Variation of Traits Activity for Kids

Plant Growth Conditions DIY

Duration: 30-60 min
Difficulty: Medium
Cost: $0 to $5

Investigate how different environments influence the traits of bean plants!

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Material List

3Bean seeds
3Small cups or glass dishes
1Bag of potting soil
1Pile of dry dirt
3Cotton balls
1Plate
1Spray bottle with water

Instructions

1Pull apart the cotton balls a little so they are fluffy and put them on a plate.
2Wrap one bean seed in each cotton ball and spray them generously with water.
3Place all three into one of the glass containers.
4Give it a few sprays every other day.
5In about a week, you should see the seeds sprouting.
6Plant the first bean sprout in a container using potting soil and give it a few sprays of water.
7Plant the second sprout in the same way but use dry dirt and do not water it.
8Plant the third sprout in potting soil but add lots of water to represent a flooded area.
9Leave all three beans to grow for several weeks and observe the results.

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How It Works

In Zoe’s experiment, the bean that was planted under optimal conditions—rich soil, regular water, and sunlight—grew the best. The optimal conditions led to a plant with healthy traits. The plant grown in drought-like conditions didn’t grow much. Its small size was influenced by the dry environmental conditions. The plant grown in flood-like conditions was also small, and its leaves turned yellow. These traits were influenced by the very wet environment. Many traits are inherited from parents, but some (like the ones we observed in this demonstration) are influenced by the environment.