Provide hands-on activities for practice and mastery. Check for understanding of concepts and skills by using relevant standard materials, i.e. worksheets, text problems, workbooks, teacher prepared exercises, etc.

Exploration and experimentation with seeds.

Objective: By exploring and experimentation, students will further their understanding about the similarities and differences of seeds.

Activity:
1) Using the seeds collected from the sock walk, students will sort seeds. This can be done individually, with partners or in cooperative groups. 2) Look at seeds through a magnifying glass. Compare shape, size, color and texture. Discuss how these characteristics relate to the movement of seeds. (Older students might write about this.) How might other types of seeds (fruit seeds, heavier seeds, etc.) be dispersed?
3) Plant some of the seeds collected. 4) Grow lima beans. Give each student a clear plastic cup, a paper towel, and three lima beans. Put the paper towel inside the cup. Pour enough into the cup to get the towel damp. Place the lima beans between the paper towel and the side of the cup so that the bean can be observed. Keep the paper towel damp (but not wet to discourage mold).

Assessment: Students will express at least two characteristics about seeds and how this affects their dispersal. Example: Because the seed is flat and light, the wind can move it.