Virtual Seed Dispersal Lesson

Goals/Objectives:

• Continue using the science practices of making observations (I notice), asking questions (I wonder), making connections to what they already know or have experienced (it reminds me of).

• Introduce the science practices of constructing explanations from evidence, using tentative language, making predictions/hypotheses, testing your ideas by planning and carrying out investigations, interpreting results, and engaging in argument from evidence.

• Learn different ways that seeds are dispersed, tying in with the Cross-Cutting Concept of structure and function, and understanding adaptations for survival and reproduction.

Vocabulary:

• Prediction / Hypothesis

• Evidence

• Results

• Dispersal / Disperse

• Seed Coat

• Adaptation

Preparation

• Gather some seeds for sharing and demonstrating experiment

• Have a clear container of water to show that part

• Read through/watch and choose the stories/videos you would like to use

Intro

• Check-in (optional - fun check-in to see how they are feeling)

• Set Expectations for behavior

  • Remind students of any hand signals you have introduced, how you want them to answer questions, muting/unmuting, etc.

• Share Agenda - we'll read a story, (collect seeds), make predictions, do experiments, share results, read another story... etc. Also share about how long it will take.

• Review previous lesson:

  • Ask students to share what they did for their magic spots

  • Share journals

Engage / Invite

• Read a story about seed dispersal

Explore

• Discuss story - have students share what they know about seeds and how they travel (and why they need to travel) What examples have they noticed in the past?

• (Could show a brief video on seed dispersal?)

• Students should have collected some seeds before the class - if students can go outside, you could give them 5 minutes (use timer) to look for seeds, and for those who can't go outside, you can have them look for any fruits or nuts, or if they have trail mix...

• Share the seeds they collected

Explain / Concept Formation / Elaborate / Application

• Discuss the experiment - Use INIWIRMO to make observations about their seeds, then come up with a possible explanation from evidence / a prediction or hypothesis about how their seed travels, then go over ways to test their predictions. If they can come up with ways, all the better! If their ways are different than the lesson plan, that is okay!

  • Materials to get ready:

    • Cup or bowl with some water in it

    • Something fuzzy (their socks, jacket, or hair)

    • Journal to record predictions and results

    • Pencil

  • Make Predictions: When they have all the materials ready and their journals (or paper and pencil) make and share observations and record their predictions - ONLY fill out top part with predictions (be sure to tell them this or they'll fill out the whole page before even doing the experiment!)

    • Seeds with fleshy coverings might be eaten by animals and deposited in their poop!

    • Seeds that are light or have fluffy attachments might travel on the wind.

    • Seeds that float on the water might travel in water.

    • Seeds that have stickers or hooks might travel by animals' fur or birds' feathers

  • Do Experiments to test predictions

    • Look closely to see if it has a fleshy covering (Don't eat! Some plants are poisonous! Unless it's a fruit from their home, of course!)

    • Try air first - just toss it in the air to see if it floats/flies - or blow gently

    • Then see if it sticks to your hair or clothes

    • Do the water test LAST, since once the seed is wet, the other tests may not work!

• Evaluate / Reflection

  • What did your experiment show? Remember, science is not about being right, it's about learning something.

    • "The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not “Eureka!” but “That’s funny …” ― Isaac Asimov

    • Scientists do not try to prove their predictions to be correct, they actually try to prove them wrong! Because it's easier to prove something wrong that right - if you don't prove it wrong, it may still not be right - you just didn't find the right test to prove it wrong. If enough different scientists use enough different tests, after a while, they may say that their ideas are "supported by the evidence" or their "results support their hypothesis," not that they were "right." You learn more by being surprised by results!

    • Because of this, Scientists often speak in tentative terms, such as "it could possibly be.." or "I think maybe..." - the language of real science is humble, because scientists know there is always more to learn, more evidence to uncover.

    • Encourage students to use this language when reporting their results.

    • Follow up: can you think of other tests or observations we could do to learn more?

  • Reflection on the life of a seed - read The Dandelion Seed (or The Tiny Seed)

• OUTDOOR HOMEWORK: https://sites.google.com/inyocoe.org/outdoorhomework/homework/seeds (give link to teacher to share in Google Classroom, or share with students in Chat)

  • Magic Spots

  • Journaling - this could be done with the lesson as part of the reflection section - draw or write a creative story about being a seed that travels

  • Fun and Games! The same books if you didn't read them, a fun video and game from PBS, a video of the milkweed seed race - encourage kids to go out and explore and play with seeds!

Choose one story for intro, and you could also use one at end.

The Dandelion Seed would be great at either the beginning or end

Seeds Move! would be a good intro to the different ways seeds travel, maybe after discussion where kids share what they already know about seed dispersal - you could just show the pictures and skim/summarize vs. reading the whole thing if that works best. You can also use the video for this, just turn off the sound!

The Tiny Seed is a new one - preview first (it may be a bit long?)

Recommend reading the books vs. videos when available - we have extra copies of The Dandelion Seed, but only one of Seeds Move! You can also use the video and turn off the sound!

DON'T FORGET: when you share videos, check "share computer sound" on the Share Screen window!