LITTLE SPROUTS

PROBLEM: What happens when seeds sprout?

RESEARCH: Read about seeds and sprouts in a science textbook or encyclopedia. Make a drawing of the seed and label all the parts. Make another drawing of a sprout and label all the parts.

HYPOTHESIS: Be sure to use terms you have learned from your research. Describe what you think will happen as the seeds mature.

MATERIALS:

1 large sponge

1 large shallow dish

Plastic wrap

Metric ruler

10 bean seeds (dried beans)

10 radish seeds (or grass seeds)

10 sunflower seeds (not roasted)

10 tomato seeds          

PROCEDURE:

1. Soak seeds in separate containers of water over night. Seeds sprout best if soaked over night.

2. Rinse the sponge in clean water and squeeze out the water. If you are using paper towels, fold them in half and do not wet them yet.)

3. Place the sponge (paper towels) in the bottom of the dish. (If you are using paper towels, wet the towels slightly now.)

4. Lay one or two rows of each kind of seeds across the sponge. The seeds may touch but must not overlap.

5. Cover the dish with plastic wrap.

6. In your notes make, a chart to record your observations. The day you plant the seeds is

Day 1. Record the date for each observation.

DATA: Record your data for six days

          Date          Beans          Sunflowers          Radishes          Tomatoes

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

CONCLUSION: This is not optional. You must explain what you learned by doing this activity.

Remember that you must answer the question you asked in your original problem statement.

NOTE: BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PARENT OR GUARDIAN SIGNS YOUR WORK. PARENTS: YOUR SIGNATURE SHOWS YOUR STUDENT HAS DONE THE WORK.

TEACHER SECTION:

POSSIBLE HYPOTHESIS: The embryo plant will have to push through the seed coat. The root will grow down and the stem will grow up.

POSSIBLE CONCLUSION: Students should discuss the observations in relationship to the hypothesis. They should use correct terminology in their discussion.

E-Mail

Judy Schneider

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