1. Mysterious Seeds

2. 3.2.3- Keep a notebook that describes observations and is understandable weeks or months later. Link to the activity: http://www.indianastandardsresources.org/files/sci/sci_3_2_mysterious%20seeds.pdf Taken from: http://dc.doe.in.gov/Standards/AcademicStandards/StandardSearch.aspx Standard 2- Scientific Thinking

3. Seed- A ripened plant ovule containing an embryo Plant- Any member of the kingdom Plantae, comprising multi-cellular organisms that typically produce their own food the process of photosynthesis Ovule- Contains the female germ of the plant Embryo- Beginning of a plant Seed Coat- The outer layer of a seed Cotyledon- Stored food that make up most of the inner seed Photosynthesis- A process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using energy from sunlight Taken from: www.dictionary.com Definitions

4. Where do plants come from? Plants come from seeds. Each seed contains a tiny plant waiting for the right conditions to germinate, or start to grow. Seeds wait to germinate until three needs are met: water, correct temperature (warmth), and a good location (such as in soil). During its early stages of growth, the seedling relies upon the food supplies stored with it in the seed until it is large enough for its own leaves to begin making food through photosynthesis. The seedling's roots push down into the soil to anchor the new plant and to absorb water and minerals from the soil. And its stem with new leaves pushes up toward the light. Taken from: http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/grow.html Background Information

5. Take lima bean seeds and cut them into halves Using a toothpick, pry open the halves of the lima beans Place the two seed halves so the insides are facing up Observe the two halves of the seeds and look for the different seed parts Observation

6. What do you see when you observe the halves of the lima bean seeds. Do you see the different seed parts that make up a seed. Look very closely and you will see: seed coat- the outer layer of the seed, cotyledon- the stored food that makes up most of the inner seed embryo- beginning of the plant What Do You See?

7. Provided in your box is a journal/journals for you to use everyday. After observing the seed halves, write in your journal about what you see. Also make a drawing that is clear and accurate that shows the two seed halves. In your drawing place arrows to the three parts of the seed and label what they are. Do you think a plant will grow from the seeds that have been separated? If so, do you think plants from seed halves will grow the same as plants from whole seeds? Writing /Drawing In Journals

8. You will be observing the growth of seeds and seed halves and recording your observations in your journal. To properly grow the plants you need to: Place a piece of wet paper towel in a plastic bag. Staple the bag about 2 cm from the bottom Pry open two bean seeds and separate the halves. Place all four seed halves in the bag with the inside of the seeds facing out. Label it “Bag #1.” Prepare a second plastic bag like the first one. Place four whole seeds into the bag label it “Bag #2.” Seal both bags and tape them to a wall to receive sunlight. Have the students to draw the seeds in their journals(Use the same page from the first journal entry). Growing Plants

9. Every three or four days, use a hand lends to examine the whole seeds and the seed halves. Remove one of the whole seeds from the bag. Separate the halves and observe the inside of the seed. Make drawings on a new page of your science journal and record all of your observations Once the beans have begun to grow, use a metric ruler to record the length in your science journal. Continue to do this to track the growth of the seeds. Observing the plants

10. From this experiment, you should conclude that the seed halves will not sprout a plant. A plant needs food storage from the cotyledons and an embryo for the plant to grow. The greatest growth from the seeds will occur from the whole seeds because they contain cotyledons and an embryo. Conclusion

11. What is the embryo of a seed? The outer covering Beginning of the plant Stored food that makes up most of the inner seed The part of the seed that produces oxygen If a plant lacks an embryo, what will happen? A plant will sprout Multiple types of plants will sprout Nothing will sprout at all Plants do not need embryos Assessment