Students collect evidence of plants growth chiefly from air and water by observing seeds sprouting.
Students observe sprouts growing over time and reflect about the flow of energy and matter that made that happen.
Students observe seeds sprouting, interpret how the seed gets the energy needed to grow, and hypothesize how that growth may change over time.
The activity below draws from the content in the page Materials for Plant Growth |
Seeds can sprout without soil (Fig. 1)!
How do plants survive and thrive without soil?
What do people/animals need to grow bigger?
How are plants different than animals?
What are the main things that plants need to grow?
Watch as your sprout seedlings flourish into a nutrious snack in a matter of days (Fig. 2)!
This teacher guide follows the procedure written here and in the student worksheet with additional instructions and guidelines. We highly recommend starting this activity by introducing the Phenomenon, Inquiry, and Guiding Questions from the top of this webpage. |
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Notes on Materials:
Seeds will begin sprouting within a day and will continue to sprout for a week or more. They can be eaten throughout their growth phases for a nutrient packed snack. Some details may vary depending on the seed. For instructions specific to other seeds, check out Sprout People.
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BackgroundA seed is a ready-packed suitcase of nutrition (Fig. 5). Inside is a dormant embryo that can eventually grow into a plant. The hull is a protective coating to keep the embryo safe. In order to start germination, we add water to activate the seed. The water opens up the hull and allows the embryo to use the nutrients inside the seed to fuel the plant's growth. In addition to water, the seed needs oxygen to start growing. As the seed sprouts and starts to grow into a plant, roots will develop to collect nutrients and water. Eventually, leaves will grow to absorb sunlight and carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air, which the plant will use to photosynthesize. (Note: plants also absorb oxygen from the air for respiration. This is especially evident at night when there is no sunlight for photosynthesis.)
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Activate your seeds
Daily care of your seeds
Describe what your seeds looked like as they began to sprout.
What did you do each day to help your seeds sprout and grow?
What happened to your sprouts as time went on?
Did you notice your sprouts growing in a particular direction? Describe.
Draw a picture of one of your finished sprouts. Label the leaves, stem, and roots. If your sprout still has some of the seed, label that also.
Why do you think your sprouts were able to grow without dirt?
Based on your investigation of sprouts, what are the key ingredients that a seed needs to grow?