When a Tree Falls

In this reading, students learn how an old tree falling over can help new trees growing.

For this experiment, you need food coloring, vases or cups, and white flowers. (Carnations work well.)

Add food coloring to water, then put the flowers in the colored water and wait. Depending on the type of flower and the humidity, it may take a few hours or a day to see results. (For detailed instructions and an explanation, check out Fun Learning for Kids.

Discuss: What do you think will happen?

When you see results, discuss: Why do you think that happened?

If the demonstration of water traveling into a flower intrigues your students, you can give them a chance to examine this more closely.

Cut some pale lettuce leaves from a lettuce head and put the cut end in red or blue-colored water. (Butter lettuce works well.) Like the flower, the lettuce leaves will soak up the colored water, revealing a pattern of veins in the lettuce leaf. Have children draw the pattern of veins in a lettuce leaf. These are usually difficult to see, but the food coloring makes them visible.

You can do other experiments involving dyes in leaf veins.

Root Viewer

You can continue exploring plant needs and structures with an additional Mystery Science activity! In this activity, students observe radish seeds as they germinate in a clear container. Students draw their observations each day and predict what will happen to the roots after the container is flipped over!

The step-by-step activity instructions, supplies, and worksheets can be found here.