What it shows
Seeds differ in shape, size, colour and surface. Each shape helps the plant spread its seeds by wind, water or animals.
The science
A seed holds a baby plant and stored food. Seeds that fly in the wind are light with wings or fluff. Seeds that float on water have a waxy coat. Hooked seeds cling to animal fur. A heavy mango stone is carried by animals. The seed shape suits how it travels.
Materials
Cost: free. Many items come from home or from waste; spare parts such as LEDs, motors and wire are in the store.
- An egg carton with twelve cups (free)
- Twelve different seeds, like rice, mustard, jeera, lentil, tamarind, mango stone and watermelon seed
- Paper labels and pencil
- Glue
- A magnifying glass if you have one
Safety
For this project: Do not put seeds in the mouth. An adult must supervise, as some seeds are small or sharp.
Never use mains electricity: power models with cells, batteries or a low-voltage adapter. Sharp and hot tools, flames and lab chemicals need an adult or your teacher beside you. Keep magnets, button cells and small parts away from young children, and wash your hands after making.
All the safety rulesStep by step
8 steps. Do them in order, and test each part before you go on to the next. Write what you notice in a notebook as you go.
Collect twelve different seeds from the kitchen or garden.
Put one seed type in each cup of the egg carton.
Write the name of each seed on a label under the cup.
Look at each seed with a magnifying glass and note its colour and shape.
Sort the seeds into smooth and rough, and into small and big.
Guess how each seed travels: wind, water or animals.
Make a chart of your guesses and check with a grown-up.
Choose three seeds and plant them in a pot to see which grows.
What you should see
A labelled egg carton shows twelve seeds, sorted by shape and size, with notes on how each might travel.
Viva questions
A teacher or a judge will ask how it works. Try to answer each question before you open it, then compare.
1What is inside a seed?
A tiny new plant and food.
2How do light seeds travel?
By wind.
3Why are some seeds hooked?
They cling to animal fur and travel far.
4Which was your largest seed?
Answer from your box, perhaps the mango stone.
Take it further
Plant each seed in a small pot and record which sprouts first.
Change one thing, measure what happens, and add a table or chart of your readings: that is what turns a model into your own investigation.
Free ebooks for this project
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