Who can get the most seeds in their pot?

Overview:

There are about 40 days until the end of the school year. That's approximately a fast plant life cycle. That means we have time for one more fast plant challenge. Here is it: Get the MOST seeds to be produced in your 2.5" flower pot.

Step 1: Student brainstorm what will affect how many seeds their flower pot produces (number of seeds planted, care given to plants, fertilizer/nutrients, light, temperature, density of plants...)

Step 2: Students watch a quick video that shows one study that tested the affects of pollination and tending on seed production.

Step 3: Students plan how to plant and care for the seeds in their flower pot. This includes making choices about: number of seeds, temperature of tray, type of soil, and type of fertilizer.

Step 4: Students plant their seeds.

Each day after that, students have time at the start of class to do any tending they they think is necessary. Materials are left out for students to use for staking, providing nutrients, and pollinating.

On Day 40, students count the seeds that their plant produced. (Our students' pots produced from 0 to over 300 seeds!)