All About Plants + Seeds
What is a seed?
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A seed is a small object produced by a plant from which a new plant can grow.
What is a plant?
Check out more information in the Encyclopedia of Life! |
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Fast Facts1. Nearly all plants start as seeds
2. Many seeds are located within fruit, but some plants produce seeds without fruit 3. In the seed world, any fleshy or hard covering of a seed is considered a fruit, including the ones we call vegetables! 4. Seeds can travel and they do so by water, wind and animals |
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What am I looking at?
When you look at a seed, what do you see?
If you were to cut open a seed, you would first cut into a thin, skin-like layer called the seed coat. Then your knife would enter the "meat" of the seed, which is actually stored food for the baby plant, or embryo, to consume until it can make its own food.
Seed Coat
When you are looking at a seed, you might be looking at the seed's thin, skin-like layer called a seed coat. Lima beans and peanuts have seed coats that peel off quite easily. Or, perhaps you cannot actually see the seed at all. Fruit Wall
Many seeds are encased by an additional outer layer called a fruit wall, or endocarp. Fruit walls include shells, husks and pits. Pistachio shells, sunflower seed husks and peach pits are common examples of fruit walls. What are more more examples you and your students can think of? If you have an oak tree near your school, your students may be able to find an example right at their feet! Food Stores
Seeds can have either one or two food stores, also called cotyledons. The cotyledons provide food for the embryo until it produce its own energy through photosynthesis. Embryo
The embryo is essentially a baby plant. When you see a seed sprouting, you are seeing the embryo growing into a baby plant. Under the right conditions, the embryo will begin to get bigger, split open the food stores and emerge from the seed coat. |
extension.sdstate.edu/plant-seed
Seed Structure: What's inside a seed?
Pistachio seeds, pieces of peeled seed coats & cracked shells
Mango seed (embryo and food stores) inside a fruit wall (pit)
Sample Seed Activitiesideas from kidsgardening.org
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How does a seed turn into a plant?
When the embryo emerges, one part will grow upwards to become the stem and leaves while the other half grows downwards to make the roots. This process of new plant formation is called germination. To find out the right conditions for germination, check out the video below- or conduct an experiment with your class!
When the embryo emerges, one part will grow upwards to become the stem and leaves while the other half grows downwards to make the roots. This process of new plant formation is called germination. To find out the right conditions for germination, check out the video below- or conduct an experiment with your class!
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What are plants?
How are seeds made?
most plants reproduce using flowers, but there are some plants that do not. Reproduction often begins when the interior of a flowering plant, or angiosperm, receives pollen from another plant. The interior chamber of a flower contains tiny pods called ovules. The pollen fertilizes the ovules and they become seeds while the chamber simultaneously becomes the surrounding fruit. Many times plants will drop their fruits containing the seeds if they are not consumed by humans or animals. When seeds from the fruit reach a resting spot, they will begin to sprout, given the right conditions.
most plants reproduce using flowers, but there are some plants that do not. Reproduction often begins when the interior of a flowering plant, or angiosperm, receives pollen from another plant. The interior chamber of a flower contains tiny pods called ovules. The pollen fertilizes the ovules and they become seeds while the chamber simultaneously becomes the surrounding fruit. Many times plants will drop their fruits containing the seeds if they are not consumed by humans or animals. When seeds from the fruit reach a resting spot, they will begin to sprout, given the right conditions.
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How do seeds travel?
Plants disperse their seeds in lots of different ways.
Some seeds are transported by the wind and are shaped to float, glide or spin through the air. Plants growing near a river may use the flowing water to transport their seeds. Some seed pods are designed to explode and throw the seeds a good distance from the parent plant. Many plants also rely on animals to carry their seeds. This type of seed may have handy hooks which attach to an animal’s fur. Alternatively, the plants might make tasty fruit to enclose the seeds, which attract animals to eat them.
Plants disperse their seeds in lots of different ways.
Some seeds are transported by the wind and are shaped to float, glide or spin through the air. Plants growing near a river may use the flowing water to transport their seeds. Some seed pods are designed to explode and throw the seeds a good distance from the parent plant. Many plants also rely on animals to carry their seeds. This type of seed may have handy hooks which attach to an animal’s fur. Alternatively, the plants might make tasty fruit to enclose the seeds, which attract animals to eat them.
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Gardening
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Learning the basics of gardening by reviewing common mistakes with Tom Bartels at Growfoodwell.com
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Five S's for a Successful Garden
Soil. Fertility, aeration, and drainage are all important factors in choosing or making the perfect soil. There needs to be the right mix of ingredients for plants to grow.
