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Spring has officially sprung in Indiana! In garden beds around the state, young plants and flowers are emerging from the ground to peer up at the sun. Why do they grow towards the light? In this week’s Saturday Science, from Plants For Kids, discover the effects of phototropism.
Materials
- Shoebox
- Extra cardboard
- Scissors
- Tape
- Small potted bean plant
Process
- Cut a large hole at one end of the shoebox.
- Hold the box up to the light and tape up any other spaces where light shines through.
- Cut two pieces of cardboard half the width and the same height of the shoebox.
- Divide the box into thirds and tape one cardboard piece on the left side of the box at the one-third mark. Then tape the other cardboard piece on the right side of the box at the two-thirds mark. (The shoebox should look like a maze.)
- Water your bean plant well and place it in the shoebox on the opposite side of the hole.
- Close the box, tape it and place it in a sunny window.
- Wait about 4 or 5 days to open the box and how the bean plant has grown.
Summary
Did your bean plant grow through the shoebox maze towards the hole of light? Thanks to a process called phototropism, your answer should be, “Yes!“
To grow tall and strong, plants use energy from light to make food. Some plants, like your bean plant, will grow towards light so that they may bask in its rays. This is called phototropism.
Want more Saturday Science? See all of our at-home activities on the blog or Pinterest.
