We were kind of stalled with our science curriculum, so I decided to set it aside and try something fun.  And we are having so much fun I just had to share it with all of you!  I bought the following book:

Tops Learning Systems GREEN THUMBS: RADISHES #38

Not a very exciting name, I know.  But what is inside is what counts.  There are 20 days of activities involving radish sprouts.  I had no idea that radishes will sprout in 12 to 24 hours.  So, each day we have a neat surprise when we take a look at our experiments.  My 8-year-old son loves this science project.  And I love it, too, because it only takes 10 to 15 minutes a day and uses common household items.  The only things I had to buy were a few baby food jars, radish seeds, and a light bulb made for plants.  If the temperature was a little warmer and if we had a better window in which to grow the plants, I wouldn't have needed the bulb.

I bought the book through Sonlight ( http://www.sonlight.com/3S15.html ), but it looks like you can also get it from the author here: http://www.topscience.org/Book_samples/radishes.html.

You need to start the book on a Monday, and you need to be able to check in with the project every day  (taking a break on Saturday and Sunday) because these little sprouts grow so fast.  So far we've graphed the sprouts' growth patterns, set up several different growing environments, and even built a little greenhouse (out of a milk carton and a jar)...and we're only on the second week!   I really haven't seen my son so excited about anything school related in a long time.  So, after radishes, we might just move on to another TOPS book on corn and beans!

You should try it!  It is so much fun!