Celery Experiment

In science, we created a Brace Map to identify the parts of a plant and their functions. We discussed how a plant is a system and that the parts are dependent upon one another. As a grade level, we conducted a celery experiment so the students could visualize the function of a stem. First the students had to identify that the celery stalk was the stem and that there were leaves at the top of the stalk. They made predictions about what they thought would happen if we placed the celery in cups of water. Most students predicted that the celery would suck up the water because plant stems carry water to the flower and leaves. We discussed the function of roots and asked the students if they thought the stem could suck up the water, like a straw, even though there were no roots. We also asked them to make predictions about the level of water in the cup: would the level stay the same, increase, or decrease? In one cup we used plain water and in the other cup we added blue food coloring. We asked the students what they thought would happen in the cup with food coloring and some predicted that the stalk, or stem, would change colors. When we asked about the leaves, it took a little thought but then most predicted that they would change colors also because the stem carries water to the leaves. It is so nice having teammates that like to teach lessons together!