Grass Head Activity
How can I keep the seeds moist over the weekend/break?
Before you leave your classroom for an extended period of time, water the seeds and then cover them with a clear lid or container. This allows the light through but prevents the water from evaporating.
How do I water the seeds?
The paper towel is meant to wick water up to the grass seeds. If you need to add water to the seeds, we recommend using a spray bottle to spray the paper towel. If your environment isn't moist enough or you are in a dry climate, you may need to add water this way.
Is there something we can put in the water that will fight the mold and keep the seeds growing?
We used 1 cup of water mixed with 1/4 tsp of baking soda. We have tested this with radish seeds, not grass seeds, but this most likely will work with other types of seeds as well.
Is there an alternative for knee-high nylons?
Instead of using knee-high nylons, try using the “footie” nylons you're given when trying on shoes. They come in bulk and are inexpensive compared to the-knee highs. It also saves on prep time because you don't have to cut and tie them.
What should I do if my grass heads didn’t grow?
Even if your seeds don’t sprout, you can turn it into a teaching opportunity! You can ask your class what might have caused the seeds not to sprout. Here are some questions to consider:
- How old are the grass seeds? (Seed packets often have an expiration date, and old seeds don't always sprout.)
- Did the head stay damp while they were waiting for the seeds to sprout? (That's a common cause of issues.)
- Did they use the fast-sprouting seeds we recommended? (Some other varieties of grass seed can take up to 30 days to sprout -- or even longer if the weather is cold.)
- What temperature was the classroom at night? (We've heard of problems when schools turn off the heat at night.)