Growing UP

Growing UP

Snapshot: Germination Timeline
Lesson: 1.8
Level:
Intermediate
Station: Seed Starting
Format: Class Project
Rating:
Intermediate Lesson 1.8 Growing Up

Lesson Overview

Knowing the steps in the germination process is helpful but being able to recognize the stage of development by sight is like having a super power. This lesson asks students to create a visual timeline of the germination process to better understand the states the plant moves through.

Goals

  • Students will be able to describe the various phases of the germination process.

Outcomes

Students will take a series of images of a seed in order to create a visual timeline of the germination process.

Teach the Teacher

Tools & Materials

  • Seeds
  • Camera
  • Tripod
  • Laptop
  • SMART Board

Activity

Nature unfolds before our very eyes every day. Much of what occurs goes undetected, happening so slowly as to be simply unnoticed.

But when we take the time to slow the process down, give it our attention, and focus on the details it is amazing what we can discover.

The process of germination is one such natural process. A seed appears to be unchanged one minute, still resting quietly in its dormant state, and then completely transformed the next as the seed coat splits giving way to the next stage of development.

Give the Students a camera and have them photo-graph the germination timeline of a single seed.

Shoot images twice daily using the timestamp to keep them in chronological order. Have them write a narrative to accompany the timeline explaining the process that the seed/seedling is going through. Use the images and narrative to create a polished timeline – as a slide deck or movie – that can be shared with other classes in your school.

Related Lessons

Give the Advanced lesson a try now that you’ve completed the Intermediate Lesson! Or revisit the Beginner Lesson as needed.

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