The theme of this set of activities is growing plants from items you can find around the kitchen, such as bean soup mix, carrot tops and old potato peels. What is more green that using kitchen leftovers or scraps to perform fun science experiments? You can use recycled or reusable containers to grow the plants in, too.

Ready to get started? Then pick one of the links listed under your level. If you are working with children of multiple ages and/or levels of interest and experience, you might want to pick and choose. Check the coach section for more suggestions.

Youngest Scientists -activities designed for the child who is less than five years old and/or who has little exposure to science. This section is meant to be easy to jump into without much reading and allows for maximum opportunities for free exploration with all the senses.

       Go on a Seed Hunt (Observing Skills)

      Sorting Seeds (Classifying Skill)

      Sprouting Bean Seeds (Observing, Experimenting)

   Bean Sprout Sequencing (Sequencing Skill)

Budding Scientists - activities are for the child who is approximately five to ten years old. Of course, each child is an individual, and some older or younger children may find these experiments fun and appropriate. Most of these activities will be hands on.

    Seed Investigation (Observing Skills, Graphing)

   

  Kitchen Scrap Gardens (Observing skills, Experimenting, Hypothesizing)

    Growing Throw Away Seeds (Observing, Creating, Experimenting)

     Making a Root Viewer (Creating, Measuring)

      Pet Gardens (Observing, Experimenting)

      What Do Plants Need to Grow? Hypothesizing, Experimenting, Measuring)

Maturing Scientists- activities are designed for older children who have questions in mind and are ready to perform experiments with only a minimum of adult oversight.

   Kitchen Seed Survivor (Creating)

    What Do Plants Need to Grow? Advanced Level (Hypothesizing, Experimenting, Measuring)

    Advanced Kitchen Scrap Propagation Techniques (Hypothesizing, Experimenting, Observing)

Coach is a section for the adult mentor, whether you are a parent, club leader, teacher or any other educator. This section covers how you could use these experiments with a mixed-age group. It offers some of the background information that you might enjoy reading or need if questions come up during the experiments. Sometimes it will discuss the results you should expect. It also guides you to other resources.