Simple Science and STEM for Every Day

Seed Germination Experiment For Kids

Watching seeds grow is an amazing science lesson for kids. Our seed germination experiment gives kids the opportunity to see up close how a seed grows what would actually be happening under the ground!  Our awesome seed growing activity turned out amazingly well, and we loved checking on the progress each day! Simple science activities are great for young learners!

SEED GERMINATION EXPERIMENT FOR KIDS! 

Watching seeds grow is an amazing science lesson for kids. Our seed jar science experiment gives kids the opportunity to see up close what would actually be happening under the ground! Our awesome seed jar spring science activity turned out amazingly well, and we loved checking on the progress each day! Simple science activities are great for young kids.

HOW A SEED GROWS

This simple to set up seed jar was one of our favorite spring science projects that you can do inside! We had an awesome time examining and observing the growth of our seed germination experiment.

Preschool science can be a wonderful experience that introduces young kids to the world around them!  Spring is full of new beginnings in nature that can be explored.

Share an inside look at how seeds grow below the ground with our seed jar. Plus, you can even get it started when there’s is still snow on the ground. Especially if you are itching for spring to come early!

It all starts with a single seed.

It’s truly amazing to watch how a seed grows and using a mason jar gives you a front row seat for observing it all!  Sprouting seeds is perfect for a SPRING STEM Activity.

Looking for easy to print activities, and inexpensive problem-based challenges? 

We have you covered…

Click below to get your quick and easy STEM challenges. 

 

SEED GERMINATION

I first saw this awesome seed germination activity done by How Wee Learn. Looking around my kitchen, I had everything I needed to set it up immediately! It looked like an awesome way to see how a seed grows, so got it started right away!

SEED JAR SUPPLIES:

  • Paper Towels
  • Water
  • Seeds (Pea and bean seeds grow quickly)
  • Large jar

We also enjoyed the book, How A Seed Grows by Helene Jordan which inspired another seed activity with eggshells!

HOW TO SET UP YOUR SEED EXPERIMENT:

Our mason jar includes sunflowers, peas, and green beans!

STEP 1:  Fill the jar with paper towels.  Kids can fold them and push them down into the jar. This is also great work for little hands.

STEP 2:  Gently water your seed jar to wet the paper towels.  DO NOT FLOOD IT!

STEP 3:  Carefully push seeds down into the paper towels around the edge of the jar so they can still be seen. Make sure they are firmly held in place.

Seed Jar Set Up

BEAN SEED GERMINATION

This type of activity makes a great plant science fair project for multiple ages. Get your magnifying glass out and check out all the angles of the seeds. Can you find the different parts of the seed growth listed below?

What do you see in your seed jar?

  • You are looking for a root to pop out of the side.
  • Next, you are looking for root to push down into the soil.
  • Then, you are looking for root hairs.
  • Next, you are looking for the seed to push up while the root hairs push down.
  • Lastly, you are looking for the shoots to come up!

Seed Jar Liam Observing Seed Growth

The mason jar gives a stunning view of this seed experiment! My son loved being able to see the changes so easily. Do you know you can also grow crystals in mason jars for a fun science activity!

SEED GERMINATION IN THE CLASSROOM OR AT HOME

Setting this up as a science experiment is a great way to share the activity with multiple ages or developmental levels. Older kids can use a science experiment worksheet to journal about how the seeds are growing while younger kids can draw or simply observe the changes!

Read more about the scientific method for young kids here.

SEED EXPERIMENT VARIATIONS

You can also explore how fast different seeds germinate by comparing different kinds of seeds under the same conditions.  We tried sunflower seeds, peas, and beans in our seed jar.

Or keep the type of seed the same and set up two mason jars to explore whether seeds need light to germinate.  Place one jar where it will get natural light and one in a dark cupboard.

Another idea to investigate is whether seeds need water to germinate and how much.  Set up three jars, and measure out how much water goes into each so that one is fully wet, half wet and one has no water.

HOW TO GERMINATE SEEDS FASTER

One easy way to get your seeds to germinate faster is to presoak them in a shallow container of warm water for up to 24 hours.  That will soften the hard outer shell of the seed.  Don’t soak for longer as they may go moldy.

