printable leaf cards ! | Wildflower Ramblings

Look at leaf cells under a microscope !

Learn the science of leaves with Leaf Rubbings | Edventures with Kids

 Read Leaves Fall Down and then sit under a tree & study why the leaves fall!

  Colorful Leaf Projects for Autumn

Create these colorful Leaf Prints using paper & a hammer! | Edventures with Kids

Autumn Window Art | Kids Craft Room*

Read Why Do Leaves Change Colors and learn how to press leaves!

Offer kids a simple Invitation to Draw Leaves | Munchkins & Moms

Create & Learn with Laminated Leaves | Teaching Mama*

Make your own designs or explore science by designing leaf veins with this Leaf Scratch Art Kit !

Talk about symmetry in nature by creating mirror leaf drawings | Plot 55

I love this Fall Leaf Lacing craft which is great for fine motor skills | Rhythms of Play*

Make Leaf Chalk Art ( a great idea if you have leaves that don’t change color ) | Coffee Cups & Crayons

Use your imagination to make Leaf People | Fantastic Fun & Learning*

Craft a beautiful Leaf & Paint collage for the season | Happy Hooligans

And while you have the paint out, make a gorgeous Leaf Print too! | Meaningful Mama*

More Fall Leaf Activities:

Fall Leaf Scavenger Hunt (with FREE printable cards!)

20 Outdoor Fall Science Activities

For more leaf fun, take a book on a leaf hunt when you head out to find your leaves!

Science Fun

Changing of the Leaves

• 3 green leaves from the same tree
• Rubbing alcohol
• 1 glass jar
• Plastic wrap
• Paper Strip from a coffee filter
• Small bowl with hot water in it

Instructions:

• Break the all the leaves into tiny pieces and put them in the jar.
• Pour rubbing alcohol over the leaves until they are just covered.
• Mash and stir the leaves into the rubbing alcohol until the rubbing alcohol turns slightly green.
• Cover the jar with plastic wrap.
• Put the jar in a bowl of hot water for 50 minutes. Gently swish the jar every 10 minutes to stir up the leaves.
• Take plastic wrap off and place paper coffee filter strip into rubbing alcohol. Make sure just one end of the strip is in the alcohol and the other end is near the top of the jar.
• Let the paper strip sit in jar for an hour. Then make your observations.

VIDEO COMING SOON BUT YOU CAN STILL ENJOY THESE AWESOME EXPERIMENTS!

How it Works:

In this science experiment we used the rubbing alcohol and energy (hot water) to separate the colours. You likely saw green, and depending on your leaf type, maybe red, yellow, or orange. Chlorophyll gives leaves their green colour and is so dominant it hides the other colours in the leaves. But in the fall, chlorophyll in the leaves breaks down allowing the other colours to finally shine through and show their beautiful reds, yellows, and oranges.

Extra Experiments:

• How do the results change if you leave the leaves in the rubbing alcohol for an hour and a half instead of 50 minutes?
• How do the results change if you start with leaves that no longer are green?
• How do the results change if you use needles from an evergreen tree?

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

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Plant Experiments Creating Oxygen

These plant experiments on creating oxygen are fun and easy to do. The air that we breathe is 21% oxygen. After we breathe in oxygen we exhale carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is needed by plants for them to live. In these experiments about plants you will see how a leaf creates oxygen that we breathe from sunlight.

• Clear glass
• Small hand lens optional
• Cut a green leaf off of a plant and fill a glass with water.
• Place the leaf in the glass and put glass containing the leaf in a sunny location.
• Make a prediction what you will see in an hour. Write down your prediction on a piece of paper.
• After an hour carefully look at the leaf and side of the glass.
• You should be able to see lots of tiny bubbles that have formed on the edges of the plant and on the side of the glass. If you are having a hard time seeing the bubbles you might get a small hand lens to observe the edges of the leaf.

Try these plant experiments

• Leave the plant in the sunlight for several more hours. Do the bubbles increase or decrease.
• Take two glasses of water and place a fresh leaf in each one. Place one leaf in a dark area and the other in sunlight for two hours and then observe how much oxygen each leaf produced.

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Science behind the experiment

The bubbles you observed on the leaf and sides of the glass were oxygen. Leaves take in carbon dioxide and through the process of photosynthesis they create food for the plant.

Oxygen is a by product of this and goes into the air. The we breathe contains 21% oxygen produced by plants. Without plants we not have enough oxygen to live.

More Links to Science Experiments

Volcano Science Experiments, Foaming Volcano Watch as your miniature volcano foams over the size of a crater and down the slopes in this fascinating experiment.

