Leaf Rubbings

Plants For Kids

Bringing the science of plants to the classroom

 This fun exercise is a simple and quick method that allows children to view the details within a leaf. Often only children only view leaves as the green things on plants connected through a stem. This exercise will allow them to see the many important parts of a leaf.

These are the supplies needed to see the structures of a leaf
-Crayons -Thin paper -Leaves

Methods:

Takes the paper wrapper off the crayons you will be using and go outside and find a tree that has leaves that you like. Search under the tree for fallen leaves that are still soft, if you cannot find any to gently break one off of the tree. On a flat hard surface, place the leaf in the position you wish to capture, and then place the paper over the leaf.

Holding the paper with one hand, rub the long side of the crayon over the leaf until you have a perfect copy of your leave on the piece of paper.

You can now see many of the veins that run throughout the length of the leaf. You might even be able to see the stem of your leaf. Be sure to use different leaves and colors so that you can compare the leaves of several plants and see how they are all very different. Below you can see our main leaf with two smaller leaves surrounding it.

 

http://herbarium.desu.edu/pfk/page29/page30/page31/page31.html

Water transport

Plants For Kids

Bringing the science of plants to the classroom

The following experiment is a fun and easy way to see how water and nutrients travel up the stem using xylem within the plant

These are the materials needed to view xylem in action:

- 2 liter bottle - 2 plastic cups - 1 White Carnation with long stem - Water - Food Coloring (Whatever colors you wish, we chose red and blue) - Scissors
Methods:
Fill both of the cups with water and add about four or five drops of food coloring in to each of the cups. tablespoons of salt to one of the dishes. Using the scissors have a parent cut stem of the flower in half along the length of the flower until about half way up the stem.
Now place each side of the stem into one of the cups









Let the flower sit in the water for around 48 hours



After a few days you should clearly be able to see a color change in your flower. In the picture above you can see the top right part is nice and red while the bottom left of our flower in blue. This is the result of different parts of the stem up taking the different colors of water. You can experiment with all sorts of of food colors to make whatever color flower you wish.

 

Osmosis in Potatoes

http://herbarium.desu.edu/pfk/page17/page18/page19/page19.html

The following experiment is a fun and easy way to see the effects of plant osmosis on a plant by comparing two different potatoes placed in different types of water
These are the materials needed to view osmosis in action:

- 2 Potatoes - 2 Plates - Salt - Water - Knife
Methods:
Fill both of the dishes with water and add about two tablespoons of salt to one of the dishes. Using the knife have a parent cut the potato in half lengthwise. Then Place each piece flat side down in to one of the plates of water.






Now simply let the two potato pieces soak in the water for a few hours. After this time has passed flip each potato over and look for differences.




When looking at the potato pieces you can clearly see a difference between the two. Lets take a closer look at each of the potato pieces!

This potato slice is the one that has been soaking in freshwater. Not much of a difference here, only that the potato is a little more rigid then before. This is because there is the more salt and other dissolved chemicals within the potato then the surrounding water. This means that the water will move into the potato.

This potato slice is the one that has been soaking in saltwater. This potato pieces looks substantially different from the original and the other slice. It seems to have wilted, gotten very soft and flexible. Why did that happen?

It has to do with a process called osmosis. The potato is made up of tiny, living units called cells. Each cell is surrounded by a cell membrane which acts much as your skin does. It keeps the cells parts inside and keeps other things outside, protecting the cell.

While this membrane stops most things, water can pass through it. The water tends to move towards higher concentrations of dissolved chemicals. That means that if the water outside the cell is saltier than the water inside, water will move from the inside of the cell to the outside. As the water left the cell it was much like letting the air out of a balloon. As more and more of the cells lost water, the slice of potato became soft and flexible.

Plant from Cut Leaf

Plants For Kids

Bringing the science of plants to the classroom

 The following experiment is a fun and easy way to see the effects of plant hormones on a plant by growing an new plant from a simple leaf cutting
These are the materials needed to grow your own plant:

-African violet leaf* -Bottle or jar -Aluminum foil -Water-soluble plant fertilizer (an general fertilizer will do, we used 20-20-20) -Water -Knife *Other plants can be used like: Peperomia, and Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii)

Methods:

Take a pinch of fertilizer and put in the bottle or jar you are using.
Be sure not to touch fertilizer with your hands, use a spoon!

