A Teacher’s Classroom: 30 Kids, 30 Radishes
A 3rd-grade teacher grew radishes with 30 students. Every student took home a radish. Here’s how she did it.
Ms. Chen teaches 3rd grade in Portland. She wanted a hands-on science project.
The Setup
- 30 small pots (yogurt cups with holes)
- 1 pot per student
- Seed starting mix
- South-facing windowsill
The Project
- Day 1: Each student plants 2 radish seeds.
- Day 4: Sprouts appear. Class celebrates.
- Day 10: Thin to 1 plant per pot.
- Day 25: Harvest. Every student takes home a radish.
What She Learned
- Radishes are perfect for classrooms. 25 days, fast sprouting.
- Ownership matters. Each student had their own pot.
- Some failed. 4 students’ seeds didn’t sprout. She had backups.
- The eating was the best part. Kids who “hate radishes” ate theirs.
Her Advice
“Plant extra pots. Some will fail. And don’t skip the harvest day — that’s the moment they remember.”