Celery Osmosis Science Experiment and Demonstration for Kids Biology

There’s nothing better than science in the kitchen! A quick rummage through the fridge and drawers, and you can come up with a simple way to explain and show how osmosis works! Set up a celery osmosis science experiment perfect for kids of all ages. Science and STEM can be so simple, give it a try!

CELERY OSMOSIS SCIENCE EXPERIMENT FOR KIDS!

WHAT’S OSMOSIS HAVE TO DO WITH SCIENCE?

How does water travel through a plant? By process of osmosis, and you can show this right in your own kitchen with just a few simple items! We love kitchen science that is not only easy to set up but frugal too! Learn about osmosis with just a couple stalks of celery.

Plants are filled with cells and the water moves through the cells and cell walls by the process of osmosis. This process of filling the cells also stiffens the stalks, stems, and leaves. This is known as turgor pressure. Without water, the cells lose their shape because this pressure is not there without the necessary water. If you see a wilted or droopy looking plant this is what’s happening! Give it some water and observe the results!

We can check this all out with some food coloring, water, and celery! To make this into a true experiment with one variable that’s different, you will want to have an extra stalk of celery. Read more here about introducing the scientific method to young kids.

Also make sure to check out: 35+ Simple Science Experiments for Kids to Try!

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WHY IS SCIENCE SO IMPORTANT?

Kids are curious and always looking to explore, discover, check out, and experiment to find out why things do what they do, move like they move, or change like they change! Indoors or outdoors, science is definitely amazing!

We are always eager to explore chemistry experiments, physics experiments, and biology experiments! Biology is always fascinating for kids because it’s all about the living world around us. Activities like this celery osmosis science experiment show us how living cells move water. We have also regrown lettuce and made an edible butterfly life cycle.

A MUST TRY: Start A Seed Jar For An Up Close Look At How A Seed Grows!

Let’s get started with this simple kids science experiment demonstrating osmosis!

CELERY SCIENCE ACTIVITY SUPPLIES AND SET UP

Super easy supplies and set up for simple biology. Explore capillary action or the process of water moving upward through thin tubes in the plant’s stem. It defies gravity!

YOU WILL NEED:

Celery Stalks (choose as many as you like to color and one extra if you choose to set up a science experiment too) with leaves
Food Coloring
Jars
Water

SET UP

Start with nice crisp celery.

Cut the bottoms of the celery off so that you have a fresh cut.

Fill your containers at least half-way with water and add food coloring. The more food color, the sooner you’ll see results. 15-20 drops at least.

Wait 2-24 hours. Make sure to observe the process at regular intervals to note the progress. Older kids can make drawings and journal their observations throughout the experiment.

The color will spread to the celery’s leaves via osmosis! Water is making its way through the cells of the celery as indicated by the color.

Note the red food coloring is a bit tougher to see!

ALSO TRY Coloring Carnations Through Osmosis!

MAKE THIS INTO A SCIENCE EXPERIMENT!

You can turn this into a science experiment easily by adding one element, a celery stalk in a jar without water. Observe what happens to a stalk of celery without water. This is also a great part to journal alongside the celery stalk in the colored water. What happens to the celery stalk without water?

Have your kids make a prediction, come up with a hypothesis, conduct tests, and experiments, record results, and draw conclusions!

You can also try this out with celery that’s not fresh and compare the results.

Make sure to ask your kids plenty of questions along the way without supplying direct answers. This is a great way to get them to use their observation skills, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving skills. Thinking like a scientist is great for little minds especially if you have a budding scientist!

COOL CELERY OSMOSIS SCIENCE EXPERIMENT AND DEMONSTRATION!

Ready for even more science and STEM? Click on this great resource below to keep you fully stocked with great ideas to try every month. We have even more holiday themed STEM and science here.