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Color Changing Celery Experiment

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There’s just something wondrous about learning why things happen and understanding why they don’t.

One of our favorite experiments, no matter how many times we do it, is the Color Changing Celery Experiment.

Color Changing Celery Experiment for Kids - an Easy STEM Experiment for Lower Elementary - FREE Tracking Sheet Included - MamaTeaches.com

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We first did this experiment as part of an online class I used to teach called, Science Sleuths: Exploring the Garden, and it’s been a hit ever since.

The best part?

It’s super easy to do!

It’s also a great experiment to start off with if you want to introduce the scientific method for kids!

Let’s get started!

Watch the color changing celery Experiment

Color Changing Celery Experiment

Supplies:

  • 3 stalks of celery – preferably with leafy ends
  • 3 sturdy cups
  • water
  • food coloring
  • paper towels
  • safety goggles
  • color changing celery observation sheet (It’s in the Freebies Library! Sign up below if you’re not already a member!)
Color Changing Celery Experiment for Kids - an Easy STEM Experiment for Lower Elementary - FREE Tracking Sheet Included - MamaTeaches.com

Directions:

  1. Place each cup on a separate paper towel and label the paper towels “A”, “B”, and “C”.
  2. Fill the cups about 1/4 way with water.
  3. Place four drops of food coloring in cup A.
  4. Place eight drops of food coloring in cup B.
  5. Place 12 drops of food coloring in cup C.
  6. Place one stalk of celery in each cup and let them sit for a few hours.
Free Science Experiment Tracking Sheet

Get the FREE Printable experiment tracking sheet in the freebies library!

HYPOTHESIS

After letting the celery sit, hypothesize what will happen.

  • Will the food coloring travel up the celery?
  • Will it travel equally in all three stalks?
  • Will the stalk in the cup with the most food coloring be darker or will it not make a difference?
  • How would the food coloring travel up the stalk?

After letting the celery sit for a few hours, go back and record your observations.

Sketch the stalks of celery and write down your conclusion.

MIX IT UP

You might also want to try the experiment again using different variables: more water, less water, shorter celery stalks, longer celery stalks, more food coloring, a different color of food coloring, letting it sit longer, etc.

Have fun, Science Sleuths!

Color Changing Celery Experiment

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