Propagating from fruit and vegetable scraps

Time Allocation: 30 minutes*

Activity Level: Easy

Introduction

Growing plants is a great way to introduce their features to young learners. In this activity you will be using fruit and vegetable food scraps that might have otherwise been discarded, to regrow or sprout new plants. A great way of engaging young learners in science is to encourage them to observe the new shoots and monitor how they grow and change over time. You will need to have your materials ready before you begin, so that the activity runs to the allotted time. This activity can be integrated with a cooking activity or aligned to a collection of fruit and vegetable scraps, so that resulting plants are produced authentically. *Time allocation will be dependent on having materials already prepared.

Checklist

  • Something to cut with, such as a kid-friendly cutter
  • Chopping board
  • Fruit and vegetables parts that will allow regrowth eg., seeds, roots, base
  • Water
  • Container (to regrow your plant in)
  • Area with good light to grow your plans (but out of direct sunlight)
  • Background research information
  • Hats, sunscreen and insect repellent
  • First aid kit and allergy plans
  • Protective footwear and weather appropriate attire
  • Pencils and paper (optional)
  • Printed activity sheet (optional)
  • Clipboards (optional)
  • Device for taking photos (optional)

    • Instructions

    STEP 1

    Engage

    Watch our Junior Landcare videos with Costa to inspire the children and provide background knowledge to the learning activity.

    Show the children some plants and identify the various parts of the plant.

    Ask the children for some suggestions about the types of plants that they might propagate from scraps. Consider:

     

    • Spring onions
    • Onions
    • Bok-choi
    • Lettuce
    • Carrot
    • Celery
    STEP 2

    Prepare

    Trim your scraps so that there is some remaining ‘core’ of the plant that will allow regrowth. A guideline is to leave a two-finger width of plant remaining and remove any browned off, or rotted vegetative material. This will maintain the integrity of the plant and help give it some energy to begin its regrowth.

    Use this opportunity to point out the features of your plant, ask the children to use their senses.  What can they:

    • See
    • Smell
    • Feel

    This is a good time to ask the young learners about any wonderings that they may have. What are they thinking about this learning activity on how plants can be propagated?

    STEP 3

    Regrow

    Place the prepared scrap into a container with water. Ensure the plant can stand up: you may need to carefully trim the roots of the plant so they can stand independently.

    Introduce the activity sheet and begin taking your initial observations. 

    STEP 4

    Monitor and Replant

    As a group, study how your plant changes over time.  Help your young learners to identify the newly sprouting parts of the plant.

    Record your observations on the activity sheet.

    Once your plant has sufficient roots and shoots, plant it in the garden. Continue to water, monitor and care for the plant help to help continue its growth.

    Extension Activity

    Growing from seeds.  Now that you have mastered propagation from stems, try growing plants from seeds that you find in your kitchen fruit and vegetable scraps.  Avocado seeds are a great way to demonstrate seed growth and are featured in this Junior Landcare Video.

     

    Creating cuttings. Try propagating different plants by taking cuttings of plants such as mint, rosemary, pineapple, geranium, etc. What other plants would children like to try with this method? Learn from the results and care of the new plants created.