Kids Science Experiments, Rubber Band Shoot Out This fun experiment is filled with shooting rubber bands!

Water Experiments, Dropping Clippies Find out in these water experiments how many paperclips you can add to a full glass of water without it overflowing?

Air Pressure Experiments, Does Air Have Weight Find out in these air pressure experiments if air has weight and other fascinating facts about the air we breathe.

Easy Science Experiments Lots of easy experiments for kids of all ages.

Kids Fun Science Find out about science activities, experiments, plate tectonics and much more on this page.

Plant Experiments, Creating Oxygen Try these fun and easy experiments about plants creating oxygen.

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Paging Fun Mums

Replacing Insanity with fun!

Fun Science Experiment! – Learning how plants absorb water!

We had fun with this experiment. It was very cool to watch the colours change!  I used food coloring and cabbage leaves to show the kids how plants absorb water (and nutrients) up through their stems. We also did this experiment with white flowers too!

pagingfunmums

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41 thoughts on “ fun science experiment – learning how plants absorb water ”.

Thank you for sharing our experiment! I’m sure it will inspire a lot of other like minded Mumma’s to do it with their kids! We love to make Science FUN!

Dyed cabbage leaves in pretty glasses make a gorgeous “center piece” down the center of the table. Grandkids were so proud of their contribution and learned something, too.

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Wow that looks looks like fun, my son loves experiments and will be trying this sometime today, he will love the cabbage idea, just a question is the cabbage edible x

It can take up to two weeks

How do you keep the cabbage or flowers from wilting over the course of 2 weeks? We have a Learning Resources science kit, and it suggested trying the same thing with celery stalks…however, it didn’t really work for us. The stalk wilted before much water got absorbed.

Hi Gina, you will only need to keep your flowers/cabbage in the solution over night for these results : ) We tried celery stalks too but found the cabbage & flowers to be the best. Jenni x

Hi, I tried this with cabbage and I let it sit overnight. It did not work for me, my cabbage just wilted. How did you get yours so vibrant looking? Thanks

Love this idea. We tried it with lettuce though and it didn’t work. Will give another go with flowers and cabbage x

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My daughter did this as a science fair project one year. We placed flowers in different areas to see if temperature affected they way they absorbed the water. She then documented her results over the course of a week. It was great and she was able to learn quite a bit about plants.

thanks for this wonderful idea.!!!!

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I found there is also The TickleMe Plant Book available for the more curious minds 🙂

Another fun experiment is to grow a TickleMe Plant which closes its leaves when tickled. Found online

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Such a great, informative, and fun experiment for kids! I look forward to doing this with my Kindergartners!

Wow fun experiment. Can’t wait to do it with my girls.

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Very nice post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wished to mention that I have truly enjoyed surfing around your weblog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing for your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!

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its awesome

Will the colour absorb overnight?

What are the best white flowers to use?

Hi Lorna, yes they will definitely absorb over night. White roses are great, but any white flowers will work fine! Let us know how you go! Jen x

I’m being asked for an activity based on cells of plants. Are the cells of the plant absorbing the dye or is it the “veins?”

Can u eat the cabbage after its colored? [email protected]

This is an awesome way for students to see how plants absorb water! Using the different colors all is such a great idea and not very expensive! Thank you for sharing!!!

How long does it take to get to changing cabbage?

You can start seeing it appear after a few hours, but over night is best 🙂 Jen x

I’m in 11th grade now and me and my partner are going to try this experiment. Just a question, is the cabbage edible after the experiment? My classmates might ask and I don’t know what to answer. Hope for your reply asap.

I was planning on using celery until I saw your cabbage photos. I bought Napa Cabbage, thinking that was what I was seeing in the photo…then I read and learned it was Wombok cabbage. I hope the Napa Cabbage works just as well. No school tomorrow as we are expecting a heavy snow storm, we’ll try it out and see what happens. I hope it works and looks as pretty!

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Thank you for sharing. I did this wonderful experiment that word so well with my children. I used some faded naba cabbage and I was surprised to see the whole cabbage colored in an hour or two. I am going to try with the flowers now.

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How Wee Learn

Out of the box learning ideas, playful art, exploring nature, and simple living - that is How We Learn!

Plant Science Experiments

May 28, 2024 by Sarah Leave a Comment

In this blog post, I’ve gathered my favorite plant science experiments, from sprouting seeds to discovering how light, water, and soil influence plant growth, to flower and leaf experiments, and beyond.

