week 21: plant maze

Build a maze for your plant and watch as it makes its way through it! 

Materials: 

• Runner bean seed
• Soil
• Flower pot
• Shoe box & lid
• Lamp or a sunny area
• Scissors
• Tape/glue
• Cup of water

Directions:

1. Leave the runner bean seed in water overnight. 
2. Use the scissors to cut a rectangle in one of the shoebox's sides. Save this rectangular piece. 
3. Cut out a square "window" on one end of the rectangle.
4. Return to the seed in the morning. Place soil in the flower pot and plant the seed in it. Don't forget to water your plant.
5. Stand the shoebox on its side, with the rectangular hole facing upwards. Insert the cut rectangular piece a few inches below the hole and tape or glue it onto the shoebox if it doesn't fit.
6. Place the pot inside the shoebox, on the opposite side of the hole directly over it.
7. Place the lid back on the shoebox (sideways) and place it directly under a lamp or sunny area.
8. Check in frequently to watch the plant snake through the holes! Water it every few days, but be sure to place the lid back on immediately after watering.

What's Going On?
Plants require sunlight in order to make food. Using a process called photosynthesis, plants convert light energy from the sun or a lamp and convert it to chemical energy. This chemical energy is used to fuel the plant, sort of like its 'food.' Like a hungry mouse in a maze looking for cheese, the plant follows the sunlight in order to obtain the light energy it needs to convert into chemical energy in order to stay fueled and able to grow!