QCA Unit 5B Life Cycles

Seed Germination and Growth

Equipment:
Runner bean seeds
A flower pot for each child
A bag of compost
Water
A dark place to put some pots
A space to put the other pots whilst they germinate and grow
Copies of the write up sheet

Method:
Before starting the experiment refer to QCA module 1B, 2B, 3B. Discuss with the class what they think plants need to live and grow and the life cycle of plants.

Session 1

1)Divide the class into groups, so that there are equal numbers of the following pots:
Control pots that will have water, sun and soil
Dark pots that will have water and soil but no light
Dry pots that will have soil light but no water
Soil free pots that will have water and light but no soil

2) Discuss with the children the reason for a fair test

3) have the groups plant the seeds in their pots

4)have each group label their pots and put them in the relevant place (dark or light)

5)allocate monitors that look after the pots and roughly every other day discuss what is happening to the bean seeds.

Session 2

6) Once most of the seeds have germinated have all the class answer the first question over whether beans can germinate without water, soil or light. Get the children to write up the first part of the experiment.

7) Choose some of the stronger seedlings to use in the second part of the experiment. Discuss the second question with the children try to get them to guess what will happen to the seedlings that do not have water, soil or light. Reallocate monitor jobs. Allow the seedlings to keep growing over the next few days.

Session 3

8) Get the children to answer the second question. Write up the second question on a new sheet.

9) If there are some strong seedlings left why not plant these outside and watch them grow until the children see flowers, pollination and possibly even runner beans and the seeds again.

Please click here to see a suggested write up format,
which can be printed for the children to use.
To get back to these pages click on the back button in your browser.