During this unit, students investigate seed germination and seedling growth. They explore important concepts: seed structure, change over time, typicality, conditions for germination and growth, life cycle and growth rate. In addition, the tasks provide opportunities for children to learn about scientific inquiry and experimental design and deepen their understanding and use of mathematical resources like measurement and data representation.

The unit begins with students growing and observing different kinds of seeds and developing seedlings. In text and drawings, they keep records of change over time. After generating many questions about seeds, children learn to design and conduct experiments to test their ideas and investigate their questions. They learn about seed structure, where seeds come from, and conditions for seedling growth.

• Inquiry and experimentation - What questions do children ask about seeds? How do their questions change over time? How do students design investigations?

• Seed Structures - What's inside a seed? What are the functions of these seed structures?

• Change over time - How do seeds and seedlings change and grow?

• Conditions for germination and growth - What does a seed need to germinate? How do these needs differ from what a plant needs to grow?

• Collecting data to explore typicality - How many seeds can you expect to find inside different fruits? How much variation in seed number is there for different fruits?

• Life cycles - What role do seeds play in plant life cycles?

• Growth rate - Do all seeds germinate at the same rate? How fast do different types of roots grow?

• Order and timing of events during germination and growth - When do different seed changes occur? When do seedling structures appear during germination?

• Inquiry and experimental design

• Seed Structures

• Change over time

• Conditions for germination and growth

• Typicality

• Life cycle

• Order and Timing of events

• Growth rate

• Mathematical resources

Here are some resources and ideas for working with seeds in your classroom

• Seeds

• Equipment for germinating seeds and growing seedlings

• Looking at small seeds and seedlings: Magnifiers and Videoflex

• Seed images