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Overview: Students will observe lima bean seeds that have been soaked in water overnight to identify the major parts of a seed. Students also "plant" seeds and observe, measure, and describe growth of roots, stems, and leaves. They then relate seed growth to the book, Miss Rumphius.
Booklink: Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney, Penguin Group Publishers, 1982. ISBN 0-14-050539-3
Science Activity Link: Students observe, identify, and describe parts of a seed. Students plant seeds and observe and collect data on the growth.
Objective: Students will observe, identify and describe parts of a seed. Students will plant seeds, a observe germination, and record data on daily growth. Students will give examples of seed dispersion.
Science Processes and Content: Processes-observing, communicating, measuring, comparing, recording data, predicting, inferring, model building and using time/space relationships. Content-characteristics of organisms, life cycles of organisms, parts of plants, structure and function of seeds.
National Science Education Standards: Unifying Concepts and Processes, (1) Life Science, (5) Science and Technology, (7) History and Nature of Science
Materials: lima bean seeds (some soaked in water and some dry), magnifying lenses, data sheets, pencils, scissors, stapler, clear plastic ziplock baggies, clear tape, paper towels, book Miss Rumphius
Procedure:
1. Prior to class (overnight), soak enough large lima bean seeds in water for each student in the class.
2. Distribute one dry and one soaked seed to each student.
3. Students will observe and describe the dry seed, noting its color, shape, size, texture, etc.
4. Students will observe and describe the soaked seed. Direct students to locate the seed coat, food storage (cotyledon), and embryo.
5. Students investigate their own seed, which they can open to reveal the embryo.
6. Students then place seeds on a wet paper towel and slip them into a ziplock baggie. Baggies are taped to a clear window.
7. Students observe seeds daily for signs of growth.
8. Students record growth on data sheets.
9. Students make a flip book showing seed growth.
10. Read Miss Rumphius to the students, reinforcing what they now know about seed growth and encourage them think of what they could do to make the world more beautiful.
Related Books:
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss, Harper and Row Publishers, 1945. ISBN 0-694-00492-8
How a Seed Grows by Helene J. Jordan, Harcourt, 1992. ISBN 0-15-314285-5
How 100 Dandelions Grew by Louisa Ernesto, Harcourt Brace. ISBN 0-15-306744-6
Dandelion by Barrie Watts, Silver Burdett Press, 1987. ISBN 0-382-24016-2
One Bean by Anne Rockwell, Walker and Company, 1998. ISBN 0-8027-7572-1
The Berenstain Bears Grow It! by Stan and Jan Berenstain, Random House, 1996. ISBN 0-679-87315-5
Flowers, Fruits and Seeds by Jerome Wexler, Simon and Schuster, 1987. ISBN 0-671-73986-7
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert, Harcourt Brace and Company, 1988. ISBN 0-15-262610-7
The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie dePaola, Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 1983. ISBN 0-698-11359-4
The Reason for a Flower by Ruth Heller, Grosset & Dunlap, 1983. ISBN 0-448-41091-5
The Life Cycle of the Dandelion by Paula Z. Hogan, Steck-Vaughn, 1991. ISBN 0-8114-8182-4
Dandelion Adventures by L. Patricia Kite, The Millbrook Press, Inc., 1998. ISBN 0-7613-0377-4
Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg, Scholastic, Inc., 1988. ISBN 0-590-42616-8
The Gardener by Sarah Stewart, Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1997. ISBN 0-374-32517-0
Vegetable Garden by Douglas Florian, Harcourt Brace, 1991. ISBN 0-15-307468-X
The Dandelion Seed by Joseph Anthony, Dawn Publications, 1997. ISBN 1-883220-66-1
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle, Picture Book Studio, 1987. ISBN 0-88708-015-4
Jack's Garden by Henry Cole, Greenwillow Books, 1995. ISBN 0-688-13501-3 |
