Activity
Episode 29
nd
22 October 2013
Plant Bank
Key Learning
Students will investigate the role of seed banks in research, conservation, propagation and supply, through
class discussion and a hands-on research project.
The Australian Curriculum
Science / Science Understanding / Biological
sciences
Living things have life cycles. Year 4. (ACSSU072)
Science / Science as a Human Endeavour / Use and
influence of science
Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community
decisions. Year 5. (ACSHE217)
Living things, including plants and animals, depend on each
other and the environment to survive. Year 4. (ACSSU073)
The growth and survival of living things are affected by the
physical conditions of their environment. Year 6. (ACSSU094)
Discussion Questions
1. Before watching the BtN Plant Bank story, discuss what you think a seed bank is, as a class.
2. What is another word for plants?
3. How many species of plants can be found in Australia?
a. 240
b. 24,000
c. 2.4 million
4. Since European settlers arrived in Australia how many different types of plants have disappeared?
5. Someone that studies plants is called a...
a. Archaeologist
b. Botanist
c. Astronomer
6. The idea of seed banks is a completely new idea. True or false?
7. List a reason why scientists store seeds?
8. Where in the world is the ‘doomsday vault’? Locate using Google Maps.
9. Why is it important that we look after our plants?
10. How are seeds prepared for the seed bank? Illustrate using a flow chart.
©ABC 2013
Activities
Engage
Before watching the BtN Plant Bank story, discuss as a class what you
think a seed bank is?
After watching the BtN Plant Bank story, encourage students to
participate in and contribute to a class discussion.
Why might scientists keep seeds? (Consider research,
conservation, propagation, supply)
Why is it important for scientists to keep a seed bank?
What are heirloom vegetables?
Download the full transcript from the Plant Bank BtN story page. Highlight all the words that relate to seed
banks and biology in general. Circle any unfamiliar words. Create your own classroom glossary of words
with explanations.
Below is a list of words to start your classroom glossary. Students can refer to the classroom glossary
throughout their research.
Seed bank
Endangered
Threatened
Rare
Flora
Native
Biology
Ecology
Diversity
Sustainability
Preservation
Species
Botany
Seedlings
Conservation
Native and indigenous plants
Introduce the concept of native and indigenous plants to the class. For example, why they are special, why
some might be threatened (e.g. climate change, pests and diseases, pollution, habitat destruction), and
what animals rely on these plants for their existence.
Students will then conduct their own research either individually or in groups. To further students
investigation plan an excursion to your local botanic gardens or wildlife park to explore native plants.
Why do we need plants? (e.g. source of food and medicine, convert carbon dioxide into oxygen)
What is the difference between a native and an introduced plant?
Can you name any native Australian plants?
Are there any indigenous plants in your local area?
What things are threatening our native plants?
Name an animal or insect that relies on native plants.
©ABC 2013
Seed banks are often referred to as an ‘environmental insurance policy’. What does this mean?
Conduct research into an native Australian plant
o How big does the plant grow?
o Describe the anatomy of this plant. Does it flower? What colour is it? Illustrate.
o What is its habitat (where does it live)?
o Is this plant threatened or endangered?
o What threatens it?
o Is anything being done to preserve this plant?
o What is your favourite thing about this plant?
o What surprised you about your research?
Display the student’s research and drawings around the classroom or make a book for the class library.
Interesting facts
What interesting facts do you know about seeds and seed banks? Learn more about...
There is a seed bank called the ‘doomsday vault’. The back-up collection of seeds from the world's food
and fibre plants is hidden under a mountain in the arctic. It's known as the 'Doomsday Vault'… because if
something terrible were to happen on earth these seeds would be safe for any remaining humans to start
growing again. http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/purpose-of-norway-doomsday-vault
It is so rare the ABC cannot reveal is real name or exact location. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-1016/melbourne-scientists-work-to-save-one-of-the-rarest-orchids-in-/5026454
The average strawberry has 200 seeds.
...Share any interesting facts you find, by leaving a comment on the BtN Plant Bank story page
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3870281.htm
Research project
Provide students with the opportunity to think and behave like a scientist.
The following activity is a hands-on research-based project for students to work on individually or in groups.
The project encourages students to use research and inquiry based learning to discover more about
Australia’s native plants and the conservation of our environment. This project emphasises quality
research, collaboration (if working in groups) and effective presentation.
Students will go on a plant scavenger hunt
around their own school. Before students go on
a scavenger hunt the teacher will identify
several plants around the school that are
appropriate for picking and then describe the
characteristics and features of these plants to
the class.
©ABC 2013
Send students on a scavenger hunt to look for the plants with the
particular characteristics as discussed in class. A combination of
words and/or drawings may be used for clues.
Students will collect samples of the plants and then remove the seeds
for storing.
Students will prepare the seeds for storing. Seeds need to be kept
cool and dry in either cloth or paper (if they are stored in plastic they
may overheat, sweat and start to germinate).
Make labels to identify the different seeds, including the following
information:
What is the botanical name of this plant?
What family group does this plant come from?
How many varieties of this plant are there?
When is the best time to sow this plant?
How far apart should the seeds or seedlings be planted?
CSIRO Science by Email. Try this experiment
to learn more about storing your own tomato
seeds.
http://www.csiro.au/helix/sciencemail/activities/tomatoseed.html
Students will swap seeds with other students in their class to build on
their seed bank.
Students will germinate a selection of seeds that they have collected,
to test seed viability and to re-plant into the school environment.
Students will keep a science reflection journal to reflect on their own
leaning. Provide regular opportunities for students to write individual
journal entries, using the following questions to help along the way:
What happened during this activity?
What did I learn?
What problems did I experience during this investigation?
How could I fix these problems?
What would I do differently next time?
One important fact I learned when doing this investigation
was...
Flow chart
Students will draw a flow chart or diagram showing the steps involved in preparing seeds for seed banking.
Refer to the Australian National Botanic Gardens website for their seed bank procedures
http://www.anbg.gov.au/gardens/living/seedbank/seedprocedures.html
©ABC 2013
http://www.globaleducation.edu.au/verve/_resources/flow_chart.pdf
Further activity
Explore CSIRO’s Paper seeds activity – this Double Helix Science Club activity
shows you how to make a type of paper that will grow into a plant.
http://www.csiro.au/Portals/Education/Programs/Do-it-yourself-science/Biologicalsciences-activities/paper-seeds-activity.aspx
Adopt a seed held in the Kew Millennium Seed Bank. With four plant species at
risk of extinction every day, it’s never been more urgent to protect the endangered
plants which may be key to our survival. http://www.kew.org/support-kew/adopt-aseed/adopt-a-seed-now/index.htm
 Related Research Links
ABC Splash – Native plant seed bank
http://splash.abc.net.au/media/-/m/30807/native-plant-seed-bank
ABC Splash – Global seed vault
http://splash.abc.net.au/media/-/m/103638/global-seed-vault?source=search
ABC Splash – Sending seeds into space
http://splash.abc.net.au/media/-/m/103660/sending-seeds-into-space?source=search
Australian National Botanic Gardens – The National Seed Bank
http://www.anbg.gov.au/gardens/living/seedbank/
©ABC 2013