Adapted from SuperScience Red, March, 1995, issue.

Seeds need to be strong to grow. How strong are seeds? Test their push-up power to find out!

You Need:

• Paper cup, 6-oz. size or larger

• Soil

• Dried lima bean

• Small, flat rock, about 5 cm (2 in.) wide

• Plate

• Water

• Measuring cup

• Pencil

  1. Poke a hole in the bottom of the cup. (Use a pencil point.) Fill the cup halfway with soil.

  2. Put the bean in the cup. cover it with a little soil. Place the rock over the bean.

  3. MAKE A GUESS: What will happen to the bean?

  4. Set the cup on the plate in a sunny place. Pour 60 ml (1/4 cup) of water into the cup. Feel the soil every day. When it is dry, add more water.

  5. After about a week, look in on the cup. What happened to the bean? To the rock?

Think About It: Why do seeds need push-up power to grow?

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