These hands-on activities will cultivate a deeper appreciation for the environment and inspire your child to embrace curiosity and get their hands dirty—literally!

Free Printable Seed Growth Tracker

Before we get into all of the plant science experiments, you’ll want to grab your FREE Seed Growth Tracker. This page is perfect for recording observations as you watch your seeds grow!

Plant Science Experiments with Seeds

Sprout Seeds in a Mason Jar – The “mason jar and paper towel method” of seed germinating is perfect for comparing and tracking how seeds grow!

Do Seeds Need Their Seed Coat to Grow? by Gift of Curiosity – What is the purpose of a seed’s coat? Is it really needed? Find out with a seed germination experiment!

Light and Plant Growth Experiments

How Plant Growth is Affected by Light by Life with Moore Learning – Discover how light affects a plant’s growth with this simple set up.

Maze Potato Plant Experiment by 123 Homeschool 4 Me – Now that you know plants need light to grow, how can we have some fun with that knowledge?! Make a maze! This is such a neat one to watch as the plant makes it’s way through the maze to reach the light.

Water and Plant Growth Experiments

What Liquid is Best for Growing Seeds? Experiment by Lessons for Little Ones – Discover what type of water is best for growing seeds with this plant experiment! Little ones can make predictions and track each seed’s growth. 

What Solution Keeps Flowers Fresh Longest? by We Have Kids – With the last experiment, you found out what kind of water helps plants grow, but what helps cut flowers stay fresh?

Soil Experiments

Soil Erosion Experiment by Life is a Garden – This soil experiment is so cool! Kids will learn how plants and their roots help to protect soil from eroding.

What Soil Type is Best for Growing Seeds? by STEAMsational – Which type of soil is best for growing your plant? It may not be the one you think!

Learning About Leaves

Why Do Leaves Change Color? – Have you ever wondered why leaves change color? With just a few simple supplies, you can learn about chlorophyll and how leaves change color in the fall.

How Do Leaves Breathe? by KC Edventures – Did you know that leaves breathe!? For this experiment, all you will need is a bowl of water and a leaf. Easy peasy!

Flower Science Experiments

Reveal a Plant’s Vascular System by Tamara Horne – You’ve likely seen experiments where you plop cut flowers into vases filled with water dyed different colors. Well, if you happen to have a highlighter and a black light, you can take that experiment to a whole new level!

Dissecting Daffodils to Explore Pollination by Sloely – Explore all of the different parts of a plant by dissecting one!

What Happens When You Submerge a Dandelion? by Mud and Bloom – Have you ever tried dipping a dandelion in water? You would think those fragile little seeds would fall right off, considering how easily they blow away in the wind, but… well, you’ll just have to try it!

Which of these plant science experiments are you excited to try!? My kids are super excited to try out the maze experiment!

If you’re ready to dive into learning all about seeds and plants through fun, hands-on activities, I encourage you to check out my Seeds and Plants Family Unit Study. You’ll learn about the different types of plants, seed anatomy, photosynthesis, pollination, plant adaptations, and so much more!

Seeds and Plants Family Unit Study

https://shop.howweelearn.com/products/family-unit-study-seeds-and-plants

I hope your week is off to a wonderful start, my friend. Take care, and don’t forget to water your plants!

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DIY Science Kits For Kids

Science is a wonderful thing for kids! There is so much to learn and discover right around us. Many science concepts start in the kitchen with simple materials you already have on hand. Fill a plastic tote with easy-to-find supplies, and you will have a homemade science kit filled with learning opportunities that are sure to keep them busy all year long!

DIY Science Experiments for Kids

We love simple science experiments you can do at home or in the classroom. I wanted to assemble a kids’ science kit to show you how simple it is to try your own science experiments at home.

Most of our favorite science supplies for kids are super simple to find at the grocery store or dollar store, and you may already have many items at home. However, I have also added a few of our favorite science tools from Amazon. Read on to find out what to put in an at-home science kit.

Of course, water is an awesome material for science experiments. Make sure to try one of our awesome water science experiments! Grab a container and start filling it!

Join the Library Science Club

What’s our Library Club all about? How about fantastic, instant access downloads to instructions, photos, and templates (for less than a cup of coffee each month)? With just a mouse click, you can find the perfect experiment, activity, or demonstration right now. Learn more:

Click here to check out the Library Club today. Why not give it a try, you can cancel any time!

What are DIY Science Kits?

While you can search Amazon for various pre-made science kits at various price points, there is so much you can do by making your own science kit.

