• Menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

Little Bins Members

Little Bins for Little Hands

Simple Science and STEM for Every Day

Header Right

  • STEM
    • Jr Engineer
    • Coding
    • STEM CHALLENGES
  • Science Activities
    • Environmental Science
    • Physics
    • Geology
    • Space
    • Ocean
    • Weather
    • Rainbows
  • Seasonal
    • Fall
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter
    • Christmas
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Spring
    • St Patricks Day
    • Easter
    • Earth Day
    • Summer
    • 4th of July
  • Art
    • Famous Artists
    • Process Art
    • 10+ Easy Homemade Paint Recipes For Kids
  • Slime
  • LEGO
  • Shop
  • Join
    • Little Bins Club
    • Library Club

Mobile Menu

  • STEM
    • Jr Engineer
    • Coding
    • STEM CHALLENGES
  • Science Activities
    • Environmental Science
    • Physics
    • Geology
    • Space
    • Ocean
    • Weather
    • Rainbows
  • Seasonal
    • Fall
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter
    • Christmas
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Spring
    • St Patricks Day
    • Easter
    • Earth Day
    • Summer
    • 4th of July
  • Art
    • Famous Artists
    • Process Art
    • 10+ Easy Homemade Paint Recipes For Kids
  • Slime
  • LEGO
  • Shop
  • Join
    • Little Bins Club
    • Library Club

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. 

 

Previous Post: «Pot o gold gold glitter glue slime recipe Sparkling 2 Ingredient Gold Glitter Glue Slime is EASY and FUN!
Next Post: Rainbow In A Jar: Water Density Experiment artificial rainbow»

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Emma @ P is for Preschooler

    May 11, 2014 at 12:51 am

    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!

  2. Sandi

    May 12, 2014 at 3:32 pm

    We just started our beans in a jar last week. Looking forward to seeing what happens this week.

  3. Anik

    May 12, 2014 at 10:37 pm

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

  4. Susan W

    May 19, 2014 at 2:01 am

    Wonderful learning activity! Thanks for linking up at the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop!

  5. Ruby Robinson

    July 10, 2015 at 3:08 pm

    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!

  6. Lauralee

    February 2, 2016 at 10:11 pm

    What kind of pea seeds did you use?

  7. littlebins

    February 21, 2016 at 10:24 am

    Good question. I don’t remember the band or name but it was a common package from the store.

  8. William

    March 5, 2016 at 8:22 am

    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

    March 14, 2016 at 9:02 am

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

  10. littlebins

    March 14, 2016 at 11:09 am

    Wonderful! Thank you!

  11. littlebins

    March 14, 2016 at 11:11 am

    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

    March 22, 2016 at 9:19 am

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

  13. littlebins

    March 23, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    We used green beans, sunflowers, and green peas!

  14. Corinthia

    March 26, 2016 at 1:56 pm

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

  15. littlebins

    March 27, 2016 at 10:04 am

    Right no soil!

  16. Erin

    April 15, 2016 at 10:44 am

    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

    April 22, 2016 at 10:44 pm

    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.

  18. littlebins

    May 23, 2016 at 7:35 am

    Simple seed packets from the grocery store!

  19. Keira

    November 3, 2016 at 2:40 pm

    that was so cool

  20. Alyssa

    April 26, 2017 at 2:14 pm

    What a great learning activity. I am featuring this with a link on my blog.

  21. Michaele

    April 27, 2017 at 9:45 am

    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?’

  22. jemma

    April 29, 2017 at 11:37 am

    super cool!!!

  23. Spike

    February 3, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    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

  24. littlebins

    February 3, 2018 at 2:15 pm

    Interesting! Share a picture!

  25. Netumbo

    February 20, 2018 at 2:37 am

    you teach me something thanks very much.

  26. Sofyana Bellaa

    April 22, 2018 at 6:27 am

    besides seed jar science is there anything else that kids can do?

