2 minute Dish with 4 minutes of teaching Science of Plants

How do we teach children about parts of a plant and how they grow? The kitchen presents a beautiful opportunity. Here is a 2 minute dish - tasty, packed with nutrition, easy to prepare and its so quick to teach your children (3 years to about 10 years old) about plants and the science of plants. The dish costs next to nothing.

Recipe: Bean Sprout ala Ben Ten (Change the name of your recipe to entice your kids)

Shopping List

2 handfulls of beansprouts

2 tablespoons of chicken meat, sliced thinly or minced

Fish cake, fishballs, bean curd

Half an onion

1 pip garlic

1 inch ginger

2 tablespoon of oil

Soya sauce or salt to tast

How to prepare

1. Slice the garlic, ginger and onion thin (or better yet into as small pieces as possible to ensure that your kids swallow them without knowing)

2. Add to hot oil

3. Add the chicken and the rest (you dont need the chicken or the fish cake, fish balls and the like if don't have them)

4. Dip the bean sprouts into hot water for about 1 minute (this is a secret that not many will tell you. Dip the bean sprouts in hot water to prevent them from being overcooked and at the same time maintain their crunch)

See how the beans and bean sprouts grow

5. Through in the bean sprouts into the pan and mixed it up for about 1 minute. Dont forget the soya sauce.

6. Serve with garnishing.

While you are cooking the bean sprouts, show them parts of the sprouts - the root, the shoots and so on.
Get some wet cotton and place it in container and show your children how some beans sprout after about 2 days.

I find this is the most effective way for children to appreciate how plants grow.


Happy Teaching and Cooking!

Why do plants wilt? A science lesson in the kitchen

How do we teach kids science issues related to plants such as evaporation, osmosis, cells and absorption?

The kitchen provides a great opportunity to teach our kids about plants, their need for water and bringing them back to live within a few minutes. Did you know that the wilted vegetables from your refrigerator offers tremendous amount of teaching lessons?

I did not think about it too much until I saw some wilted leave vegetables in my refrigerator.

I told my kids I will show them some magic.

I said that I would magically make the vegetable come to live!

Make your kids place the vegetables in a bowl of water.

Walla! After just a few minutes, the leaves have regained their freshness

What happened?

The way you explain to your kids depends on your kids’ ages, understanding and keenness. Apply your best judgment in explaining. I personally think, we should not transform it into a classroom type scenario. It would not work in getting their interest. The explanation needs to stick in their minds.

You may wish to use these explanations:

Plants lose water through evaporation – like how we sweat. Can you see the sweat when you play?

Plants are made of cells – just like how we build a building with bricks. There is water in the cells, which is lost through evaporation. Evaporation is where water is lost into the air. It leaves the plant.

The water will not be replaced if you don’t give your plant or vegetables water.

They will start to lose their shape and strength and become floopy.

Water your plant or keep your vegetable in water for a while, and it will regain its shape.

Plants takes in water by a process called osmosis. (Figure out something funny for them to remember the word – particularly for the older kids)

This is why a wilted plant or even a wilted stalk of celery will become firm again if given water.

Water is the most essential thing for life.


Parents, I hope this little tip will help you.

Happy cooking and teaching!