Lab: How do seeds travel?
2nd Grade PSI
Teacher’s Notes:
 The purposes of this lab are for students to observe the structure of seeds and to
conduct tests to determine how each type of seed is dispersed. At the end of the
lab, students should be able to determine how seed structure relates to dispersal
method.
 Depending on the availability of materials, students can work in pairs or small
groups.
 Try to find a variety of seeds for this lab. Examples include: milkweed, thistles,
cattail, cockleburs, burdock, acorns, dandelion, maple, elderberry. For aquatic
dispersal, look for seeds from trees and plants that grow alongside waterways.
They will usually have seeds that can float. A coconut is a large seed that can
float for miles in saltwater!
 If time permits, allow students to research their seeds online to determine the
true method of dispersal.
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2nd Grade PSI
Plants
Lab: How do seeds travel?
Name: __________________________
2nd Grade PSI
Introduction:
Dispersal is an important part of plant life. What
does dispersal mean?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Why is dispersal important?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Purpose:
Seeds can be dispersed by wind, water or animals.
In this lab, you will examine seeds and determine
how each type of seed disperses.
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2nd Grade PSI
Plants
Materials:
 fan
 tub of water
 variety of seeds
 fabric swatches
 microscope (if available)
Procedure:
1. Choose a seed. Use your observation skills to
look at the seed’s structure. If a microscope is
available, examine the seed under the
microscope. Write your observations in the Data
Table.
2. Based on your examination of the seed
structure, make a guess about how your seed
will be dispersed. Write your guess under
Hypothesis in the Data Table.
3. Put several of the same seed in front of the fan.
Turn the fan on. What happened? Write your
observations under Wind in the Data Table.
4. Put several of the same seed in a tub of water.
What happened? Write your observations under
Water in the Data Table.
5. Cover the seeds with different fabric swatches.
What happened? Did the seeds stick to the
fabric? Write your observations under Animal in
the Data Table.
6. Repeat steps #1-5 with a different seed.
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2nd Grade PSI
Plants
Data Table
Seed
Observations Hypothesis
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2nd Grade PSI
Wind
Water
Animal
Plants
Analysis
Based on the information you gathered on each
seed, decide how each seed is dispersed. Give
evidence from the experiment to support each one.
Seed: _______________
How dispersed? _____________
Evidence: ______________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Seed: _______________
How dispersed? _____________
Evidence: ______________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
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2nd Grade PSI
Plants
Seed: _______________
How dispersed? _____________
Evidence: ______________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
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2nd Grade PSI
Plants
Questions
1. The structure of a seed usually indicates how
that seed will disperse. What type of structure
enables a seed to disperse by wind?
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
2. What type of structure enables a seed to
disperse by water?
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
3. What type of structure enables a seed to
disperse by animal?
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
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2nd Grade PSI
Plants