Students investigate how seeds form by examining real plants. They learn that seeds develop from flowers after pollination and fertilisation, compare seeds from different plants, and share their findings.
Bring several flowering plants and seed-containing fruits/vegetables.
Introduction
Ask: “If a flower grows from a seed… where did that seed come from?”
Discuss and lead to: “Seeds are made in flowers.”
The method Where Do Seeds Come From? can be useful here.
Teacher Demonstration
Show several examples, e.g. tomato, sunflower head, pea pod.
Explain: After pollination and fertilisation, the ovary becomes a fruit and the ovules become seeds.
Group Investigation Materials
Divide the class in groups. Each group receives:
- One flowering plant/herb
- One fruit/vegetable with seeds
- Magnifying glass, tweezers/scissors, observation sheet
- Paper
Flower Dissection
Students inspect the flower and sketch:
- Petals
- Stamens (pollen-producing)
- Pistil (stigma, style, and especially the ovary, where seeds begin)
As questions as:
“Where do you think the seed would start forming?”
“Can you see pollen grains?”
Fruit Investigation
Students open the fruit to:
- Find and count seeds
- Note and compare seed size, shape, colour, and position
Observation
Students draw the flower and fruit, label parts, describe the seeds, and write a brief “From Flower to Seed” explanation.
You can use the method of Where Do Seeds Come From? for the drawings.
Class Reconstruction: The Journey of a Seed
Together, outline the seed journey:
Pollination → fertilisation → ovary becomes fruit → ovules become seeds.
Didactic tips
Students who finish early can:
- Dry and label seeds
- Make a detailed drawing of a plant
- Inverstigate a plant further