A DIY science kit is something you assemble for home, school, or group use without buying a toy kit from a store that will only have a few limited activities. Our homemade science kits allow you to use everyday materials in various ways to create fun, engaging, and educational science experiments for kids in preschool right through middle school. Nothing fancy!

Find the best supplies for making your own science kit, simple science experiments, and additional science resources below.

Science Experiments by Age Group

While many experiments can work for various age groups, you will find the best science experiments for specific age groups below.

• Science Activities For Toddlers
• Preschool Science Experiments
• Kindergarten Science Experiments
• Elementary Science Projects
• Science Projects For 3rd Graders
• Science Experiments For Middle Schoolers

Grab the Free MEGA Supply List

Amazon Prime – Science Tools To Add

These are some of my favorite science tools for kids, whether you’re in the classroom, at home, or in a group or club setting. Fill out your science/STEM kit!

(Please note that all Amazon links below are affiliate links, meaning this website receives a small percentage of each sale.)

• Although this is a science kit with experiments to try, I specifically like the test tubes that are supplied. They are super easy to reuse!
• A magnet set is a must-have addition to a science kit and pairs well with our magnet STEAM pack !
• Younger kiddos will get a ton of use from this primary science kit ! I know we used our set for years!
• Snap Circuits Jr is a fantastic way to explore electricity and electronics with curious kiddos!
• Introduce a microscope to curious kids who always want to look closer!

Science Experiment Suggestions

Below you’ll find some of our favorite science activities that go along with materials from our homemade science kit list. The supplies below are some of the most common materials we always have on hand.

1. ALKA SELTZER TABLETS

Start off your homemade science kit with a fizz and a pop! We love using Alka seltzer tablets in our homemade lava lamps to make these awesome pop rockets .

2. BAKING SODA

Baking soda, along with vinegar is one item for your science kit, that you will want to use again and again. A baking soda and vinegar reaction is a classic science experiment and we have so many variations for you to try!

Baking soda is also an ingredient in our popular fluffy slime recipe !

Here are a few of our favorites…

• Sandbox Volcano
• Fizzing Slime
• Balloon Experiment
• Hatching Dinosaur Eggs
• Baking Soda Painting
• Bottle Rocket
• Lemon Volcano

Check out all our baking soda science experiments !

3. BORAX POWDER

Borax powder is a versatile item in your DIY science kit. Use it to make borax slime , or  experiment with growing your own borax crystals.

Check out these fun variations for growing crystals…

Who would have thought that candy and science go together? We even have a bunch of edible slime recipes or taste-safe slime for kids to make and play with.

Candy you could include in your DIY science kit:

• Skittles for a Skittles Experiment
• M&Ms for a M&M Science Experiment
• Check out this science experiment with chocolate
• Peeps for one of these fun Peeps Science Activities
• Find out things to do with Jelly Beans
• Grow sugar crystals with rock candy.

5. COFFEE FILTERS

Coffee filters are inexpensive and fun to include in your homemade kit. Combine art and solubility science with these easy ideas…

• Coffee Filter Flowers
• Coffee Filter Snowflakes
• Coffee Filter Apples
• Coffee Filter Turkeys
• Coffee Filter Christmas Tree

6. COTTON BALLS

Use cotton balls to explore water absorption for a simple DIY science experiment.

7. COOKING OIL

Oil is a great household item to include in your DIY science kit. Why not make a  Lava Lamp with oil and water, and learn about density simultaneously? Or even make waves in a bottle.

8. CORN STARCH

Cornstarch is an awesome item to have on hand in your kids’ science kit. Mix some cornstarch and water to make oobleck , and explore non-Newtonian fluids!

Also, check out these activities with cornstarch…

• Electric Cornstarch
• Cornstarch Slime
• Cornstarch Dough

9. CORN SYRUP

Corn syrup is great for adding to density layer experiments like this one .

10. DISH SOAP

Try our classic  Magic Milk Experiment with this DIY science kit item. It’s also a fun item to have on hand for extra foam with a baking soda volcano .

11. FOOD COLORING

Food coloring is such a versatile item to include in your science kit. Add color when making slime , or oobleck , even to a baking soda and vinegar experiment or ocean sensory bottle … The options are endless!

12. IVORY SOAP

The key ingredient in our expanding ivory soap experiment.

Salt is another must-have item for kids to add to your DIY science kit. Substitute salt for borax powder, as we did, to grow salt crystals .

• Try painting with salt for a bit of art and science!
• Learn about salt and ice with our ice fishing experiment.
• We also used salt for our Salt Water Density Experiment.

14. SHAVING FOAM

Shaving foam is a must-have ingredient for making the fluffiest slime! Check out the best fluffy slime recipe of all time!

