Download Germination Lesson: Identifying Seeds and Their Structures for Grades 6-8 and more Exams Reasoning in PDF only on Docsity!
Big Green Lessons
Germination: 6 th -^8 th^ Grade
Lesson Outcomes
In this lesson, students will identify that all grains are seeds and that seeds germinate into seedlings.
- All whole grains are seeds.
- Monocots and dicots have the same seed structure.
- Corn is a monocot and beans are a dicot.
Standards Alignment
Common Core – English Language Arts
- SL.6.1. Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
- SL.6.4. Present claims and findings, sequencing ideas logically and using pertinent descriptions, facts, and details to accentuate main ideas or themes; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
- SL.7.1. Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
- SL.7.4. Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with pertinent descriptions, facts, details, and examples; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume, and clear pronunciation.
- SL.8.1. Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
- SL.8.4. Present claims and findings, emphasizing salient points in a focused, coherent manner with relevant evidence, sound valid reasoning, and well- chosen details; use appropriate eye contact, adequate volume and clear pronunciation. Next Generation Science Standards
- MS-LS1-4. Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.
- MS-LS1-5. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
Materials & Preparation
- One week before the Classroom Activity: students set up germination experiment
- One day before the Garden Activity: soak seeds (preferably lima beans) for seed dissection
- Familiarize yourself with your Learning Garden Reminder: Big Green’s Garden Educators are always available for additional support via email or by phone call
Germination Rate Experiment:
- Seeds (any variety) – 10 per student or small group
- Paper towels - at least 1 per student or small group
- Zip lock plastic bags - 1 per student or small group
- Spray bottles - enough for easy sharing
- Labels or a piece of masking tape - 1 per student or small group
- Pens or pencils
- Seed Germination Rate Experiment worksheet (front and back) - 1 per student
Monocot Seed Dissection Work Station:
- Soaked seed - at least 1 per student (preferably lima beans from the grocery store)
- Magnifying glasses - enough for easy sharing at work station
- Paper towels - at least 1 per student
- Seed Dissection Work Station worksheet - 1 per group or workstation
Dicot Dissection Work Station:
- Soaked seed - at least 1 per student (preferably dried lima beans from the grocery store)
- Magnifying glasses - enough for easy sharing at workstation
- Paper towels - at least 1 per student
- Dicot Dissection Workstation worksheet - 1 per group or workstation
Teacher Background
Germination is defined as the beginning of growth. The term is most commonly associated with plants, describing the process of a seed sprouting into a seedling. The term germination can also be applied to spores or buds.
When seeds are dry and hard they are dormant. For a seed to germinate, the dormancy period will need to be broken with water and warmth. When a seed is moistened, it will absorb water, breaking the seed coat and initiating the food supply in the cotyledon through the activation of enzymes that produces energy for the seed to sprout.
Monocot Diagram:
Introduction
Spend time discussing the following introductory question:
- What does a seed need to sprout?
Make a list of student responses on the board and group or categorize responses together. Discuss and strike any responses that are not needed to germinate a seed.
Introduce and define the terms “germination” and “germination rate,” and review the two things seeds need to germinate: warmth and water.
CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
During the classroom portion of today’s lesson, students will create a hypothesis and make observations on the results of their seed germination rate experiment.
NOTE: At least one week ahead of time, have your students work in groups to set up the germination rate experiment. Use the worksheet Seed Germination Rate Experiment and invite your students to collect the experiment supplies and follow steps 1 through
- Place the sealed bags in different locations throughout the classroom – select group #1 to act as the control group and leave their experiment on a desk in the classroom.
Have your students to gather their seed germination rate experiment. Pass back their worksheet, Seed Germination Rate Experiment, and have the groups work to define germination and germination rate and to create a hypothesis.
Review the remainder of the Seed Germination Rate Experiment worksheet with your students. Give each group 5 minutes to review and record their germination results in the correct row. Remember to assign each group a group number.
Have the groups share their results while the other groups record the results on their own worksheet.
