Seeds are dispersed in a number of ways. These include via the wind, bursting from a pod, eaten by animals, floating on water or getting caught on the fur or feathers of an animal. The structure of the seed determines how it is dispersed.

No prior knowledge necessary.

This can be a pre-visit, post-visit or a stand-alone activity.

Does the structure of a seed determine how it is dispersed?

In this program students will:

• Discover the function of the plant seed
• Understand why a plant requires its seed to be dispersed
• Learn how to use a magnifying glass and stereo microscopes
• Relate the method of seed dispersal to its structure

Students will:

• Observe a variety of different seeds using magnifying glasses and stereo microscopes
• Describe the main characters of the story Peter Pan
• Identify which seeds link with each character and why

Science – Science understanding

• Living things have characteristics that distinguish them from non-living things and things that were once living, including fossils (VC2S4U01)
• Plants and animals have different life cycles; offspring are similar, but not identical, to their parents (VC2S4U02)

Science – Science Inquiry

• Scientific investigations to answer questions or test predictions can be planned and conducted using provided scaffolds, including identifying the attributes of fair tests, and considering the safe use of materials and equipment (VC2S4I02)