Week 3
Exploring Seeds & How Plants Grow
What are Seeds?
Seeds are a part of a plant that can grow into a new plant. Seeds vary in size, shape, color and texture. Some seeds can be eaten and some seeds cannot. Some seeds can be eaten raw, but some seeds need to be cooked to eat.
Seeds and the Life Cycle of Plants from Fun Science Demos
Where Can Some Seeds Be Found?
Can you find some seeds in your house, or in your yard? Perhaps you can find some in your apples, squash, or in your backyard.
In this video, Jared from Fun Science Demos, shows us how to spot some seeds.
Seed Samples
Bean seeds
grass seeds
apple seeds
sunflower seeds
How Do Seeds Get Around? Seed Dispersal
In this YouTube video 'How Seeds Get Around' Maddie Moate will help us learn how seeds move around in different ways.
Adding Seeds to Your Journal This would be a great time to draw some seeds in your journal. You can draw right onto your journal pages, or draw on a separate paper and glue it into your journal.
Let's see if we can collect a variety of seeds.
Click here to see a list of seeds to keep an eye out for to compare
apples
avocado pit
beans
cashews
chia
corn
cucumber
grapes
pea
peanut
pumpkin
rice
seeds inside of a pine cone
squash
walnut
While some of the items on the list above might seem like they are nuts and not seeds, like the peanut which actually has nut in it's name, they are technically seeds.
Even though "nut" is in its name, a peanut is actually a legume. Like soybeans, lentils, and other legumes, peanuts are edible seeds that grow in pods. Still, most people think of them as nuts, along with tree nuts such as walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts. Harvardheath.edu
Germination and Plant Growth
Germination: A seed lies dormant (inactive) until it detects warmth and moisture. It then absorbs water from the soil, and the seed begins to come to life.
A great way to experiment with sprouting seeds is to take a bean seed, put it in a plastic baggie with a dampened paper towel. Then tape it to a window.
You can try different amounts of moisture or different amount of lighting to compare what works best.
Try sprouting a seed in a dark cabinet.
Germination with Aemelia Thompson, an environmental educator at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment.
What Do Plants Need to Grow?
Dirt vs. Soil
Before we start a planting project, let's talk about dirt vs. soil. While many people use these words to mean the same thing, there are important difference between the two. First, soil is alive and dirt is dead. Soil contains organic matter filled with nutrients that plants need to grow.
Here is a great description by Nancy Fisher of Nature's Path Organic. The Difference Between Soil and Dirt
Here are some nice details about soil with some soil activities by the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation
For a deeper look at soil, check out these 2 videos presented by environmental scientist, Octavia Hopwood.
An introduction to soil and the life within it!
How Soil is Created: The Succession of Life in the Evolution of Soil
Growing Plants at Home
To grow a plant at home you will first need a few supplies.
Supplies: seeds, potting soil, and a few small pots to plant in.
Some easy seeds to start with are peas and marigolds. Seed packets will list how long until you can expect the seed to sprout, when the particular plant can be planted outside, and the type of area that is best for it to be planted. Some plants like full sun and some like some shade.
Directions:
- Fill your container with soil.
- Add water to the soil until slightly moist.
- Poke a hole. (or a few if there is enough room)
- Place a seed into each hole.
- Cover the seed with a little bit of soil.
- Water the seed just a little.
- If available, you can cover the container with plastic wrap.
- Place the pot in a sunny spot.
- Keep the soil moist but not too wet. (a spray bottle works well)
- When you see the seed sprout through the soil you can remove the plastic wrap.
- As your plant gets bigger, it can be repotted in a larger pot or it might be ready to be planted outside.
- Before planting outside, put your plant outdoors for a short time each day to get it used to the outdoor weather.
- Plant in your garden after the danger of frost has passed.
- Follow your plant seed directions for its care.
Enjoy watching your vegetable and flowers grow!
You can keep track of the of your seed growth in your nature journal. Mark the dates, sketch an outline, and measure the growth.
Great Gardening Projects for Families
KidsGardening.org has many great gardening projects for kids and families.
Try out this great planting starter project with grass seed and an egg shell. By Mother Natured - Cultivating Nature Play
Try this method from Albo Pepper - Drought Proof Urban Gardening
Fast & Easy Seed Germination: How to Start Seedlings from Paper Towel Method (Container vs Baggie)
How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Sunflowers in Your Garden with Kelly Lehman
Dissecting Daffodils - Plant Parts video with Aemelia Thompson, an environmental educator at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment.
Send us some photos or sketches of how your plants are doing so we can add them to the Shared Space page. See the page for more details on submitting items.
Visit Art For Kids Hub on YouTube for many great learn to draw videos.
How to Draw Three Spring Flowers
How to Draw a Cherry Blossom Spring Tree
How to Draw a Tulip
How to Draw Poppies
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