Discovering Seeds

Keep a class list of questions that emerge about plants, science, and
the garden
Guiding Question: How do seeds become plants?
Day 1: Getting to know students conceptions about seeds.
Brainstorm the students understanding of the function of a seed.
Activity 1: If you were building a seed how would you construct it? Draw or
Construct. Share
Paper, markers/colored pencils (16) and/or Clay (16)
Activity 2: Now reconstruct the seed and improve its form and function. Share
Same supplies as above (16)
Hypothesize/ Brainstorm what seeds need to germinate (if enough seeds test different hypotheses?)
Activity 3: Plant the seeds (germinate on a paper towel, in a bag or cup) *Do for all seeds or just
enough everyone can watch their own]
Journal: Date of planting, what plant is & needs/hypothesis
Supplies for Day 1: (16 students)
Paper
Paper towels
Seeds
Colored pencils/markers
Water
Clear plastic
bags/cups
Science notebook/journal

Day 2: Understanding whats actually inside a seed.

Activity 1: Seed Dissection
Lima Beans soaked overnight (16)
Tweezers/other dissection tools (16 or 8)
Activity 2: Compare your seed to the real seed, and reconstruct it to reflect the real seed.
Same supplies as Day 1
In your Science journal/notebook write down any similarities or differences between your seed
and the real one.
Discuss findings
Activity 3: Check on the germination of the seeds planted yesterday.
Journal: Write down any observations or changes you see. (Seed/ germination site)
***Can do a labeling exercise for the parts of the seed (after they have discovered for themselves what
lies inside a seed).
Supplies for Day 2: (16 students)
Soaked Lima Beans
Science notebook/journal
Colored Pencils/markers
Paper
tweezers/ other dissection tools (single or pairs)

Day 3: How do seeds get to the places they need to grow?

Discuss/Brainstorm: Do seeds have the ability to move from one place to another? (consider dandelions)

Activity 1: Use pictures to guess how each might be dispersed. (some seeds are found in fruit to eat and
humans/animals pass them, some hitch rides on humans/animals, some fly through the air)
Discuss and List adaptations that enable the seeds to be dispersed in different ways. (if it sticks
to fur, maybe it adapted barbs or hooks , provide real life example?)
Activity 2: (adapted from GrowLab) Challenge! With your group design
a strategy for dispersing a seed that.
Hitchhikes on your sweater or an animal
Attracts an animal so the seed passes through it
Is thrown 5 ft from the plant by a special mechanism
Students own ideas
Discuss and design (draw and decide on one design) show to teacher
and then gather supplies.
Test and modify designs.
Each group will demonstrate their at a seed dispersal event (try to get
your seed into a pot across the room using only your design)
Discuss why plants need to mobilize, why they produce so many seeds, and what could cause a seed to
not grow. How do you think the real-life conditions would be different from the simulations?
Activity 3: Check the germination of plants started Day 1. Note in journal the differences, questions,
observations, and measurements (if something is starting to happen).
Supplies for Day 3 (16)
Science notebook/journal
rulers
toothpicks
Beans soaked overnight (2/group)
cotton
rubber bands
Pot/bucket
feathers
yarn
Springs
pipe cleaners
lemon juice
Balloons
other miscellaneous materials

Day 4: What natural factors affect seed germination?

Activity 1: Discuss/Brainstorm a list of natural factors that might influence the seed they created on Day
3 or real seeds.
Take the list and identify 3 or 4 natural forces that could be safely simulated in the classroom.
Activity 2: (adapted from GrowLab)
With your group design and experiment that will test one of these forces and formulate a hypothesis
about whether the seed will germinate or not. Use the same experimental design to test another type of
seed. (be sure to label!)
In science notebook/journal: record your simulation, your experimental design, type of seeds,
and hypotheses.
****Continue to watch and record data, compile it into a class list (graph it).
Activity 3: Check the germination of plants started Day 1. Note in journal the differences, questions,
observations, and measurements (if something is starting to happen). Include a scientific drawing.
Supplies for Day 4 (16)
Water
science notebook/journal
Freezer
seeds (tomatoes, marigolds, radish, beans, peas )(2 of each/group)
Matches/candle/Bunsen burner
cups/egg cartons/milk cartons
Cups/egg cartons/milk cartons
soil
Vinegar (stomach acid)

Day 5: Planting!
Activity 1: Take a look at the germinated plants from Day 1. Draw a current scientific diagram of what
you see. Note any changes that occurred over the last week. What did the seed need to germinate?
(Oxygen, water, warm temperature) Why doesnt the seed need soil to germinate? (has its own little
food packet, saw during dissection).
Activity 2: Go over the parts/label the drawing (they made) Discuss what plants need to grow.
Activity 3: Plant!!!
******Germinated seeds are really delicate! Handle with care! Use tweezers to pick up, ONLY BY SEED
CASING!
Supplies needed for Day 5 (16)
Pots
Soil
Tweezers
Science journal

Thinking forward:
Create a class chart of the growth of different types of plants, height, how long to grow leaves,
flowers, fruit.
Have students do a research project on the plants we plantedwhere do they come from? How
did humans play a role in distributing them?
Continue looking at growth of plants under simulated natural factors.

Resources:
Cohen, J. & Pranis, E. (1990) GrowLab: Activities for Growing Minds. Burlington, VT. National
Gardening Association.
http://fantasticfarm.org/2010/03/germinating-seeds-in-paper-towel/
http://www.gardenbetty.com/2013/02/starting-seeds-in-coffee-filters-or-paper-towels/
http://plantsinmotion.bio.indiana.edu/plantmotion/earlygrowth/germination/germ.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To2DlJwErao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ij1eW_gsrM
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/plants/plant-adaptations.htm
http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/plants/plant-with-seeds.htm
http://www.uri.edu/cels/ceoc/documents/germinatingSeeds.pdf