What it shows
Seeds need water, air and warmth to sprout. The nursery lets children compare how fast different seeds germinate and then plant them out.
The science
A seed has a tiny plant inside it and stored food. When it takes in water the seed swells, and the first root, the radicle, comes out, followed by the shoot. The seed does not need light to sprout, but needs warmth and air. Different seeds have different speeds, depending on size and the thickness of their coat.
Materials
Cost: under Rs 50. Many items come from home or from waste; spare parts such as LEDs, motors and wire are in the store.
- A paper egg tray
- Soil or cocopeat
- Seeds of moong, mustard, methi, wheat, bean and sunflower
- A spray bottle of water
- Labels from ice-cream sticks
- A saucer under the tray
- A notebook
Safety
For this project: Wash hands after handling soil and seeds. Do not eat treated seeds.
Never use mains electricity: power models with cells, batteries or a low-voltage adapter. Sharp and hot tools, flames and lab chemicals need an adult or your teacher beside you. Keep magnets, button cells and small parts away from young children, and wash your hands after making.
All the safety rulesStep by step
8 steps. Do them in order, and test each part before you go on to the next. Write what you notice in a notebook as you go.
Fill each cup of the egg tray with soil and label them with seed names.
Plant two seeds in each cup at a depth about twice the seed size.
Water gently with the sprayer until the soil is damp.
Put the tray in a warm place in light but out of strong sun.
Check every day and mark the day when the first shoot appears.
Draw a bar chart showing days to sprout for each seed.
Measure the height of each seedling after a week.
Plant out the best seedlings in a pot or garden by tearing the paper cup apart.
What you should see
Moong and mustard sprout in 2 to 3 days, wheat in 4 and sunflower in 6 or more; the bar chart shows the order.
Viva questions
A teacher or a judge will ask how it works. Try to answer each question before you open it, then compare.
1What do seeds need to germinate?
Water, air and warmth.
2What comes out first?
The root, called the radicle.
3Why is the tray paper good?
It can be planted directly into the soil.
4Do all seeds sprout at the same speed?
No, it depends on the type and size.
Take it further
Compare germination in a dark cupboard and in light.
Change one thing, measure what happens, and add a table or chart of your readings: that is what turns a model into your own investigation.
Free ebooks for this project
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