Simple science experiments provide you with activities that will encourage your child’s curiosity, observation skills, and critical thinking.
You probably already have most of the items you need to do many activities around your house. Gather them up before you work with your children, test them to make sure they work properly, if necessary, and have them ready to go. For experiments that your child can do without supervision, try keeping the materials on a tray that be accessed at another time.
Invite your child to participate in hands-on experiences. Maria Montessori said, “Education is a natural process carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words, but by experiences in the environment.”
Here is a spring botany activity that teaches your child the parts of a seed and how it germinates. It comes from my collection of twenty-six nature and physical science activities entitled Observing & Exploring which is available on my website www.Montessoriathome.net
Sprouting Seeds
See what happens to a seed when it germinates.
You will need:
- A jar or glass that you can see through
- Dry lima beans
- Cotton balls
- Water
Follow these steps:
- Fill your jar or glass with cotton balls
- Place several lima beans between the cotton balls and the glass so they are visible
- Gently pour water into the jar to saturate the cotton balls
- Add water as necessary to keep the cotton balls moist
- Observe seeds daily and watch as the seeds open up, sprout, and develop roots
- Plant seedlings in a pot or in the garden and watch them grow
Vocabulary: germinate, saturate, sprout, roots, seedling, moist
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