OBJECTIVE

Students dissect seeds to observe the root and leaves coming out of the growing seeds.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

What are seeds? How do they grow?

MATERIALS NEEDED

A variety of sprouting seeds leftover from “Seed Sprouting in a Bag” activity or started ahead by teacher (bean, pumpkin, sunflower, pea)
Magnifying glasses

PROCEDURE

Introduction
What is inside of a seed? We are going to open up some sprouted seeds and observe what is coming out of them.
Activity
Hand out seeds and a magnifying glass to each student. Show them that each seed has a coat that is protecting it. For dicots, they can use their fingernails to pop open the seed. What is coming out of it? Point out the root and forming stem/leaf. Is this the same for each type of seed? Try to find these plant parts (root, stem and leaf) on each of the sprouting seeds.

FOLLOW UP & EXTENSIONS

Draw sprouts and label them with their plant part.