7 Fun Plant Science Experiments for Kids Using a TickleMe Plant®
What if your child's next science experiment could actually move right before their eyes?
The TickleMe Plant®, scientifically known as Mimosa pudica, is an unusual plant whose leaves fold when touched and reopen later. That makes it a fascinating way to turn plant science into a hands-on experience children can see for themselves.
Instead of simply reading about how plants respond to their environment, kids can grow a plant, make predictions, perform simple experiments and record what happens.
Here are seven fun plant science experiments for kids to try with a TickleMe Plant®.
1. The Touch Experiment
Start with the easiest experiment of all.
Look carefully at an open TickleMe Plant leaf. Then gently touch one of its leaflets with your fingertip.
What happened?
Ask your child to describe what changed.
Did all the leaflets close?
Did only part of the leaf close?
Did the branch move too?
Now wait and watch what happens as the plant reopens.
Science question: How does a plant respond to touch?
This is a wonderful introduction to the idea that plants can respond to changes in their environment.
2. How Fast Does a TickleMe Plant Move?
For this experiment you'll need a stopwatch or the timer on a phone.
Choose an open leaf and have your child predict how long it will take the leaf to respond after being touched.
Then:
- Touch the leaf gently.
- Start the timer.
- Observe the movement.
- Record the result.
Repeat the experiment on several different leaves.
Were the results always the same?
This is a simple way to introduce children to measuring, recording data and repeating experiments.
3. How Long Until the Leaves Open Again?
Now investigate what happens after the leaves close.
Touch a healthy open leaf and start a timer.
Check the plant periodically until the leaf has reopened.
Write down the time.
Try the experiment again on another day and compare the results.
Children can even create a simple chart showing how long different leaves took to reopen.
4. Does a Gentle Touch Make a Difference?
Here's a great experiment for developing a hypothesis.
Ask:
"Do you think the plant responds differently depending on how it is touched?"
Have your child write down a prediction before beginning.
Always handle the plant gently. Observe whether different light touches appear to produce different responses.
The important part isn't getting a particular result. It's learning the scientific process:
Ask → Predict → Test → Observe → Record
5. What Happens to the Leaves at Night?
Here's an experiment that doesn't require touching the plant at all.
Observe your TickleMe Plant® during the daytime and draw or photograph the position of its leaves.
Look at it again later in the evening.
Do the leaves look different?
Then check the plant again the next morning.
Keeping a simple plant observation journal for several days helps children notice changes they might otherwise overlook.
6. Does Light Affect Plant Growth?
“Need help growing your plants?” “TickleMe Plant growing tips
If you're growing several TickleMe Plants, children can observe how growing conditions affect them.
Keep the plants appropriately cared for while recording variables such as the amount of light they receive.
Every few days, measure:
- Plant height
- Number of leaves
- New growth
- General appearance
Record the observations in a notebook.
This can become a longer STEM project that teaches children that good experiments require patience.
7. When Will My TickleMe Plant Start Moving?
This may be the most exciting experiment because it begins when you plant the seeds.
Create a calendar on planting day.
As your TickleMe Plants grow, record important milestones:
Day 1: Seeds planted
First sprout: ______
First leaves: ______
First touch-sensitive leaves: ______
First time we watched it move: ______
Your current greenhouse bundle says sprouts can appear in as little as three days, first leaves around one week, and moving TickleMe leaves around three weeks, although individual growing results can vary.
Turn Gardening Into a Living Science Lesson
One of the best things about growing a TickleMe Plant® is that the experiment doesn't end after five minutes.
Children can continue observing their plants as they grow and change.
They can measure them, photograph them, make predictions and ask new questions.
And when friends or family visit, there's one experiment kids rarely get tired of demonstrating:
"Touch my plant and watch what happens!"
Grow Your Own Plant Science Experiment
You don't need a laboratory to get children excited about science.
A sunny growing area, a few seeds and some curiosity can be enough to begin.
Our TickleMe Plant® seeds let children grow Mimosa pudica themselves, while the TickleMe Plant® Greenhouse Kit provides seeds, reusable mini pots, soil pellets and a mini greenhouse for a more complete growing project.
Looking for a larger school project? Explore our classroom resources.”
Grow it. Tickle it. Watch it move—and turn curiosity into science.
