Plant Seed Design Challenge
Grade Range
6th-8th
Group Size
3 students
Active Time
2.5 hours
Total Time
2.5 hours
Area of Science
Plant Biology
Key Concepts
Plant biology, plant reproduction, interdependence
Learning Objectives
- Name at least two modes of seed dispersal.
- Explain why plants grow seeds with hooks and spikes.
- Design and build a plant seed that fulfills certain requirements.
Credits
Svenja Lohner, PhD, Science Buddies
![]() OverviewIn this small group activity, students will build a plant seed (burr) from a Styrofoam® ball and other crafts materials. The seed needs to be designed in a way that it can be dispersed by attaching to a mockup animal (wool glove). Students will first test if their seed attaches to the wool glove and then carry their attached seed along an obstacle course inside the classroom. As students design their plant seed and mimic its dispersal via an animal, they will realize how some plants grow specialized seeds and employ animals to disperse their seeds in order to increase their chances of successful reproduction. NGSS AlignmentThis lesson helps students prepare for these Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations:
Materials![]() For each student group:
For teacher:
Reviews |
Grade Range
6th-8th
Group Size
3 students
Active Time
2.5 hours
Total Time
2.5 hours
Area of Science
Plant Biology
Key Concepts
Plant biology, plant reproduction, interdependence
Credits
Svenja Lohner, PhD, Science Buddies
Learning Objectives
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