OBJECTIVE

Students will be able to preform a germination test

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

What are seeds?

How do seeds grow?

MATERIALS NEEDED

Plastic bags
Paper towels
Marker
Different seeds (e.g., bean, pea, sunflower, pumpkin, corn)

PROCEDURE

Introduction
Show students the seeds and ask them to identify them. Explain that we will try to sprout them. How long will they take to grow? What do we need to give them to grow? When they start to grow, what will happen to them?
Activity
Spray paper towels with water until they are moist, but not wet. Place a few seeds in a row on the paper towel, gently roll it up and place it in the bag. Have students label the bag with the name of the seed.
Ask them to make predictions about how long they will take to sprout.
Wrap up/Assessment
Have students make and record observations about whether the seeds have sprouted or not. Record when each seed sprouted. Discuss why a farmer may conduct a test like this.

FOLLOW UP & EXTENSIONS

• Dissect sprouts and identify plant parts
• Explore germination rates on seed packets or catalogs and record the highest and lowest ones