Life Science Lesson 5 & Exam

(the above photograph is a visual growth timeline of the bean seeds that were planted during this lesson)

1. Grow seedlings and measure them for their rate of growth.

Radish, tomato and bean seeds were planted in biodegradeable containers.

2. Continue to observe your seeds for a week.

Only the bean seeds survived. The radish seeds and tomato seeds were dumped out and disposed of by the gardner as well as being blown about by Santa Ana winds.

3. Prepare a growth chart.

Here is my growth chart. I say Approx. Day, because I found several specimens of different ages and made an approximate timeline (see photo at the top of this post for a visual timeline).

Day 2 Seed gets paler. The coat is going soon.

Day 4 Coat splits.

Day 5 Tiny root emerges (Germination!).

Day 6 Root gets much bigger.

Day 13 Large root system is apparent. Baby leaves start to unfurl.

Day 20 Seedling is fully grown.

4. Explain what three requirements were necessary for your seeds to grow.

1) A seed needs soil to provide foundation for it's roots to grow.

2) Water softens the seed's coat so it can crack and sprout.

3) Heat provides energy to jumpstart the process of sprouting.

5. Explain why soaking seeds in water helped them to sprout more quickly.

The tough seed coat softened and allowed the embryo to break through.


6. Explain three ways that seeds can be dispersed.

1) The fruit can fall off and rot away.

2) The seeds can be carried by the wind.

3) The seeds can be softened and dispersed by animal droppings.


7. Think of a reason why certain types of fruits are so bright and colorful and how this might benefit these different types of plants.

Bright and tasty fruits would appeal well to animals, and therefore be eaten, and the seeds would be spread around by poop.

8. b. Make a list of five different ways a seed can be dispersed (you may use the ways already described in this lesson and/or research others).

1) The fruit can fall off and rot away.

2) The seeds can be carried by the wind.

3) The seeds can be softened and dispersed by animal droppings.

4) Seeds can be moved by rushing water.

5) Other times seeds can stick to animal's fur and be dropped later.

* Spend some time outdoors and look for ten different plants and figure out which type of dispersal each plants uses.


Daisy (Witnessed in action!)
Wind dispersal

Orange (Witnessed in action!)
Fruit

African daisy (Witnessed in action!)
Wind

Rose (Witnessed in action!)
Drops seeds

Raspberry
Fruit

Blueberry
Fruit

Grapes
Fruit


Extra Credit: A Poem about Seed Dispersal

In the Spring.
A seed with a ring
Of feathers
floats by
Where is it going? In the sky.
It plants itself down near a stone
As the wind whistles in a melodious tone.
A few days later, a plant is born!


EXAM


1. How does the growth and reproduction of plants differ from that of animals.

Plants grow their whole lives, and produce seeds instead of internal or external eggs.


2. Name three ways in which plants are extremely important to life on Earth.

Other animals eat plants to produce energy to grow. Plants breathe (carbon + oxegen) (C + O x2) Carbon Dioxide, and breathe out oxygen. We can't breathe CO2, and it also stuffs up the atmosphere. Plants create rich soil (compost) when they decompose, thus creating a safe, rich home for other plants and microorganisms.

3. What are the three main parts of a seed? What is the purpose of each part?

1) Seed coats protect the soft embryo inside, and keep bad stuff out.

2) An embryo is a baby plant that starts to get bigger and bigger once the seed's needs have been met.

3) Endosperm is the plant's original food that it grows on, and keeps the embryo from dying and not being able to grow.


4. What are the three main requirements for a seed to begin germination?

Heat, water, and soil.

5. List and describe three ways that seeds can be dispersed.

The fruit can fall off and rot away. The seeds can be carried by the wind. The seeds can be softened and dispersed by animal droppings.