Design a seed: Living things   Introduction This activity involves designing a seed, which has come from a newly discovered plant. It stimulates discussion on how the seeds are dispersed as well as providing a link to the topic of germinating and growing seeds. It requires some creative thinking and also gives opportunities for developing literacy and presentation skills. In order to be successful pupils will draw on knowledge and understanding gained through fi eldwork, making close observations and drawing conclusions. They will have: • observed and collected fruits and seeds from local habitats; • learned about the reason why seeds need to be dispersed away from the parent plant and the main groups of dispersal mechanisms (animal, wind, water and self-dispersal); • made careful observations of fruits and seeds and used these to decide how each one is dispersed. (see website references for sources of further ideas for the activities above)

 

Lesson organisation
Children work individually or, to promote discussion and reduce the resource demand, in pairs.

Equipment and materials
• A range of junk and modelling materials which may include small boxes and other containers, a range of papers and card, components for technology projects, fabric, feathers and other trimmings, pipe-cleaners, hooks, Velcro, balloons, plastic bags, bubble wrap etc

• Tape, glue, string etc

• Scissors and other tools as required Technical notes and safety Although nothing in the activity suggests eating seeds, and berries, the activity does provide an opportunity to remind pupils that fruits, which birds and other animals enjoy eating, may be very poisonous to humans. Nothing must be eaten without the permission of the adult in charge. A list of commonly found hazardous plants can be found on p31 of Be Safe!.

Procedure
a Suggest to the children that they are going on an expedition to look for new plants and bring back some seeds from these plants. Ask the children to make a drawing of the plant they discover and give its name. (You can let them discuss how scientists name new plants when they are found.)

b Review the different ways in which plants can disperse their seeds. Then ask the children to make a magnified drawing of a seed from their plant and explain how they think it is dispersed.

c From their design, let them make an enlarged version of their seed, using junk materials.

 

Click here to see a full list of Health and Safety procedures

 

Teaching notes
This provides an opportunity for extended enquiry if, as children are designing and making their seeds, they are encouraged to carry out further observations and investigations using the seeds collected in previous lessons. However, children need not necessarily be constrained by the examples they have observed; their expedition may take them to places where seeds fly, walk or appear to roll on wheels. The possible outcomes of this activity are limited only by the children's imagination and the range of materials available. Some examples of seeds designed by children can be found in the original source publication for this activity (see below).

Further information
Adapted with permission of Science and Plants for Schools (SAPS) and Field Studies Council (FSC).
(See www.field-studies-council.org/publications/pubsinfo.aspx?Code=OP107 and for further information of what SAPS offers www.saps.org.uk

 

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