RPRY fifth grade students at RPRY have been studying the role of producers in an ecosystem. During their study of photosynthesis, the students performed a fun experiment to see first hand how xylem (vascular tissue) works in plants. The students used celery and food coloring to answer the question: “How does water get from the roots to the leaves of a plant?”

After creating a hypothesis, the students set up their experiments and waited overnight to see the colorful results! Sure enough, the xylem transported the colored water up the celery stalk to the leaves. After making their initial observations, the students then cut cross sections of the celery to examine the xylem closely. They recorded their findings by drawing diagrams, and then analyzed the results of their investigation.