This week's Family Friday will deepen your student's understanding of the scientific method. Read our step-by-step guide on how to use the scientific method to test how plants absorb water in this interactive activity!

What you need:

3 glasses
Food coloring
3 celery stalks or flowers
Pre-made printable work sheet and observation sheet (here)

*You can do this experiment with as many or as few plants/colors as you would like.

Step 1

Click to read The Scientific Method. Read the book with your child, then complete the activity. You can also find this book by opening your Footsteps2Brilliance App and going to Level 3 (Blue). In the Physical Science and Engineering series, you'll find the book The Scientific Method.

Step 2

Fill each glass half-full with water.

Step 3

Place a few drops of food coloring in to each glass - one color per glass.

Step 4

Print out the pre-made worksheet and observation sheet (here).

Using the worksheet, write a hypothesis before placing the plants in the glasses.

Step 5

Place the celery or flowers in to each glass.

Step 6

Using the observation sheet, draw what happens over time and record their observations when you first put the celery or flowers in to the water, after an hour, after one day, and after two days.