To explore concepts of elements needed for plant growth:

Stem Bender (Sun Element):
    You will need:  scissors
                              large cardboard box with a lid
                              small potted plant that fits inside the box

1.  Cut a hole in the side of the box (about 3 inches wide)
2.  Place plant inside box and close lid.
3.  Place the box in a sunny place and remember to water just often enough to keep your plant moist.
4.  After one week, look at the stem of your plant.  What is happening?
5.  Turn the box so that the hole faces another direction.  Keep the plant facing the same direction as before.
     Keep watering the plant.
6.  After one week look at the plant again!

Plants need sunlight and will do whatever they need to do to get it!  The stem should have followed the direction that the sun was entering the box - (pothos ivy is the fastest and easiest to see results from).  If you keep turning the box your plant stem will continue to bend to create a very unique pattern.  You may also observe a fading effect on the plant's leaves - although the plant is getting some light, it is restricted and will not provide the optimum amount needed to complete the photosynthesis process.

Let the Sunshine In (Sun Element):

     You will need:  Small pieces of balck construction paper
                             Paper clips
                             Growing plant with large leaves (philodendron for example)

1.  Cut three small circles in the construction paper.
2.  Attach the paper to the leaf of the plant.  Be careful not to harm the leaf!  You are creating a "mask" for the leaf, 
     only three small circles of the leaf should show through the paper.
3.  Leave the paper attached for two days.
4.  When you remove the paper mask, observe the effect on the leaf - which part of the leaf is green?  Which part of 
     the leaf used sun to create food for the plant?

A Sour Shower (Water Element):
    You will need:  2 small potted plants (same variety)
                               tablespoon
                               vinegar
                               measuring cup

1.  Put both plants in a bright spot for two weeks.
2.  During this time, water one plant with regular tap water.
3.  Water the other plant with a mixture of vinegar and water - (tablespoon vinegar to 1 cup of water).  Make sure you
     label the container that has the vinegar water and remember which plant you are watering with this mixture!
4.  What happens to the plant that gets the vinegar water?

Plants need water to grow, but it must be clean water.  Acid makes your plant wilt - the same thing can happen to trees and plants.  In many parts of the world there is acid found in the rain.  Acid is created when gases from car engines and factories rise into the air and mix with rain and snow.  This rain or snow falling down to earth can kill trees, plants, and pond life.

Making Colored Flowers (Water Element):

     You will need:  A few white carnations
                             Tap water
                             Food coloring
                             Glass or Jar

1.  Fill the glass or jar one-half full with water.
2.  Add 5 to 10 drops of food coloring to each glass.  You may want to try different colors in each.
3.  Re-cut the stem of the flower to re-open the veins found in the stem.
4.  Place the stem of the flower in the colored water and observe the change.

You may wish to do this activity with a celery stalk as well.  Celery has very distinctive tubes or veins that the colored water will travel through.  Trees have tubes that go from the roots up the trunk and into the leaves - every form of plant has to have some sort of path to follow to allow the plant to continue to grow.  You may also observe what happens if you bend the stem - you may notice a slowing of progress or a complete stopping of water travel if the bend is great enough.

Other activities worth looking into:
    •  Gather seeds from various flowers in the fall (when they are dry) and make an identification book with your students.
     •  Keep a journal on the daily upkeeping of a potted plant - document the measurement, number of leaves, amount of water you gave the plant, amount of daylight the plant receives, etc.
     •  Make a book out of zip-lock baggies - collect several leaves or other outdoor treasures to include.
     •  Plant carrot seeds in egg cartons.
     •  Grow various items using toothpicks to balance the bottoms in a jar of water (avacadoes, potatoes, yams, carrot)
     •  Make flower prints using real flowers collected on a nature walk.
     •  Make your own paper using leaves and flowers (visit a local library or your media center for instructions there are many variations!)
     •  Have students draw their observations while on a nature walk - add to class book when you return.
     •  Create a seed guessing game by using seed packets - have students estimate number of seeds in each packet and then count for results.  Laminate those same envelopes for a follow-up activity of concentration or seed match up.
     •  Display seeds for students to gues what the seed will grow into - start with easier ones like corn, pease, or beans.
     •  Make a picture of a garden using coffee grounds as dirt - students may decorate their gardens to grow anything they like!
     •  Using plaster of paris, make leaf prints.  Students will be able to observe the individual veins foudn in their leaf.
     •  Have a plant eating party - talk about eating roots (onions, carrots), stems (celery, rhubarb), leaves (lettuce, spinach, cabbage), flowers (broccoli, cauliflower), seeds (peas, corn, sunflower seeds), and fruit (cherries, tomatoes).