This experiment will show how water travels up in a plant through the roots and 
stem to the leaves and flowers.
Materials
- long stem white carnation(s)
- container
- water
- food coloring
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| Carnations after being in water with red food coloring for 10 hours | 
Directions
- Place fresh carnations in a container of water.
- Have students observe the carnations and sketch a picture.
- Add approximately 10 drops of food coloring.
- Have students observe the change in color of the water.
-  Have the students make a prediction of how the red food coloring might effect the flowers.
- Have the students observe the flowers and sketch a picture again in 24 hours and 48 hours. 
- Have students compare and contrast their sketches.
- What happened to the flowers? Why? 
|  | 
| Carnations after being in red food coloring and water for 10 hours 
 
 
 
 
 
 
|  |  | 24 hours |  | 
|  | 
| 24 hours | 
|  | 
| 48 hours | 
  
The stem of a flower is a carrier of water and nutrients from the ground to other parts of the plant.
This is a great classic experiment. Makes pretty flowers, too. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Phyllis, Thanks for visiting. The little kids still get excited with these old classic experiments even if we teachers and parents have done them hundreds of times! I will visit you soon. Marcia
ReplyDeleteI always love the carnation experiment. I know it's done all the time, but the flowers always turn out so pretty.
ReplyDelete