the Amishway Homesteaders

=====Kid Science Page=====

***You can have fun while learning
about gardening and seed parts.***

 

Everyone tries to grow an avocado pit but it takes a long time before you see any results.

So grow things that you will be able to see grow fast.

 

*Plant a carrot top.

* Plant seeds in a jar

* Grow a salt crystal garden

* Grow sweet potato vines

* Sprout some bean seeds

 

Or you can do some science experiments:

*Make your pennies shine

*Make some silly goop

 

Below are the directions and recipes. These are just basic instructions. As always for more information you may look online or go to your local library.

=== Plant a Carrot Top===

 

*This is so easy that even little kids can do it too.

  Next time your Mom is making a recipe with carrots ask her to
  cut off the top(s) of the carrot and give it to you to plant.

 

What you will need:

1)   shallow dish or small bowl

2)   small gravel, pebbles or fish bowl gravel

3)   water

 

Lets plant a carrot top:

1)   Put the gravel in the shallow dish/bowl-just enough for the carrot top(s) to sit on.

2)   Place the carrot top(s) on top of the gravel pushing it in so won’t float when you add water.

3)   Add enough water to get it wet but not covering the whole carrot top(s).

4)   Now just watch it grow and in a few days you should see the green carrot top(s) grow.

5)    Add water as needed!

 

 

** Please note that this is for fun only and you can’t eat the top(s). Unlike planting a seed, this will not grow into carrots.

=====Plant seeds in a jar=====

 

Watch seeds grow – both down and up!

The roots will grow down and stay white, while the stems and leaves grow up and turn green.

 

You will need one set for each child:

1)  Quart glass jar (mayo or canning jars work the best)

2) Some bean seeds (the bigger the better)

3) Dirt or potting soil

4) A piece of black construction paper (long enough to go

    all the way around the jar).

5) Something to push down the seeds (chop sticks, a

     pencil or a straw).

6) Water

 

Step one:

Put the soil in the jar leaving it an inch from the top.

Don’t pack it down or seeds will have a hard time growing.

Step two:

Put in the seeds pushing them down along the side of the jar. Use your tool and push them in just an inch or two (or whatever the packet says). Make sure you can see the seeds on the side of the jar. Move them around so they are flat against the side of the glass.

Step three:

Add some water to help your plants get off to a good start.

Step four:

Put the black paper around the jar so no light can get to your seeds (this way the roots will grow along the jar sides so you can see them).

Step five:

The hard part! WAIT! It will take a few days for the seeds to sprout. Add water if it needs it and keep a lookout for the first stem/leaves to pop out of the soil.

Step six:

After the plant is up and the leaves are out you can peek under the black paper to see some of the roots. Remember the longer you keep the black paper on the bigger the roots will be and still stay white (no sunlight).

If you keep watering and give your plants lots of light you may end up with beans that you can eat. Or dry them out and start all over again.

==Grow a salt crystal garden==

 

** For safety you will need your parents help making this one.**

 

Day 1: Place damp sponge pieces or pieces of coal in a shallow glass or plastic bowl. Over sponge/coal, pour 2 tablespoons each of: Bluing, salt, water, and ammonia.

Day 2: Add 2 more tablespoons salt.

Day 3: Add 2 tablespoons each of Bluing, salt, water and ammonia.

(Avoid pouring on crystal growth.)

Repeat Day 3 as needed to keep crystals growing.

For Color: Add drops of food coloring to each piece.

 

*You can find bluing in most stores laundry aisle.

===Sprout some bean seeds===

 

Sprout some seeds that you can eat !

You will need:

·        Glass jar (canning one works best).

   ·        Cover for jar -use ring from canning jar or piece of cheese cloth and rubber band.

·        Beans (Mong Beans work well or check at the store for others).

 

Lets get started !

·        First get your jar ready for sprouting. If you are using the canning jar with the ring you must cut a piece of screening or plastic canvas to fit inside (use the lid to get the right size). Or if using cloth cut a circle big enough to fit over the opening. This is so you can drain the water out but keep the bean sprouts in.

·        Wash off your beans before putting into the jar. Put beans in jar and then fill the jar with water (not too cold and not too hot). Put on your cover and then set jar in a cool dark place.

·        Every day for the next 2 or 3 days rinse out your beans at least 2 times. Just pour out the water through the top and add new water to the jar(no need to take off the cover). Soon you will see the beans starting to sprout.

·        Now you can move them out of the dark place but keep changing the water. In a few more days they will be ready for you to eat. Use them in a salad or find a recipe to use them in.