1. Structures of Life: Embryology
Science
Structures of Life: Embryology
Lesson 3, day 2:
Seed Soak
Materials needed:
-minisprouters
-4 flash cards for each student
-additional seeds soaked in water overnight for each group (bush bean seed, pea seed, other seeds from a bean soup mix)
-hand lenses for each group
-paper towels for each group

2. What effect does water have on a seed?
The BIG Question:
We have been investigating this big question.
Can someone remind us?
Yesterday, we observed our minisprouters to see what changes occurred in our seeds as a result of watering them for three days.
Today is day 4.
Let’s see what has happened with our seeds after another day of watering them.
Find page…
What effect does water have on a seed?

3. The Sprouting Seed
…5 and 6 in your binder.
If you have room, you can use the * bottom half of your page to make your observations. Draw a line under yesterday’s observations.
Otherwise, you can use the.... 5

4. …back of your sheet.
Remember that you will write a 4 today for the number of days in the minisprouter.
(give students time to make their observations – work on word search when finished)
Yesterday, we also observed... 6

5. …dormant lima bean seeds and then some lima bean seeds that had been
…dormant lima bean seeds and then some lima bean seeds that had been * soaked in water.
What effect did the water have on the seeds?
Let’s add a fact to our…

6. * All living things are organisms.
* Life for a plant begins in a
seed.
* A seed is an organism (a living
thing).
* Seeds develop in the part of
a plant called the fruit.
* Different kinds of fruit have
…big ideas page.
*Seeds change in the presence of water. They become bigger and heavier.
We can use our observations from yesterday to help us answer another important big question…
different kinds and numbers
of seeds.
*Seeds change in the presence
of water. They become bigger
and heavier.

7. What are the main parts of a seed and their function?
The BIG Question:
What are the main parts of a seed and their function?
Can someone read it?
In your binder, find…

8. seed coat
...page 7.
Let’s look at the picture you drew for the outside of the soaked seed.
Your seed probably looked something like this…*
Because the water made our seed softer, you were able to peel off the thin layer that covered the outside of the seed.
This layer is called the seed coat. Its job is to protect the seed.
Label that on your drawing…*
Now flip over to the back of the sheet, where you drew your picture of the inside on your seed… 7

9. embryo
The inside of your seed probably looked something like this…*
What are some observations you recorded?
You should have observed a * baby plant that has started to develop inside your seed. What do you call an undeveloped plant or animal?
This is the plant * embryo. Label that on your drawing. Notice that the embryo has a stem and leaves. Part of this stem will be the root.
The * two halves of the seed are the * cotyledons. The cotyledon is the part of the seed that stores food for the embryo. Label that on your drawing.
Our seed has two cotyledons. Some seeds have just one cotyledon.
Let’s make some flash cards for these important words…
cotyledons 8

10. the part of the fruit that contains the plant embryo
seed
the part of the fruit that contains the plant embryo
First of all, what do you call the part of the fruit that contains the plant embryo? *
On the front of your card, write the word seed.
On the back of the card, write the definition.
What do you call…

11. the outer layer covering and protecting the seed
seed coat
the outer layer covering and protecting the seed
..the layer covering and protecting the seed? *
On the front of your card, write the word seed coat.
On the back of the card, write the definition.
What do you call…

12. the developing organism –
embryo
the developing organism –
the beginning of life
…the developing organism; the beginning of life? *
On the front of your card, write the word embryo.
On the back of the card, write the definition.
What do you call…

13. the part of the seed that stores the food for the young plant
cotyledon
the part of the seed that stores the food for the young plant
…the part of the seed that stores the food for the young plant? *
On the front of your card, write the word cotyledon.
On the back of the card, write the definition.
I have some other seeds that I soaked in water over night. I am going to give you a few seeds to observe.
When you get your seeds, find and remove the seed coat. Then open them up to observe the cotyledon and embryo. You can use the hand lens to see more closely.
(give time to observe – do word search when finished)
Let’s go back to the big question we asked at the beginning of today, which was…

14. What effect does water have on a seed?
The BIG Question:
..what effect does water have on a seed?
Life for a plant begins in a seed. Besides making a seed get bigger and heavier, what other effect does water have on a seed?
(share ideas)
Water causes a seed to grow and develop.
What do you call the developing plant that begins to grow inside the seed? (embryo)
Where does the embryo get food to help it grow? (from the cotyledon)
What we have learned today will help us to begin to answer another important big question…
What effect does water have on a seed?

15. What is the life cycle of a plant?
The BIG Question:
What is the life cycle of a plant?
Can someone read it?
All organisms have a life cycle. A…

16. life cycle
the sequence of changes to an organism as it develops from its earliest stage to the same stage in the next generation
…life cycle is….*
All life starts as a tiny embryo.
The life cycle of a plant begins with a seed. When water is added to the seed, the embryo inside the seed will begin to grow and develop.
We’ll continue to water our seeds and watch what happens as our embryos grow.
That will help us to learn more about what comes next in the life cycle of a plant.
Let’s end today by adding some important facts to our…

17. * All living things are organisms.
* Life for a plant begins in a
seed.
* A seed is an organism (a living
thing).
* Seeds develop in the part of
a plant called the fruit.
* Different kinds of fruit have
…big ideas page.
Here is the first important thing to remember…
*All organisms have a life cycle.
Here is the second important thing to remember…
*The life cycle of a plant starts with a seed. Water makes the seed begin to grow and develop.
different kinds and numbers
of seeds.
*Seeds change in the presence
of water. They become bigger
and heavier.
*All living things have a life
cycle.
*The life cycle of a plant starts
with a seed. Water makes the
seed start to grow and develop.