Lesson 3: Seeds

Explain to your child that within each seed is food and an embryo. In order for a seed to germinate, it must absorb water until it swells and bursts its seed coat. Part of the embryo within the seed grows into a root as the seed begins its life cycle. Then the shoot grows up from the seed, pushing its way through the soil to find the sun.

Select one of the following options for your child.

For this option, your child will label the parts of the seed and describe the function of each part.

For this option, your child will draw and label the parts of a lima bean seed. Then he can put an A, B, or C beside each part and write a sentence that describes each part at the bottom of the page.

Yesterday your child began soaking several lima beans in water. Those will be used in this activity.

Encourage your child to examine a hard lima bean with her naked eyes and with a magnifying glass. Ask her to scratch the seed coat with her finger nail. Explain that this hard outer coating protects the seed and help to keep it moist inside.

Ask your child to take a lima bean that has been soaking. Ask her what has happened to the outer coat. (It should be softened by the water.) Have her remove the outer coat with her finger nail. With the outer coat removed, she can use her fingernail to break the seed into two halves. Ask her if she can identify the two different parts inside the seed — embryo and food. If she can identify the embryo, see if she can see that it has two parts. One part will grow into the stem and leaves, and the other part will grow to make roots.

Show your child the diagram of the flower on the page called "Pollination: Plant Diagram." Point out the stamen. Explain that this is the male part of the flower where pollen is found. Then show your child the pistil, also known as the female part of the flower. Review the name and function of each flower part.

Explain to your child that seeds are formed when the male cell of a plant (pollen) and the female part of a different flower (stigma) are joined together. This process is called pollination. Tell your child that bees or the wind carry pollen from one plant to another. On the flower diagram, show your child that pollen is produced in the stamen. A bee or the wind transfers the pollen to the stigma. Then, the pollen travels down to the ovary, and the ovules become seeds. Ask your child how flowers attract bees. Explain to your child that the flowers' bright colors and scents help bees to locate them.

For this activity, your child will create a bee from pipe cleaners. Then he will design the flowers and assemble them. Follow the instructions on the "Pollination" page. Let him put chalk powder on the stamen in one flower. Using the bee he created, he will fly the bee to the flower with the pollen, touch the stamen (getting powder on the bee), and carry the pollen to the stigma of the other flower. Now he has demonstrated pollination!