 Fill the container with water.

Fit a small piece of aluminum foil over the top of the container

 Make a small hole where the leaf will fit in.

 Now take a sharp knife and cut a leaf close to the stem.

Stick the leaf in the hole that you made in the aluminum foil.

Make sure that just the cut tip of the leaf is submerged in the water and be sure to maintain the water level so that the leaf tip is always submerged.

Roots will begin to grow in about 3 weeks from the tip of the cut leaf

The leaf and roots are now ready plant in a pot of their own!!!!

 http://herbarium.desu.edu/pfk/page14/page15/page16/page16.html

Shoe-box Maze

The following experiment is a fun and easy way to see the effects of phototropism on a plant by making it complete your own maze
These are the materials needed to make your own shoe-box maze:


 -Shoebox -Extra cardboard -Scissors -Tape -Small potted plant (bean plant)


 Methods:
  Cut a large hole at one end of the shoebox. Hold the box up to the light and be sure to tape up any other spaces where light shines through.

Cut two pieces of cardboard in the following sizes:
First make both pieces half the width of the shoebox.
Then make both pieces the same height of the shoebox.

Now divide the box in thirds and tape one cut cardboard piece on the left side of the box at the one-third mark. Next, tape the other cardboard piece on the right side of the box at the two-thirds mark.

Place the small potted plant in the shoebox opposite the hole, make sure that it is well watered. (We started a bean in a plastic cup.)                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                             
  Close the box, tape it, and place it in a sunny window.



In about 4 or 5 days open the box and notice how the plant
grows in the direction of the light coming from the hole!!!

http://herbarium.desu.edu/pfk/page11/page12/page13/page13.htm

Upside Down Bean Experiment

The following experiment is a fun and easy way to see the effects of gravitropism on a plant.

 Plants For Kids

Bringing the science of plants to the classroom

 http://herbarium.desu.edu/pfk/page8/page9/page10/page10.html

These are the materials needed to make your own upside down plant: 

-Two sponges -Small bean plant -String -Scissors -Water -Thumbtack 

Methods:    

Pour water over sponges until they are moist.

Take small potted plant out of pot and remove much of the soil. (We used a small bean plant that we planted in a plastic cup.)

Sandwich the roots between the sponges.
       

Tie the string around the sponges lengthwise and widthwise. Then hang 

the plant upside down in a sunny 

window with a tray under it to

 catch excess water.

Keep the sponges watered and in a couple of days the plant will begin to turn around and grow upright!!

Hairy Caterpillar

The following experiment is a fun and easy way to see the effects of germination and the quick growth of grass

Plants For Kids

Bringing the science of plants to the classroom.

 http://herbarium.desu.edu/pfk/page1/page2/page3/page3.html

 These are the materials needed for the creation of your very own caterpillar:
-All purpose potting soil
-Nylon stocking
-Any quick growing grass seed
-Spoon
-Large bowl
-Paper cup (or any small container that you can cut with scissors)
-Colorful elastic pony tail holders or colored rubber bands
-Pipe cleaner
-Two trash bag ties
-Glue
-Scissors
-Large google eyes (2)
-Small pom poms (2)
-Plastic bag
-Plate or shallow tray
-Water 

 

 Methods:
In a large bowl, mix about 4 cups of soilwith 4 spoons of grass seed

Cut the bottom out of a paper cup or small container to create a funnel

 Pour a little less than a cup of the soil/seed mixture into the stocking

Slide a ponytail holder or rubber band over the end of the stocking to section it off a portion of soil. 

 Repeat until you have 5 colorful caterpillar segments. ie the end of the stocking into a knot and cut off any extra nylon remaining (this will be the nose). 

 Soak the caterpillar in water for 10 minutes then allow to sit in a plastic bag overnight 

 Remove the bag. To create the eyes stick two trash bag ties in the front of the stocking above the nose. Glue one google eye on the end of each trash tie. 

To create the antennae, cut one pipe cleaner in half and glue one pom pom on the end of each half (or curl the pipe cleaner into a crazy shape). Stick each antenna into the stocking behind the eyes of the caterpillar. You can also use the pipe cleaners as legs for your caterpillar. 

Place your caterpillar on a plate or tray near a sunny window and water thoroughly every other day. 

 In 4 to 5 days your caterpillar will begin to grow “hair”!