Sugar, like salt, is another DIY science kit item that is great for experiments with water. Why not make a rainbow in a jar or explore which solids dissolve in water .

16. VINEGAR

Vinegar is another common must-have household item to add to your science kit. Combine vinegar with baking soda (see above) for lots of fizzing fun or use it on its own!

More Ways to Use Vinegar in Experiments:

17. WASHABLE PVA GLUE

PVA glue is one of your must-have slime ingredients for making homemade slime . Clear glue, white glue or glitter glue, each one gives you a different type of slime.

Add Cheap Science Tools to Your Science Kit

Our kids’ science kit is also filled with tools and necessary equipment. Dollar store cookie sheets, muffin trays, ice cube trays, and small ramekins are always used to contain the mess, test liquids, sort items, and freeze ice!

A cheap bow, a set of measuring spoons and cups, big spoons, and

I usually always set out a magnifying glass and often a hand mirror. We use tweezers and eye droppers often as well. No kid’s science kit is complete without a pair of safety goggles!

You can check out more about the science tools we use here!

More Helpful Science Resources

The following resources feature fantastic printables to add to your DIY science kit or science lesson plans!

SCIENCE VOCABULARY

It is never too early to introduce some fantastic science words to kids. Get them started with a printable science vocabulary word list . You’re definitely going to want to incorporate these science terms into your next science lesson!

WHAT IS A SCIENTIST

Think like a scientist! Act like a scientist! Scientists like you and me are also curious about the world around them. Learn about the different types of scientists and what they do to increase their understanding of their areas of interest. Read What Is A Scientist

SCIENCE PRACTICES

A new approach to teaching science is called Best Science Practices. These eight science and engineering practices are less structured and allow for a more free – flowing approach to problem-solving and finding answers. These skills are critical to developing future engineers, inventors, and scientists!

FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS

Click below to grab our free science challenge calendar and guide to our best science experiments for kids!

Click below to get your quick and easy science challenge calendar. 

11 Comments

This is such a great collection of science experiments! I love that I already have most of the item needed around the house! Thanks for sharing!!

your articles is very useful for children. thank you for sharing.

Love this! So many ideas all wrapped in a neat package. Thank you!

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Science and water experiment is wonderful concept for kid. All handmade science experiment, kid can easily learn and make their own. They can really enjoy when they will do.

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Disneyland employee dies after falling from moving golf cart in SoCal theme park backstage

The woman was identified as Bonnye Mavis Lear. She was a Disneyland cast member for 24 years.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- A Disneyland employee died after she fell from a moving golf cart in the backstage area of the Southern California theme park, authorities said Saturday.

The woman was identified as Bonnye Mavis Lear of Fullerton, according to Orange County coroner's office.

Anaheim police Sgt. Jon McClintock said authorities responded to the Disneyland Resort on Wednesday morning after a woman fell from a moving golf cart and struck her head.

She was taken to the hospital and died on Friday of her injuries, McClintock said in a statement.

Ken Potrock, president of the Disneyland Resort, expressed his condolences and said the company was focused on supporting her family and co-workers.

"We are heartbroken by the loss of Bonnye, and offer our sincere condolences to everyone who cared for her. At this time, we are focused on supporting her family and our cast members through this tragic event and making sure they have the resources they need."

Lear was a Disneyland Resort cast member for 24 years, and most currently supported membership services at Club 33.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of this station.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Scientists Have Discovered a New Way to Levitate Water

If you flick a handful of droplets on a very hot pan, you can watch them skitter and dance about.

These droplets, believe it or not, are actually levitating. If a surface is hot enough, the heat will vaporize the side of the droplet closest to it, creating a cushion of gas on which the rest of the droplet hovers.

This is known as the Leidenfrost effect , after German physician Johann Gottlob Leidenfrost, who documented the phenomenon in the 18th century.

Now, a team of scientists has worked out a way to lower the temperature at which this little water dance occurs. A surface with a microscopic texture transfers heat to the droplets more effectively, a finding that has implications for heat transfer applications – such as cooling industrial machinery, and nuclear cooling towers.

"We thought the micropillars would change the behaviors of this well-known phenomenon, but our results defied even our own imaginations," says mechanical engineer Jingtao Cheng of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

"The observed bubble-droplet interactions are a big discovery for boiling heat transfer."

We've known about the Leidenfrost effect for some time, and its parameters are well understood. For it to occur, it needs enough heat that the water forms a vapor instantly on contact with the hot plate, but not so much heat that the entire water droplet instantly vaporizes.

