Class LH reaching for the skies .... well hopefully the sunflowers will !!

 As part of the topic “Scented Garden” Class LH have been finding out about dispersal and germination of seeds.

We looked at a large selection of seeds and discussed how we thought they would be dispersed – via animals, wind, water, explosion. birds or humans.  We talked about the shapes and sizes of a variety of seeds and examined different ones from the small tomato seed up to the huge mango seed in its husk.  We also observed the delicate dandelion seeds.  Then, we all had a go at making a dandelion seed, which was dispersed by wind; a burr which would be carried by animals; and a sycamore helicopter key, which would be dispersed by the wind.

                                      Dandelion seed                                            Burr

                                                                        Helicopter 

We also explored germination and have set up an experiment in class to find out what seeds need to germinate.  We have placed some broad bean seeds into different positions:- one with no light, one with no warmth, one with no water and then one which has all three (light, warmth and water) into pots. We have all made a prediction about what will happen and which seeds will germinate first.   

We have also planted our own sunflower seeds and we are having a class competition to see which sunflower reaches up to the skies and grows to be the tallest!  Watch this space!!