Site. Location in important. Take into consideration ease of access, amount of sun, water source and the kind of garden you would like to have. For limited outdoor availability, consider an indoor or window garden.
Sun. Check the amount of shade and sun on your proposed site, and remember that it will change as the seasons change. Keep in mind that different plants need different amounts of sun.
Size. If it's your first time, start small — a 10' by 10' garden (100 sq. ft.) is a manageable size. Get creative and consider using fences, trellises, containers, and hanging baskets to save space and get more production from your garden.
Selection. Choosing the right plants for your needs is important. Grow crops you like to eat! Plant a variety of vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Select plants that match your experience level and hardiness zone. Also think about possible needs in the community.
from the National Gardening Association
Site. Location in important. Take into consideration ease of access, amount of sun, water source and the kind of garden you would like to have. For limited outdoor availability, consider an indoor or window garden.
Sun. Check the amount of shade and sun on your proposed site, and remember that it will change as the seasons change. Keep in mind that different plants need different amounts of sun.
Size. If it's your first time, start small — a 10' by 10' garden (100 sq. ft.) is a manageable size. Get creative and consider using fences, trellises, containers, and hanging baskets to save space and get more production from your garden.
Selection. Choosing the right plants for your needs is important. Grow crops you like to eat! Plant a variety of vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Select plants that match your experience level and hardiness zone. Also think about possible needs in the community.
from the National Gardening Association
Key Words
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Stem Flower Roots Leaves Photosynthesis Soil Solar Exposure |
the main body or stalk of a plant or shrub, typically rising above ground but occasionally under the ground the seed-bearing part of a plant, consisting of reproductive organs (stamens and carpels) that are typically surrounded by a brightly colored petals. the part of a plant that attaches it to the ground or to a support, typically underground, conveying water and nourishment to the rest of the plant via numerous branches and fibers a flattened structure of a higher plant, typically green and bladelike, that is attached to a stem directly or via a stalk. Leaves are the main organs of photosynthesis. the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis in plants generally involves the green pigment chlorophyll and generates oxygen as a byproduct. a layer of fine material on the crust of the earth composed of tiny pieces of minerals, living and non-living organisms, water and air. in flowering plants, pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther (male part) to the stigma (female part). Pollination is necessary for the flower to form seed Click the link below for more key terms for "Plants" |
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Climate
Hardiness Zone Pollination Soil Solar Exposure |
A region with particular prevailing weather conditions.
A geographically-defined zone in which a specific category of plant life is capable of growing, as defined by temperature hardiness, or ability to withstand the minimum temperatures of the zone. In flowering plants, pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther (male part) to the stigma (female part). Pollination is necessary for the flower to form seed and often, fruit. A layer of fine material on the crust of the earth composed of tiny pieces of minerals, living and non-living organisms, water and air. The amount of sun plants receive during the day. Download the full keyword list here. |
More vocabulary below:
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Concepts Related to Plants + SeedsIf your class is interested in studying seeds and you choose to facilitate a seed investigation, consider using any 3 or 4 concepts listed below. Choosing a limited number of concepts based on children's interests helps to narrow down the research required by teachers. It also helps teachers shape the investigation by diving deeper into the chosen content instead of feeling pressure to cover all concepts related to the topic. Choosing what's most relevant to the children in your class helps everyone get the most out of the investigation.
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Types of Seeds
Seed Structure Seed Formation Fertilization Pollination |
Germination
Plant Growth Seed Dispersal Soil Biomes |
Enviro. Conditions
Animal Consumption Nutrition from Seeds Seeds Around the World |
Plant + Seed Songs
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Plant + Seed Songs
Books about Plants + Seeds
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Need a booklist to give to your librarian? Click the file below!
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Seeds Resources and References
Additional Resources and Fun Ways to get Involved!
Many people around the world are dedicated to preserving and storing seeds, so that we can continue growing food and other plants indefinitely!
Cleveland seed bank is right in Ohio!
Join your local 4-H club
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Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the largest seed bank in the world. It is built to preserve over 800,000 seeds without power and holds the ability to rebuild world food stores in case of cataclysmic disasters.
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Learn more about plants near you!
Cox Arboretum, located in Dayton, Ohio, is a local park dedicated to the preservation of local ecology and providing the public access to education about nature,
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Aullwood Audubon Center provides many classes and activities for all ages to learn about nature and conservation.
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Franklin Park Conservatory, like many in other cities, preserve rare breeds of plants while teaching the public about local ecology.
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