The reason the water doesn't entirely vaporize at Leidenfrost temperatures is because a good proportion of the energy from the hot surface is diverted away as vapor, instead of entering the rest of the droplet.

The surface Cheng and his colleagues devised consists of hundreds of tiny little pillars about 0.08 millimeters high, about the width of a human hair. These are arranged in a grid, separated by a distance of about 0.12 millimeters. When placed on the surface, a water droplet covers about 100 of the pillars.

As the water sits on the surface, the pillars press into the water droplet, imparting more heat to the interior, and allowing the water to boil more quickly. This means that the Leidenfrost effect can be observed, within milliseconds, and at much lower temperatures than it can with a flat surface like a hotplate or frying pan.

In fact, the team was able to induce Leidenfrost levitation at 130 degrees Celsius, far lower than the 230 degrees Celsius they estimated as typical for the effect under these conditions.

Now, water is an excellent medium for cooling. Water boils and vaporizes at around 100 degrees Celsius (it varies a little by altitude). Liquid water cannot be hotter than this boiling point, since it turns into vapor.

That's why this person was able to cook soup in a plastic bag over a fire : the heat is transferred to the water, which cannot exceed the melting point of the plastic (note: do not do this, there are chemicals in plastic that you don't want in your soup).

The micropillar surface therefore offers a more efficient heat transfer mechanism that could be a lot safer than water cooling technologies currently in use, the researchers say, helping to prevent dangerous accidents such as vapor explosions.

"Vapor explosions occur when vapor bubbles within a liquid rapidly expand due to the [presence of an] intense heat source nearby. One example of where this risk is particularly pertinent is in nuclear plants, where the surface structure of heat exchangers can influence vapor bubble growth and potentially trigger such explosions," says engineer Weng Huang of Virginia Tech.

"Through our theoretical exploration in the paper, we investigate how surface structure affects the growth mode of vapor bubbles, providing valuable insights into controlling and mitigating the risk of vapor explosions."

The team's research has been published in Nature Physics .

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• Healthy Living
• Home & Garden
• Home & Garden Ideas

Garden: Know how and when to water plants this summer

So far this spring, rainfall has been fairly reliable and adequate and air temperatures have been moderate, eliminating the need for frequent watering of most outdoor plants in Greater Columbus.

Most gardens will, however, need to be irrigated more frequently at some point this summer when air temperatures heat up and rainfall becomes more spotty or even nonexistent for a period of time.

Understanding how and when to provide water to the plants in your care is critical tomaintaining plant health and growth.

How much water is needed?

Most plants growing in the ground need a minimum of 1 inch of water each week to thrive in the warm temperatures of summer. This is true for most plants, including vegetables, flowers, turf, herbaceous perennials, shrubs and even trees.

If rainfall does not provide at least 1 inch of water to your plants each week, you will need to provide supplemental irrigation.

This is even more critical when air temperatures are warmer and plants are under heat stress. One inch of water is a minimum and some plants, such as tomatoes, need more than an inch of water per week in order to thrive and produce fruit.

Many vegetable plants will require more water when they are in the flowering and fruit production phase of development.

If you don’t already have one, a rain gauge is a great tool to help you determine if last night’s rain shower was adequate or if you need to provide supplemental irrigation.

Garden: Companion planting has many benefits in the garden

Rainfall amounts vary widely in a geographic region, especially in summer, and a rain gauge will help you keep track of the amount of rainfall that actually falls on your plants.

Container plants need special care

Vegetables, herbs and annual flowers planted in containers will need more water more frequently, particularly pots smaller than 10 inches in diameter. Containers in full sun will dry out more quickly than those in locations which receive some shade, such as porches.

Unglazed clay pots tend to dry out more quickly than containers made of other materials. Raised beds are like large containers, and if your raised beds are less than 18 inches deep, plants growing in these beds will likely need to be watered more frequently than plants growing in the ground.

Water the soil, not the plants

If you water with a hose or watering can, be sure to direct the water directly to the soil, and not on the foliage of the plants. Watering the soil is the most effective and efficient method to provide moisture to a plant.

Water on foliage evaporates and can even burn foliage on some plants when sun hits the water droplets. Except on turf, avoid the use of overhead sprinklers as they provideperfect conditions for foliar diseases to develop, especially in susceptible vegetable andherbaceous perennial plants.

A long-handled watering wand is a good investment as it allows you to more easily direct the flow of the water to the soil surface and regulate the flow.

