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Science with Celery

Learn how a celery stalk can drink water!

By Melissa Alcorn, Bloomington-Normal Macaroni Kid Publisher July 22, 2011

This fun experiment can be performed by even the smallest of scientists!

You will need:

  • 1 stalk of celery with the leaves still on
  • Water
  • Red and blue food coloring
  • 2 tall clear drinking glasses that are the same size
  • Knife and a grownup to use it

What you need to do:

  1. Fill both glasses half full of water.
  2. Put 5-7 drops of red food coloring in one glass and 5-7 drops of blue in the other. 
  3. Grownups- cut the celery stalk in half lengthwise almost to the leaves.  Stalk should still be connected at the top.  Also trim the bottom (non-leafy part) of the celery stalk.
  4. Place the glasses side by side.
  5. Put one 'leg' of the stalk in the red water, and the other 'leg' in the blue water.
  6. Let the celery sit in the glasses overnight.
  7. In the morning talk to you child about what you see and capillary action (phenomenon when a liquid rises)!