I love easy experiments that make science cool! This rainbow colored celery experiment is simple to set up and really makes transpiration come alive for kids.
Celery Science Experiment
- celery (the leafy parts show the color the best)
- jars
- water
- food coloring
We have been doing a lot of rainbow activities lately so we made our water rainbow colored by mixing colors. It was a fun way to extend the learning for my preschooler, but you can use any colors you want.
The kids put the celery in the colored water and then recorded their observations in their science notebooks. This helps to encourage them to think like scientists and helps them track the changes.
We left the celery in the colored water overnight and saw that the stems and the leaves of the celery started to turn the same color as the water that it was in.
This is the process of transpiration. The xylem in the plant suck up water like a straw and the colored water moves throughout the celery. The cool thing about this experiment is that you can actually see the capillaries once they are colored.
The kids recorded their observations and we noticed that the celery stalks with more leaves “drank” more of the water than the ones with less. We concluded this was because the leaves needed water too.
More Science Experiments:
- Candy Hearts Science Experiment
- Rainbow Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment from Happily Ever Mom
- 10 Hands On Science Experiments for Kids
- Making Opportunities for STEM Everyday from The Educators’ Spin On It
- M&M Candy Science Experiment
- Simple Activities from Little Engineers from Inner Child Fun
- Does It Dissolve? Science Experiment
- Ladybug Science for Kids from The Educators’ Spin On It
- Apple Science for Kids
Becky Davis says
March 17, 2014 at 10:03 amThis is an awesome one for kiddos!! Evan is actually did this yesterday for his science fair project!
Coffee Cups and Crayons says
March 17, 2014 at 11:44 amHow FUN!!! Go Evan!
Katie @ Happilyevermom says
March 17, 2014 at 4:10 pmLove this science experiment. Can’t wait to try this at home!! Thanks so much for including us in your list of other experiments!
Megan Sheakoski says
March 17, 2014 at 8:38 pmYay! Thanks Katie!
Linda Kraynick Katona says
March 17, 2014 at 6:18 pmValerie–Don’t you remember doing this in 2nd grade bc I remember teaching it.
B says
March 22, 2014 at 8:43 pmMy kids would love this! Such a simple but fun and educational project to do with them. We just got some celery, too, so this is perfect. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Megan Sheakoski says
March 23, 2014 at 9:14 pmYay! It is so cool to see the colored xylem in the celery! I hope they love it!
Theres Just One Mommy says
April 3, 2014 at 10:03 pmPerfect! I have celery in the fridge that is getting wimpy… I think it’s time for some science!
Pinned it!
Megan Sheakoski says
April 7, 2014 at 7:52 amThat’s perfect!
Sharon Jordan says
October 14, 2014 at 10:04 pmI just wanted to mention a misconception that might be best to clarify. This is not actually an example of transpiration. It is an example of capillary action in which the water molecules travel up the tiny ‘capillaries’ against gravity because of waters unique bonding properties. Transpiration is when plants give off water back into the atmosphere.
lee says
February 12, 2016 at 11:51 amHelpful explaination!
Emily says
March 13, 2018 at 10:31 pmActually, complete transpiration happens when both ideas are put together. It is the water moving through the roots, up into the plant and then being released into the atmosphere.