Using a soaker hose with its many small holes which deliver water slowly over time to the root zone of your plants is a very effective method for watering both in-ground plantings and raised beds. And the best part of using a soaker hose is that you don’t have to stand out in the hot sun while you are watering your plants!

A drip or trickle irrigation system is also a very efficient method for watering plants, particularly vegetable crops. Plants watered with drip irrigation systems yield better and have fewer diseases than plants irrigated by other methods.

Less water will be needed when using a drip irrigation system since water is supplied directly to the root zone where the plant needs it. You can even supply fertilizer through a drip irrigation system.

Drip irrigation systems are easy to set up and the necessary parts can be purchased at some local garden centers and through many sources online. A complete guide to building and operating a home garden irrigation system can be found here: go.osu.edu/homegardenirrigationsystem .

Garden: Some tomato tips and tricks for gardeners

Conserving water

One of the most effective strategies for conserving water when irrigating plants is the use of mulches. Whether you use black-plastic mulch or landscape fabric in the vegetable garden, or compost or shredded-hardwood mulches in your flower beds , plants grown in soil with a 3-inch layer of mulch will require less frequent irrigation.

The use of water from rain barrels connected to down spouts of a structure can provide an inexpensive source of supplemental water, especially for nonedible food crops, such as flowers, shrubs and trees.

When using rain-barrel water to water food crops, consider disinfecting the water in the rain barrel with a food grade sanitizer before applying to food crops. And always water the soil, and not the edible parts of the plant.

Mike Hogan is Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources and associate professor with Ohio State University Extension.

[email protected]

Water main break in northwest Calgary leaves several hundred homes without water

16th ave. closed in both directions, several other roads blocked off to traffic.

Water main break causes flooding and road closures in several northwest Calgary communities

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Several hundred homes in the northwest communities of Bowness, Montgomery and Point McKay are without water due to a water main break, said Keith Stahl, Calgary Fire Department battalion chief said. 

The break has also forced the closure of several roads and intersections around the communities of Bowness and Montgomery, Calgary police said. And 16th Avenue is closed in both directions.

Shouldice Road and westbound Home Road are among others blocked off to traffic.

"It's down to a trickle," said area resident Cindy Amthor referring to the water in her house. "People farther in Bowness don't have anything at all."

Amthor said she hadn't seen anything like this since the 2013 flood when she lost her house.

In a statement, the City of Calgary confirmed the water main break in the northwest communities, acknowledging that homes were without water.

"We ask Calgarians to be prepared to reduce their water use both indoors and outdoors over the next 24 hours," the statement reads.

The Calgary Fire Department did not say how long it would take to repair the water main break or how long homes would be without water.

With files from Colleen Underwood and Omar Sherif

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25 Best Indoor Plants To Brighten Up Your Home

They're low-maintenance but high reward! 🪴

Most houseplants have tropical origins, so they like bright, indirect light (not direct sunlight), which is typically best in east- or south-facing windows. West-facing windows often have intense light that may be too strong in summertime, so you might need to shade some of your indoor plants with a sheer curtain. North-facing windows typically don’t offer sufficient light, especially in the winter. If you don’t have the right conditions, invest in a few inexpensive grow lights so your plants can thrive indoors.

When watering your indoor plants, err on the side of too dry, rather than too wet. Most houseplants prefer to dry out a bit between waterings, so stick your finger in the soil and see if it still feels moist. If you’re in doubt, wait a day and try again. Also, choose a planter that has holes in the bottom so excess water can drain out. No plant likes soggy feet!

Ahead, you'll find our favorite indoor plants for every room in the house. Be sure to check out the best indoor trees , next!

Itching for more indoor plant inspiration? Look no further:

• Even Beginners Can Propagate Pothos Plants Into New Plants
• These Are the Best Hanging Houseplants for an Indoor Oasis
• These Are the Best Houseplants for a Spa-Like Bathroom

Snake Plant

This easy-to-grow plant has a striking upright shape and tolerates low light conditions. Let it dry out between waterings. Snake plants are the ideal choice for new plant parents because they're quite forgiving and can go 2 to 3 weeks if you forget to water.

Watering: Once a month

Sunlight: Bright to medium indirect sunlight

ZZ plants, short for Zamioculcas zamiifolia, have shiny leaves and an upright form. They're just as tough as snake plants and can handle low light, and like to be completely dry between waterings.

Watering: Every two to three weeks

Sunlight: Medium to bright indirect light, can tolerate low light

Philodendron 'Birkin'

Philodendrons are easy to grow, but they do need bright, indirect light. There are hundreds of species, but this upright variety with white striped foliage makes a striking addition to any brightly-lit space. Let it dry out slightly between waterings.