Use this information to calculate your classroom’s average germination rate.
Discuss the results of their hypothesis and what they’ve learned from completing this experiment.
Break here if this lesson will be taught in two sections.
GARDEN ACTIVITY
Assemble and welcome your students into the Learning Garden. Address the entire group and establish the expectation that this is a time for learning. If appropriate, review the agenda for the Garden Activity with your students.
Ask students if they know what they will be doing in the Learning Garden for the day’s lesson. Let them know they will be dissecting two different seeds!
- Let your students know that today they will be in workstation-groups to dissect and explore the inside of two different seeds, a monocot and a dicot.
- Introduce the terms “monocot” and “dicot” to students; give examples of each type of seed.
- Introduce the supplies at each workstation.
- Break students up into workstation-groups. Be sure to bring enough supplies for each workstation.
- Give your students 10 minutes to complete both seed dissection activities and as groups finish, have them complete the seed dissection diagrams. If students do not complete the seed dissection diagrams before you gather students back together, have them complete it as a group.
- Gather your students back together to review the parts of each seed and to make comparisons between the two seeds, focusing on the seed structure and the resulting plant type.
NOTE: As the teacher, be aware of poisonous plants and other hazards in and around your Learning Garden and review those concerns with your students. Review any additional Learning Garden rules with the students. Inquire about known bee/wasp sting allergies before going into the Learning Garden.
Conclusion
Have students share key parts of the day’s activity and review the Key Understandings for this lesson.
Review the following questions with your students:
- Why did we soak the seeds in water before we dissected them? o What does the water do to the seeds? o Would the same thing happen when we plant a seed and water it in the ground?
Seed Germination Experiment Worksheet
Define germination.
Define germination rate.
Create a hypothesis.
I germinated my seeds under the following conditions:
I hypothesize the rate of germination will be:
Name: Date:
Please collect the following supplies:
- 3-5 Seeds
- 1 Paper Towel
- 1 Plastic Bag
- 1 spray bottle (you may need to share)
- 1 label or piece of masking tape and a marker Please follow these steps when setting up your germination experiment:
- Label the plastic bag with your name, the date, and the seed name
- Fold a paper towel, make sure it will fit in your plastic bag
- Spray or dampen your paper towel with water
- Place 3 – 5 seeds in the folds of your paper towel
- Carefully insert your paper towel (with seeds) into your plastic bag, seal, and label
- Select a germination location in your classroom. STOP HERE. You will complete the rest of the lesson in one week.
Seed Germination Experiment Worksheet
Seed Variety:
Group # Location (Describe) # of seeds planted
of seeds
germinated
Fraction of seeds germinated
Fraction with denominator of 100
Percentage of seeds that germinated
1 Control: classroom desk
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
AVERAGE GERMINATION RATE PERCENTAGE
Please follow these steps when analyzing your germination experiment:
- Find your plastic bag, labeled with your name, date, and seed name
- Open your plastic bag and carefully remove the paper towel (with seeds)
- Unfold your paper towel to expose the seeds that have been germinated
- Observe your seeds, then complete the Germination Results section for your Group Germination Rate Results
Was your hypothesis correct? Explain why or why not.
Monocot Dissection Worksheet
Cotyledon Seed Coat Embryo
Provides food for the baby plant, or seedling
Also called the bran. Protects the seed from insects, disease, and damage
Also called the germ. Germinates into a baby plant, or seedling
Name: Date:
Make sure your work station has the following supplies:
- Fresh corn seed, 1 per student
- Magnifying glasses, for sharing
- Plastic knife, or dissecting knife
- Paper towels
Complete the following steps to successfully dissect your seed:
- Select a seed and cut lengthwise down the center
- Carefully split open your seed into two separate sections
- Remove the skin surrounding your seed
- Place the three different seed parts on a paper towel
- Review the following diagram and identify the seed parts on your seed
Parts of a Monocot:
In your Work Station Group label the parts of the corn seed, a monocot.
