Study How Seeds Grow

Parts of a bean seed showing
the seed coat and embryo.

       The  seed,  which  must  be  carefully  distinguished  from  the  fruit,  of  which  it forms  a  part,  is  the  fertilized  seed-bud  or  ovule.  It  consists  of  a  nucleus  or kernel,  enclosed  generally  by  one  or  more  coats,  called  seed -coats.  The nucleus  consists  of  the  embryo  or  initial  plantlet,  surrounded  by  a  store  of nutritive  matter  on  which  it  draws  for nourishment,  until  by  the  help  of  its own  roots  and  leaves  it  can  supply  itself.  In  a  fully developed  embryo,  that is  one  in  which  all  the  parts  are  manifest  before  growth  begins,  we  can  distinguish  the  caulicle  or  radicle,  the  cotyledons  or  seed-leaves,  and  the plumule,  or  rudiment  of  a  primary  terminal  bud.  The  first  stage  of  growth is  seen  in  the lengthening  of  the  rudimentary  stem  ( caulicle  or  radicle),  in  its taking  a  vertical  position,  and  in  the  development  of  a  root  from  its  naked end.  As  it  issues  from  the  seed  the  root  end  turns  downward  into  the  soil, the  stem  bending  if  necessary.  While  the  root  end  avoids  the  light,  and,  protected  by  the  root-cap  (see  Lesson  on  Roots),  makes  its  way  into  the  ground, the  opposite  or  budding  end  seeks  the  light.  The  result  of  this  lengthening of  the  caulicle,  and  passing  of  the  root  into  the  soil,  is  to  carry  the  budding end  into  the  air.

Required for Observation in The Classroom: About  a  fortnight  before  this  lesson  is  to  be given,  a  box  of  soil  should  be  prepared  to  receive  the  seeds.  A  few grains  of  wheat  and  a  few  beans  should  then  be  sown,  and  a  few more  of  each  every  day  up  to  the  time  when  the  specimens  are required.  By  this  means  a  series  of  specimens,  illustrating  all  the earlier  stages  of  growth,  will  be  ready  on  the  day  for  which  the lesson  is  arranged.
       If  necessary,  the  growth  of  the  seed,  and  the  development  of  the young  plants,  may  be  hastened  by  keeping  the  box  in  a  warm  room.

Method of Student Observation: 

• The  specimens  obtained  as  above directed  are  to  be  placed  in  order  of their  development,  so  that  the  children  may  observe  the  stages  of  growth in  proper  succession.
• The  presence  of  much  food  material in  the  seeds  may  be  proved  by  growing  them  in  water;  but  elicit  that the  soil  and  the  air  become  necessary sources  of  supply  after  the  food  stored up  in  the  seeds  is  exhausted.
• The  children  may  be  encouraged to  draw  the  young  plants  in  their different  stages  from  the  actual specimens.

How to Grade Study Notes For Student Journals: Every student will need a journal to write in weekly for this online nature study series. Teacher will assign the weekly content in advance.

• Make sure the facts are: written in complete sentences, the first word of each sentence capitalized, and a period should be included at the end of each sentence.
• Spell check your vocabulary and write the words correctly.
• Dress up your journal entries with student clip art, drawings of your own in color or in black and white.
• Student may also include photographs of their own taking for extra credit.

Look for the following facts about seeds inside of student journals. Assign a point value to the quality of the content.

• Growth  of  the  Bean - At  first  the  bean  absorbs  water from  the  moist  soil,  becoming  much larger  and  softer.  The  skin  then splits  and  the  young  rootlet  protrudes.  As  the  rootlet  increases  in length,  the  seed  itself  splits  into  two parts,  thus  revealing  the  young  bud (plumule),  which  occupied  a  small cavity  in  the  closed  seed.  The  rootlet  increases  rapidly  in  length,  giving rise  to  branched  fibers  and  root-hairs, which absorb  food  from  the  soil  for the  growing  plant.  At  the  same time  the  young  bud  grows upward, seeking  light  and  air.
         The  two  halves  of  the  seed  remain attached  to  the  young  plant,  forming a  pair  of  thick,  fleshy  leaves  (cotyledons).  These  contain  a  large  store of  plant  food,  by  which  the  young plant  is  nourished  until  the  root  has sufficiently  developed  to  absorb  the necessary  food  from  the  soil.  The function  of  the  seed-leaves  being over,  they  gradually  shrivel,  and finally  drop  off.
  
• Growth  of  the  Wheat - The  grain  of  wheat  passes  through the  same  stages,  except  that  the  food store  of  the  seed  gives  rise  to  one seed-leaf  only,  and  does  not  split
  like  the  bean.

Video at Youtube Seed Growth for Students to Watch:

1. How does a seed become a plant? by SciShow Kids
2. Seed Germination or How does a seed become a plant? by learning junction
3. Plant life cycle stages from seed to fruit by The Pique Lab

Left, a 3D turtle craft lesson plan. Center a seed mosiac and right a pumpkin seed counting book.

Seed Related Arts/Crafts Projects:

• String a necklace made from seeds
• Decoupage a seed and bean abstract mosaic
• Make a mosaic home for a turtle lesson plan
• Craft seed ornaments for the Christmas tree
• Pumpkin and/or Jack-O-Lantern Number Books for Preschool
• Sunflower craft using beans and hands for younger students 
  

Extended Learning Seed Content: 

• Welcome, Little Seed!
  

Free Student Seed Clip Art: Clip art may be printed from a home computer, a classroom computer or from a computer at a library and/or a local printing service provider. This may be done from multiple locations as needed because our education blog is online and available to the general public.

Growth  of  the  Bean - Absorbs  water  and  swells. Skin  splits,  and  rootlet  appears.
The  seed  splits,  showing  the  young  Dud. The  rootlet  grows  downward,  and 
the  bud  upward. The  halves  of  the  seed  supply  food  to  the  young  plant.
 Growth  of  the  Wheat - Grows  like  the  bean,  but  does  not  split.