Germinating Seeds

In this brief lesson, students observe how germinating bean seeds change as they begin to grow. Students will act as scientists as they observe, document, and analyze each step of the germinating process.

• Seeds are living things that grow into plants.
• With water, sunlight, and soil, a seed can sprout and grow into a plant.

• Why are seeds living things?
• Where does a seed get the food (energy) it needs to grow since it doesn’t have leaves?
• How do changes in the seed help it grow into a young plant over time?

Misconception: Plants are not alive because we cannot see them move.

Fact: Plants are alive because they meet all of the requirements for life. For example, there is movement within plants; we just cannot see it.

Flowers : the parts of a plant that make seeds

Leaves : the parts of a plant that collect sunlight and make food

Plant : a living thing that makes its own food from sunlight

Roots : the parts of the plant that hold it in place and take in nutrients and water from the soil

Seed : a young plant inside a protective coat; needs air and water to grow

Stem : the part of a plant that holds the leaves and flowers in place; water and nutrients travel through the stem to the rest of the plant

In this hands-on mini-lesson, students germinate bean seeds to observe how the seeds change as they begin to grow. They carefully observe and record the process each day over a few weeks to notice how the seed germinates and develops into a young plant. This activity helps strengthen students’ understanding of plant parts and functions as they witness each step of the seed growth process.