Chia Seeds

Chia seeds look like teeny, tiny beans and have some interesting properties. The outside of the Chia seed is covered in tiny hair like fibers. When the seed is wet, these almost-invisible tiny fibers stand on end and begin trapping liquid. A Chia seed can hold 9 times the weight of the seed in water! This action causes a bead of gel to form around the seed.

See this in action by adding 1/4 cup of water with 2 teaspoons of Chia seeds. Stir the mixture and watch it thicken. Let the seeds soak while getting a clay pot or several small clay pots. You will also need a draining dish, cotton balls, and something to spread the seeds on the pot.

Rinse the clay pot in water and then stuff the clay pot with cotton balls and set it in the draining dish.


Now the pot is ready for the Chia seeds to be “pasted” on its sides. This can get messy because the seeds will stick to everything. Cover the pot, allowing room at the bottom so the water in the draining dish will not touch the seeds and allow it to sit for a few minutes so the seeds will stay put. Add water in the draining dish. The cotton balls will absorb water and keep the pot moist. Then watch for 5 loooooong days. There is still lots to do. Mist the seeds several times a day and make sure there is water in the draining dish.


Sometimes, as early as 3 days there will be small sprouts visible. Have several magnifying glasses on hand to get a closer look.


Over the next week the sprouts will grow until the pot is covered with tiny green Chia sprouts.


The snails in the classroom terrarium discovered that Chia sprouts are a good treat.