Watering: Every one to two weeks

Sunlight: Medium to bright indirect light

Philodendron 'Heartleaf'

This is another type of philodendron that likes bright, indirect light. It has pretty dark green heart-shaped leaves and a vining form, so it looks great draping over end tables or shelves. Let it dry out slightly before watering again.

Sunlight: Medium to bright indirect light, can tolerate low indirect light

Purported to bring good luck (and who doesn’t need more of that?!), this plant has an upright form and glossy green leaves. It prefers bright light but will adapt to moderate light. If you try to grow it where it’s too dim, the plant will stretch and become scraggly. Let it dry out slightly between waterings.

Sunlight: Bright, indirect light

Peace lilies are an old favorite for their glossy dark green leaves and unusual white spoon-shaped flowers. They will tolerate low light but prefer moderate to bright, indirect light in order to bloom. Keep yours slightly moist.

Watering: Once a week

Sunlight: Moderate to bright, indirect light, can tolerate low light

With thick, puckered heart-shaped leaves, this little plant forms a cute mounded shape. It will tolerate low to moderate light. Let the soil dry out before watering again.

Sunlight: Medium to bright, indirect light

Probably one of the easiest houseplants to grow, pothos has beautiful variegated leaves and a vining form. It prefers bright light but will adapt to low light (though it won’t grow as fast). It doesn’t like to be soggy, so let the soil dry out between waterings.

Sunlight: Bright, indirect light, can tolerate low light

Philodendron 'Brasil'

This variegated form of heartleaf philodendron is an easy plant to grow. It has dark green leaves with lime green streaks and likes bright light. Let it dry out in between waterings!

Peacock Plant

This colorful plant, also called calathea, has pretty rounded leaves and attractive markings with red undersides. It needs bright light and constant slight moisture.

Watering: Once or twice per week

Sunlight: B right, filtered light, can tolerate full shade or low light

Resembling a tiny tree with fat, fleshy leaves, this fuss-free plant likes bright light. But because it’s a succulent, it’s forgiving about watering. Give it a drink every week or two when dry.

Watering: Once every two weeks, once soil is dry

Sunlight: At least four hours of direct sunlight or 12 hours of bright, indirect light per day

Swiss Cheese Plant

A few different plants in the Monstera family go by this common name. They have whimsical holes (like Swiss cheese, obviously!) and like bright indirect light. Wait to water until the top few inches of soil feel dry.

Sunlight: Bright to medium indirect light

African Violet

These cheerful little plants with fuzzy leaves bloom almost continuously in the right conditions. They need bright, indirect light. Give them a drink when the soil feels slightly dry to the touch and water from the bottom (set the pot in water and let soak for 30 minutes) or the top, but don’t get water on the leaves to prevent spotting.

Watering: Once a week, once soil is dry

Parlor Palm

Popular since Victorian times, these handsome palms add a sophisticated flair to your room—but they definitely need bright light and constant light moisture.

Sunlight: Medium to bright, indirect light, can tolerate low light

Norfolk Island Pine

This attractive little tree has soft needles and an upright form. It will grow rapidly in the right conditions. Give it bright light, though it can tolerate moderate light levels, and constant light moisture. But don’t let it dry out or it will drop lower branches, which won’t regrow.

String of Pearls

This adorable succulent looks just like a long strand of pearls. It's a bit fragile, so find it a good spot and let it be. Give it bright, indirect light, and it will grow rapidly. Let it dry out between waterings.

Sunlight: A mix of bright direct and indirect sunlight

This upright plant has red or white streaked foliage. It likes moderate light but will adapt to low light. Water when the soil feels dry.

Watering: Every five to 10 days

Sunlight: Low to bright indirect light

This petite plant has striped leafy clusters. It likes bright, indirect light and because it’s a succulent, it should dry out between waterings—which may not be needed for 10 days to 2 weeks.

Sunlight: Bright, indirect to direct light

Also called coin plants because of their fun foliage, pilea likes bright, indirect light. Let it get mostly dry before watering again. If it sprouts tiny “pups” next to the mother plant, you can separate them and make new baby plants.

Sunlight: Bright, indirect light, can tolerate low to medium light

Rubber Tree

Rubber trees have been popular forever because they’re hardy and easy to grow. They have glossy, leathery leaves, and a strong upright form, making them a great floor plant. The variegated types are especially eye-catching. They like bright light and need to be watered when the soil is slightly dry to the touch.

Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.

Nitya Rao is the editorial assistant at The Pioneer Woman, covering stories ranging from food, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, news, and more.

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