Tu B'Shevat Seed Science Experiments

I love engaging my kids in fun science experiments, especially ones they create, and Tu B’Shevat is the perfect holiday for them to explore some Tu B’Shevat Seed Science Experiments. We set up two experiments and loved watching their progress!

I recently bought the amazing book The Curious Kids’ Science Book by Asia Citro. (Side note: She wrote all those amazing Zoey and Sassafras books. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s time to check them out NOW! Intelligent, POC, female lead character who does science experiments to help magical animals. YES PLEASE! These books truly are fantastic and all my kids enjoy reading them).

Back to science–her The Curious Kids’ Science Book is amazing. She talks about how to encourage kids to think with a scientific mind and how to create their own experiments. She then gives a bunch of ideas and starting points for numerous different topics. It’s really such a great way to actively involve in both the planning and execution of science experiments.

One of her chapters is on plant science, which is of course perfect for Tu B’Shevat. We designed two experiments based on her starting points. Your kids could create whatever experiments sound interesting to them! I made a special Tu B’Shevat Seed Science Experiment record sheet so they can map out their experiment and jot down what happens, just like Zoey in Zoey and Sassafras!

What You’ll Need

ziplock bags
paper towels
water
container
ice
seeds or beans
four small containers
cotton ball
food coloring
Tu B’Shevat Seed Science Experiment record sheet

Putting It Together

Tu B'Shevat Seed Science Experiments planning

We talked about what experiments the kids wanted to do and they filled out their Tu B’Shevat Seed Science Experiment record sheets.
For the first of the Tu B’Shevat Seed Science Experiments, my kids wanted to see if seeds sprout faster when warmer or cooler. They dampened two paper towels and put one each in a ziplock bag with two seeds (one pea and one fava bean). You can definitely use just one seed per bag but my kiddos wanted to compare the two. They put one of the bags in an empty container. They filled the other container with ice cubes and placed the ziplock bag on top of them.
For the second of the Tu B’Shevat Seed Science Experiments, we wanted to see if plants would sprout and grow different colors based on the color of the water. We put water with a few drops of different food coloring in three of the small containers, leaving just water in the fourth. We put a cotton ball in each of the containers and a seed on top of it.
Each day we checked the progress, changed the ice and added water when needed.
We were so excited when the beans and peas sprouted!

Tu B'Shevat Seed Science Experiments set up

Tu B'Shevat Seed Science Experiments seeds

Tu B'Shevat Seed Science Experiments completing form

Finished & Loving It!

There are so many possibilities with these Tu B’Shevat Seed Science Experiments! We loved watching the progress in the ones that we created.

We know there are a lot of variables we did not account for when planning and executing the experiments. To me that’s just fine and is part of the learning experience! We discussed these variables (how much water, temperature, number of ice cubes) together.

Tu B'Shevat Seed Science Experiments colored pea

Tu B'Shevat Seed Science Experiments seed

I loved that we got to combine the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat with some fun science experiments. We got to think scientifically, learn more about plants, and have a great time in the process! And soon we will get to harvest some yummy fava beans and peas!