Title: Seed Structures
Audience: 7th grade science students
Duration: Two 43 minute class periods
Objectives:
1. Students will identify the following seed structures: seed coat, shoot tip, root tip,
cotyledons or endosperm
2. Students will germinate and start seedlings growing of each of the four types of plants
used in the experiment.
3. Students will hypothesize and later identify the necessary environmental requirements
for seedlings to start growing.
Process Skills: observing, measuring, comparing, contrasting, hypothesizing, predicting
Standards: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 4.6
Materials: four different types of seeds (at least one grass such as corn and one bean such as
pinto bean) – at least four seeds of each kind, magnifying glass, four Styrofoam cups, single
edge razor blade, seed starting mixture, water
Anticipatory Set: ask students questions such as: what is inside a seed? Are all seeds the same
inside? What environmental factors must be in place for seeds to germinate and grow? What
makes one seed grow into one type of plant and another into another?
Procedures:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Soak seeds overnight in some water in a Styrofoam cup.
Open one of each type with a razor blade.
Use a magnifying glass to observe the seed structures
Make a drawing and label the following seed parts: seed coat, shoot tip, root tip,
cotyledons or endosperm.
5. Fill each cup ¾ full with the seed starting mixture.
6. Make a drainage hole in the bottom of each cup.
7. Plant the four types of seeds in four different labeled cups. Plant at least three in each
cup.
8. Water each cup moderately as needed to keep the surface of the soil moist.
9. Keep the cups in a warm, sunny location.
10. Keep a data table on the time for emergence, size and growth rate for each seed.
11. Record each data and sketch the plant every three days for two weeks.
Closure: Students will submit their data tables and drawings as a demonstration of their
accomplishment and understanding of the objectives.