We started this experiment on April 8th and within a few days started to see some exciting things. It was also interesting to talk about what was happening with the different seeds and how they changed over the duration of the experiment.

Sunflower seeds were the fastest to pop a root but never made it out of the jar.

Bean seeds took the longest to pop a root but finally did and made it out of the jar.

Pea seeds grew rapidly once the root popped out and grew the tallest.

Simple beginnings with the sunflower seeds! Then the pea and lastly the bean! It took about three days to see some action with the seeds!

Seed Jar Starting To Grow 1

Amazing to see the pea take off in the seed jar once the root popped out!

Seed Jar Growing 4

My son enjoyed telling me about the root hairs he could see every day! So fun to see it flourish and check out the results! It’s a perfect spring science activity at home or in the classroom.

EASY SEED EXPERIMENT FOR SPRING SCIENCE LEARNING!

Click here or on the image below for more awesome spring activities for the young scientist!

spring stem and science for preschoolers

Looking for easy to print activities, and inexpensive problem-based challenges? 

We have you covered…

Click below to get your quick and easy STEM challenges. 

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Emma @ P is for Preschooler

    This is what we should have done – instead we tried plastic bags to grow the seeds in, and they got foggy with condensation so it was hard to see the root! Aw, well. Lesson learned. Next time – grow them in a jar! lol!

  3. Anik

    We’ve just done the same 🙂 Put the beans in the jar instead plastic bags 🙂 Mr Frog is so excited observing the bean growing!

  5. Ruby Robinson

    My girlie is very curious about planting and asks tons of questions about the seeds and what happens with them in the soil. This is a great way to show her clearly enough the whole process of the seed’s growing. Thank you for this idea!

  8. William

    This looks like so much fun! Can’t wait to try with my 4 and 2 year old son and daughter. We’re always looking for affordable, educational and fun activities. This is perfect. Happy to have stumbled onto this site!

  9. heather

    Do you cover the jar? Do they need to be near a sunny window? Are you supposed to water them? Thanks!

  11. littlebins

    Hi! I did not cover the jar. They were on a table in front of window that did get sunlight at some point during the day. We did not water daily. I added a tiny bit here and there but not much at all. We actually went away for a week and came back to them being so tall which you can see in the picture above. Thats a week with no water what so ever!

  12. Heather T

    What kind of beans did you use? Pinto? I’m wanting to start this activity here soon with my little in-home daycare. 🙂

  14. Corinthia

    Just double checking no soil, just paper towels. This is our spring break project. I can’t wait.

  16. Erin

    hello! I’m going to try this with my kindergarten class. Did you use dried green beans infrom a bag (like at the supermarket)? Or fresh ones?

  17. Bry

    Where did you get your seeds? Did you buy them fresh and pick the seed out off the pods or take it out of the shell?
    I’m interested in doing this but I don’t want to buy the wrong ones.

  21. Michaele

    We are getting ready to start this project today with our preschool class. One thing i have not been able to find is, how much water/how wet do the paper towels need to be?’

  23. Spike

    U just use dried peas you get in a box steep them over night then plant them absolutely excellent outcome 4 kids and grown ups alike lol

  28. Estera Tsika

    I cant wait to try this out with the 4 year old children at the our Early Learning Centres
    I am grateful to have found this page. Thank you so much.

  29. Lisa

    At any point do you add soil to the jar or transfer the plant out so it can grow bigger? If transferring, what’s the best way to move them out of the jar and into a pot? What stage of growth should they be at before doing so? Does this method work for any type of seeds? This is perfect for the plant project I want to start with my in-home daycare but I wanted to use seeds from foods they eat and can replant as a way of incorporating recycling into the other lessons learned but I’m new to all of this including being a first time mom/in-home daycare owner and have lots of questions lol! Thank you in advance for your time, patients, and wisdom! 🙂

  30. littlebins

    You could potentially transfer it! We did not. You wouldn’t add soil to the jar though. Makes a great experiment to see if it takes outside or in a pot!

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