  27. littlebins

    April 22, 2018 at 4:08 pm

    What do you mean? Feel free to email me [email protected]

  28. Estera Tsika

    July 10, 2018 at 4:07 am

    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

    August 17, 2018 at 2:16 am

    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

    August 17, 2018 at 10:04 am

    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!

  31. gladies

    October 1, 2020 at 11:53 pm

    Since we are getting to spring, a seed germination jar is a perfect activity. Thanks

Trackbacks

  1. Alternative Slime Recipes Borax, Laundry Detergent, and Fiber says:
    January 23, 2018 at 10:26 am

    […]       […]

  2. 10 Fun Spring Activities for Kids - The Exhausted Mom says:
    January 30, 2018 at 9:11 am

    […] comes back to life in the spring. That makes it a perfect time to watch seed grow. I love this Seed Jar Science Experiment from Little Bins for Little Hands because you can actually watch what happens in the growing […]

  3. Spring Science Ideas with Family Fun Friday! says:
    February 7, 2018 at 9:52 pm

    […] Seed Jar Science Experiment – Little Bins for Little […]

  4. 12 Sensational Spring Activities for Kids! – The Homeschool Resource Room says:
    March 11, 2018 at 4:58 pm

    […] Plant your own tiny seed: See the growing process when you plant a seed in a jar and see what happens when it sprouts! Easy instructions from Little Bins for Little Hands. […]

  5. Super Fun Spring Activities Your Kids Will Go Crazy Over! says:
    March 22, 2018 at 3:53 pm

    […] Seed Jar Science Experiment for Kids – Little Bins for Little Hands […]

  6. Celery Osmosis Science Experiment and Demonstration for Kids Biology says:
    March 27, 2018 at 9:13 pm

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

  7. Preschool Earth Day Activities Science and Sensory Play says:
    April 2, 2018 at 4:23 pm

    […] CHECK OUT: Starting a SEED JAR inside for an amazing view of a how a seed grows, perfect for the month of […]

  8. Celebrate the Season with These 5 Easy Spring Crafts - Learning Liftoff says:
    April 3, 2018 at 4:36 pm

    […] a delicious and healthy teaching opportunity, but if you don’t have the lawn space, there are indoor options, too. All you need is a jar, some paper towels, water, and seeds! Tip: Green beans and peas sprout […]

  9. 20 Engaging STEM Activities for Kids to Do This Spring says:
    April 11, 2018 at 5:01 am

    […] set up a Seed Jar several times when my kids were preschoolers. They loved watching the seed begin to sprout through […]

  10. Hydroponics For Kids- What, Why, And How | Family Focus Blog says:
    April 11, 2018 at 11:21 am

    […] Simple seed jar science experiment […]

  11. 10 + Super Fun Earth Day Crafts - Mamma Mode says:
    April 12, 2018 at 4:07 am

    […] What better way to teach children about planet earth than to watch a seed grow into a plant! This fun activity takes just a few minutes to make and you can leave it on your counter and check it’s daily growth! by littlebinsforlittlehands […]

  12. Earth Day Activities Earth Day STEM for Kids says:
    April 12, 2018 at 1:22 pm

    […] Start A Seed Jar! […]

  13. 50+ STEM Activities, Books, Games, & More for Kids | Faithful Farmwife says:
    April 12, 2018 at 1:37 pm

    […] Seed Jar Science– This is a great activity to show your kiddos the stages of plant life! […]

  14. 25 AWESOME EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS says:
    April 13, 2018 at 6:01 am

    […]  Watch how plants grow with homemade seed jar.-Little Bins For Little Hands […]

  15. 21 Best Science Fair Projects To Try - Fun with Mama says:
    April 13, 2018 at 10:30 am

    […] Seed Jar Experiment – Watch a plant grow with a front row seat in this simple and exciting seed […]

  16. 21 Best Science Fair Projects - Fun with Mama says:
    April 13, 2018 at 11:46 am

