In this Easter science activity, students compare growing seeds in eggshells and record their results.
Instead of just completing a craft activity, turn it into a science lesson which encourages children to make observations, ask questions, test, and measure results.
Read children books on seed germination to give them a basic understanding of how seeds work and the different stages of seed growth.
Then have children complete each step of the process with observation drawings and a few letters or words depending on their abilities.
Simple Easter Science Booklets
- Keep file folders for every child with their names printed in big letters. Put the folders where the kids can reach them (a plastic basket with high sides works well).
- Use a new paper each time the children record their observations
- When completed, each child puts his /her paper in their own file folder
- At the end of the project, decorate a cover, add a parent explanation page after the cover, then staple the pages together for a quick and easy Easter science booklet.
Materials to gather in advance:
- one planted, growing eggshell to show the kids
- For lots of great pictures on setting up the eggshells, check out this great page on 17Apart.com
- 3 eggshells from scooped out hard-boiled eggs per student (cut top off so the eggshells hold lots of soil, poke a tiny hole in the bottom for drainage)
- 3 fast growing seeds that look different, (watercress, alfalfa or grass seed)
- Put the seeds in 3 small see-through jars and label them: 1 and name of seed, 2 and name of seed, 3 and name of the seed
- potting soil (add water and mix beforehand so it is slightly damp)
- a teaspoon for each student
- 1 egg carton cut in half per student
- paper tablecloths to cover tables (optional)
- name tags and tape
Day 1 –
Encourage kids to investigate with conversations and demos
Start this Easter science project by showing the children a sample eggshell with grass growing from it. Show the seeds in the container and show which ones you planted.
Pass around the jars of seeds. Ask,
How are the seeds the same? (all brown, all small, all hard)
How are they different? (some lighter brown, some smaller, flatter, and longer) What do we know about these seeds? What questions do have about these seeds?”
What do we know about these seeds? What questions do have about these seeds?”
What questions do have about these seeds?
At Work Stations Time
- Leave the seed jars (I taped mine shut!) in the science center for workstations time, so all kids get a chance to examine them up close. Give each child an opportunity to have a good look at them.
Teach science vocabulary to describe observations
- Teach egg and seed vocabulary as you go along
- Suggestions: parts of an egg, potting soil, types of seeds, seedlings, sprouts, roots, germinate
Recording the seeds
Demonstrate recording the seeds in the 3 different jars.
- draw 3 large circles
- observe and draw each kind of seed in each circle
- label circles, one, two and three.
- copy name of seed beside the circle
Children then record the seeds on a blank piece of paper.
- Children who are able, copy the names of the seeds or part of the names of the seeds
- Date stamps and names
- File
Then demonstrate how to plant the seeds. Plant extras in case some children’s seeds don’t grow.
Day 2 –
Encourage first-hand science activities
Children:
- Spoon dirt in each eggshell until it is almost to the top
- Put eggshells in egg carton as they are filled
- Number eggshells on one side – 1, 2, and 3 with Sharpies (markers will wash off)
- Draw faces on the other side of the eggshells
- Sprinkle a layer of seed number one in the egg labeled number 1
- Sprinkle a layer of seed number two in the egg labeled number 2 and do the same with number 3
- Cover seeds with a thin layer of potting soil
- Tape their name tag on their egg carton
- Place egg cartons in a warm place (the science observation center)
Recording the planting process…
- Demonstrate recording planting your seeds
- Children draw any part of the planting process they want
- If able, children record some parts or all of the words
- Date stamp and names
- File
Following week –
Observations
Encourage children to daily observe their Easter science seed growth. The kids are usually over the top excited as the seeds start to germinate and grow.
Measure and Water
Have students measure one teaspoon of water into each eggshell every few days. This avoids drowning the seeds and gives them a measurement experience.
Recording – Children record plant growth
- After a week (varies depending on the type of seeds planted), the children draw how much growth occurred in each one of their eggshells.
Compare and measure
After a week or so, encourage the students to compare the plant growth of everyone’s eggshells:
Did all the #1 seeds grow to be the same height? the #2? the #3?
Most of the eggshells nearest the window grew taller. Why do you think that happened?
Have each child observe which one of their eggshell seeds grew the tallest. and make a graph similar to the one below.
Make a class graph similar to the one below.
Record
- Children record their observations on another blank paper.
- Date stamp and file
- File
Completing the science booklet
- Have children decorate a cover page.
- Add a photocopied parent page that briefly outlines what has been going on in class.
- Keep the parent page brief but with enough information to help the parents discuss the booklet with their child (some children’s drawings and attempts at printing will be unrecognizable).
- Include a short list of any new vocabulary you have been teaching.
- Students can take the eggshell plants home for Easter gifts.
Sample Parent Page for Science Booklet
Dear Parents,
We have been learning about seed germination in class.
Your children:
- tested 3 different seeds, grass, alfalfa, and watercress
- observed and classified the growth of the seeds
- have been learning the following plant vocabulary – potting soil, germinate, seeds, seedlings, and sprouts
- picked apart a soil sample to examine what the soil composition
Chatting with your children about their booklets will help them review what they have been learning in class.