You’ll need

  • A carrot (with some signs of a green shoot on the top)
  • A lid from a jar or a saucer
  • Water
  • A sharp knife

What to do

Warning!

Knifes are sharp and can be dangerous. Ask an adult for help before using. 

  1. Gather your materials on a flat surface.
  2. Get an adult to chop the carrot about 2 cm from the top.
  3. Place the carrot top in the jar lid or on a saucer, chopped side down.
  4. Pour in a small amount of water.
  5. Leave it where it will get light, like a windowsill, and regularly top up the water so that it never dries out.
  6. Check the carrot top each day for signs of growth. In a few days, leaves should start to appear from the top of the carrot.

Questions to ask

Did the carrot grow bigger?

Is the carrot alive?

What other things are alive?

What's happening

Plants need water and light to grow. Plants take up water through their roots and absorb light through their leaves. The orange part of a carrot is the root of the plant. By putting the cut side of the carrot in water, it soaks up the water and sends it to the leaves at the top of the plant. The green leaves absorb light from the sun, helping the plant to grow.