    […] Seed Jar Experiment – Watch a plant grow with a front row seat in this simple and exciting seed […]

  17. Earth Day STEM Activities and Challenges for Kids says:
    April 13, 2018 at 9:28 pm

    […] MAKE A SEED JAR […]

  18. 5 Fun DIY Recycled Crafts - Learning Liftoff says:
    April 20, 2018 at 10:10 am

    […] so why not incorporate recycling into your homemade garden by using old soup cans. There are really all kinds of indoor options  for a recycled […]

  19. Spring Flowers Books & Activities for Preschoolers says:
    April 21, 2018 at 4:10 pm

    […] windowsill! You’ll find simple, visual instructions on sprouting bean seeds in the book, or try this similar experiment from Little Bins for Little […]

  20. 21 Experiments for Summer Science Learning Activities for Kids | MilKids Education Consulting says:
    June 4, 2018 at 1:38 am

    […]  Grow a little plant with this idea from Little Bins for Little Hands […]

  21. 10 Fall Toddler Activities - A Blossoming Life says:
    November 22, 2018 at 10:57 am

    […] Indoor Gardening/Seed Planting […]

  22. 25 Spring Science Experiments for Kids says:
    November 29, 2018 at 12:07 pm

    […] Seed Jar Science Experiment […]

  23. Homeschooldaze: “Seed Jar Science Experiment for Spring STEM Activities with Kids” – Darlene's Homeschool Daze says:
    March 16, 2019 at 10:36 am

    […] https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/seed-jar-science-experiment-kids/ […]

  24. Nature Play Activities and Environments for Children says:
    May 19, 2019 at 9:52 am

    […] Little Bins for Little Hands takes you through how to set up a simple seed germination experiment in a jar. See additional extensions and variations to this activity here. […]

  25. Spring has Sprung! | Science in Storytime says:
    March 2, 2020 at 4:54 pm

    […] Grow seeds in a jar: https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/seed-jar-science-experiment-kids/ […]

  26. Ultimate Boredom Buster: 101 Things to Do When Kids Are Bored says:
    March 24, 2020 at 9:00 am

    […] Jar (30-Minute Set Up, Long-Term Observations) – Since we are getting to spring, a seed germination jar is a perfect activity. It’s simple and fun to set up and will give you something to come back to […]

  27. Ideas for Home Learning #1 | The Outdoor Classroom @ Rhyl Primary School says:
    March 30, 2020 at 9:40 am

    […] If you do not have pots, you can use anything like yoghurt pots or tins. Puncture some holes in the bottom first so that water can drain out. You can also grow plants in glass jars filled with damp cotton wool – see here. […]

  28. 35+ Things You Can Do To Celebrate Earth Day From Home – starkidslearn.com says:
    February 16, 2021 at 11:20 pm

    […] about how things grow! Get your kids excited for their (future) garden by starting a seed jar. As Little Bins for Little Hands shares, this is a great experiment to show kids what seeds typically do underground before they […]

  29. Spring Printables for Kids! | Little Bins for Little Hands says:
    April 12, 2021 at 10:14 am

    […] Start a seed jar […]

  30. 35+ Things You Can Do To Celebrate Earth Day From Home – Parent Babycareall says:
    April 12, 2021 at 7:05 pm

    […] about how things grow! Get your kids excited for their (future) garden by starting a seed jar. As Little Bins for Little Hands shares, this is a great experiment to show kids what seeds typically do underground before they […]

Primary Sidebar

We have a PASSION for SLIME, and are dedicated to helping you make the best slime ever. Questions? Just ask us!

We also LOVE science and all things STEM. Join us on our journey to discover just how cool science can be. Want to know how to get started? Click on any of the images or menu options!

Site Footer

Sign Me Up!

Take our FREE 5-Day STEM Challenge with boredom busting activity ideas for kids!

Privacy Policy