Growing UP

Growing UP

The Physiology of the Sprouting Process
Lesson: 1.8
Level:
Beginner
Station: Seed Starting
Format: Class Discussion
Rating:
Lesson 1.8 Growing Up

Lesson Overview

Understanding the process that seeds go through as they emerge and develop into young seedlings is the perfect way to watch nature unfold. In this lessons, students will demonstrate their understanding of this process.

Goals

  • Describe the sprouting process in detail
  • Identify the parts of a seed critical to the sprouting process

Outcomes

Students will organize the images in the Germination Timeline in the proper chronology in order to represent the entire seed sprouting process.

Teaching Primer

seed anatomyIt’s amazing to think that a single little seed has everything it needs for the initial stage of growth. Each one comes prepacked with its first set of leaves, a little food, a stem, and a root. It’s everything the seed needs to begin the quest to fulfill its destiny.

Prepare for this lesson a week in advance by pre-soaking seeds for 24 hours and then sprouting an assortment of seeds that can be handled and viewed by the students during the active lesson. The sprouts should be in different stages of development, some still not germinated and others developed to the point that the radicle (root), hypocotyl (stem), and cotyledon (seed leaf) are clearly visible.

Teach the Teacher

Tools & Materials

  • Printed Germination Timeline images
  • Scissors
  • Sprouts for display

Vocabulary

  • Germination
  • Emergence
  • Hypocotyl
  • Cotyledon
  • Primary leaf

Method

Introduction (10 minutes)

Begin this lesson by explaining the germination process to the Students. Emphasize the requirement that seeds have for the optimal temperature and the presence of moisture. Remind them as well that seeds do not need light in the initial stages of growth. Review the germination timeline with Students either as a printout or on screen.

Activity (20 minutes)

Print the Germination Timeline and cut the images into individual pieces. Have the Students place those images in chronological order and describe what is happening at each stage of development. These images can be laminated to protect them for future use.

Discussion (10 minutes)

What are the most critical times in the process? When the seed first begins to show signs of emergence? Once the food reserves of the seed are depleted and it begins to look for light? How does a young sprout find nourishment at that point?

Assessment (5 minutes)

Use the following questions to assess the Students before and after the lesson. Tally the responses of the group in the Assessment Tracking Log for comparison:

  • By a show of hands, how many of you can explain the germination process from seed to seedling?
  • Now that you understand the germination process, how many of you could explain the timeline to someone else?

Related Lessons

Give the Intermediate or Advanced lessons a try now that you’ve completed the Beginner Lesson!

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