From Seed to Seed:
Plant Science for K-8 Educators

Grades: K-4

Associated Lesson Topics:

• Germination requirements
• Growth (apical meristems)
• Sexual reproduction
• Difference between nuts and seeds
• Life cycles
• Nutrition

National Standards:

• SCIENCE: Standard C, Standard F
• MATH: Measurement Standard, Data Analysis and Probability Standard
• HEALTH: Standard 1
• HISTORY: Standard 1

Planting the Seed...

What can you tell me about peanuts? Where do you think they come from? Once you have collectively come to the conclusion that peanuts are seeds... What do you think we need to do to get peanuts to germinate? Will peanuts still germinate even if they are not soaked in water overnight?

Teacher Information:

Students are most familiar with peanuts as a snack food. They may be surprised to learn that peanuts are actually seeds; that is, they actually contain an embryo (baby plant) and endosperm (food supply). This food supply makes peanuts high in protein. In this activity-which can be done in the classroom, but is best-suited for the garden-students will germinate peanuts and learn that they are more than just a snack food! Remember that some students may be allergic to peanuts.

It will take four to five months for the plants to produce any peanuts. This may seem like an eternity, but it is actually a wonderful time to observe different stages of plant growth. The first thing to note is when the cotyledons shrivel up and fall off. This will take place only after some of the true leaves have formed. At this point, the plant has begun to produce its own food through photosynthesis and no longer needs the stored food supply. As the plant grows taller, you can discuss the role of apical meristems in plant growth. After about six weeks, the flowers will begin to develop. Now you can explore flower parts and sexual reproduction. The peanut flowers will self-pollinate. Eventually, the flowers will lose their petals as the ovary begins to develop. Remember that the ovary becomes the fruit and the ovules become the seeds. The ovary or "peg" will grow on a vine toward the soil. (Once it has reached the soil, cover it with soil.) Under the soil, the peg will mature into a peanut. Through these observations, students will witness the entire life cycle of the peanut plant from seed to seed.

Necessary Materials:

• Raw, unroasted peanuts. Buy them in the shell so students can see that the entire peanut (shell included) is the fruit. The shell is the fruit coat. The papery covering on the outside of the peanut is the seed coat and the peanut itself is the seed.
• Planting materials.

Note: This same activity can be conducted with corn. Buy corn on the cob fresh from the grocery store. Have students carefully remove the kernels from the corncob. Place the kernels between moistened paper towels in a sealable plastic bag. Once the seeds have germinated, move them to pots or into the garden and continue the activity as described below. How else (other than corn on the cob) do we eat corn (e.g., popcorn, tortillas, cornbread)? As a history extension, students can research how the Native Americans used corn.

Procedure:

• Students remove the peanuts from the shell and soak them in water overnight. This provides an opportunity to learn about germination requirements.
• Plant the peanuts, pointed end down (where the embryo is), 1 inch below the soil. Peanuts prefer light, well-drained soil. Water the soil. If you are growing the peanuts in the classroom, place the pots in the sunlight. Students can plant the peanuts in a small pot to begin but eventually will need to transplant them to 6-inch or 8-inch pots to grow to maturity. The plants will grow to approximately 18 inches tall.
• Weekly, students can record in their journals the changes they see in the plants, draw the different stages, and measure and chart growth over time.

Harvesting the crop...

This lesson can be extended to consider the nutritional benefits that humans receive from plants. For example, after harvesting the peanuts, students can investigate how protein benefits the human body. Alternatively, students can research how other cultures use peanuts in their daily lives. The Growing Ideas article linked to this activity provides suggestions on how to use peanuts in several disciplines.

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