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Sprouting seeds {preschool botany}

2 Comments Toddler, Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st Grade

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Last spring my kids and I spent several weeks learning about seeds. This is the fourth of several planned posts sharing all of the wonderful ways we learned about seeds during our preschool seed unit. In this post I’m focusing on a seed sprouting activity we did to explore how seeds work and to observe the great variety in the leaves that shoot out of them when they sprout.

Sprouting seeds with my kids was a real highlight of our seed unit. It is so simple to do and kids just love it!

Note: For more seed activities your kids will love, see my Botany Unit Study page.

Sprouting seeds: A beginning botany lesson for preschoolers to learn how different kinds of seeds germinate || Gift of Curiosity

Although it would be fine to sprout just one or two different kinds of seeds, we decided to go BIG for this activity. We used 24 different types of seeds for our seed sprouting activity, and it was AWESOME!

Half of the seeds we used were ones I had purchased to do some initial explorations with seeds. The other half were mostly seeds we already had in our kitchen, including red lentils, garbanzo beans, pumpkin seeds, and pinto beans. Some seeds were collected from fruit we ate, such as the watermelon seeds.

To sprout all these seeds, we first lined a tray with damp paper towels. We then proceeded to place several of each seed type on the tray. I created little labels for each seed type. (Although in hindsight, I should have made the labels waterproof.)

Sprouting seeds: A beginning botany lesson for preschoolers to learn how different kinds of seeds germinate || Gift of Curiosity

We laid all the seeds out in nice little rows so we could keep track of how they sprouted.

Sprouting seeds: A beginning botany lesson for preschoolers to learn how different kinds of seeds germinate || Gift of Curiosity

Once they were on the tray, to help keep them moist, we covered each row of seeds with a small strip of paper towel. Every day – and sometimes twice a day – my kids took turns watering the paper towel strips with a pipette. (We own these pipettes, but I also love the one in this set.)

Sprouting seeds: A beginning botany lesson for preschoolers to learn how different kinds of seeds germinate || Gift of Curiosity

After 7 days, we decided to take a peek at our seeds to see how they were doing.

We carefully lifted the strips of paper towel to see what was happening underneath.

Sprouting seeds: A beginning botany lesson for preschoolers to learn how different kinds of seeds germinate || Gift of Curiosity

Not all of the seeds had sprouted yet, but we oohed and aahed over the ones that had.

Sprouting seeds: A beginning botany lesson for preschoolers to learn how different kinds of seeds germinate || Gift of Curiosity

We enjoyed the tiny leaves that had started to form.

Sprouting seeds: A beginning botany lesson for preschoolers to learn how different kinds of seeds germinate || Gift of Curiosity

And mostly, we basked in the wonder that is nature, marveling at how a tiny little seed manages to grow into so many different plants, flowers, trees, and foods.

More resources for learning about seeds

More posts about seeds from Gift of Curiosity:

  • Books about seeds
  • Exploring seeds from packets
  • Exploring seeds from nature
  • Seed medallions craft
  • Experiment: Do seeds need light to grow?
  • Experiment: What temperature do seeds like?
  • Experiment: Do seeds need air?
  • Experiment: Do seeds need their seed coat?
  • Experiment: What liquids do seeds like?


For more seed activities your kids will love, see my Botany Unit Study page and my Botany & Gardening Pinterest board.

Follow Katie @ Gift of Curiosity’s board Unit Ideas: Botany & Gardening on Pinterest.

Products mentioned in this post:

Filed Under: Spring, Toddler, Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, Botany, Science, Seeds

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Reader Interactions

2 Comments

  1. fina

    March 22, 2015 at 5:26 pm

    Thanks for this wonderful project. I have looking for this project for a long time ago. I will sharing this project for indonesian kids. They will love it.

    Reply to this comment
  2. Katie

    November 20, 2017 at 7:30 pm

    I’m going to do this with my 3rd cycle students. 😀

    Reply to this comment

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