Celery Science Fun..

I love the opportunity to do science based activities with Master 4 as I love the way their little minds start thinking and the questions begin! While we were shopping today Master 4 asked if we could get some celery... "What would you like it for?" I asked. "Not sure mummy but I know we will think of something to do with it!" Ah the minds of four year old. As I'm busy trying to unpack the groceries (with a VERY helpful 2 year old sampling all that he can!) Master 4 asks if I'm quiet because I'm busy thinking about what he and I can do with the celery when his little brother has his nap!! Sp this is what we did with the celery!

What you need:

Drinking glass, big enough to hold celery upright
Food coloring
Water
Spoon
Fresh celery stalks

1. Fill the glass of water about 1/2 full with water. Add 8 to 10 drops of food coloring to the water. Although you can use any color, the darker colors will show better. Mix carefully with a spoon.
2. Trim the ends off several stalks of celery at a slight angle. Leave the leafy ends on the celery. Put the trimmed celery into the glass of colored water. Set out of the way in a safe place.
3. Check the celery hourly. The celery will begin showing colored streaks running up the stalk.
4. Ask your children what they think have happened. Point out the little red marks on the leaves. Take the celery out of the glass. On a cutting board, use a knife and cut across the celery stalk. Notice that the strings of the celery are colored and the outer edge of the stalk has little colored dots.
5. Explain that the water is absorbed or sucked up by a plant. It travels up the stalk and then into the leaves.

* Another good example to use is white carnations.