Unit B Lesson B5 Plant Growth and Life Cycle
Completion requirements
Lesson B5: Plant Growth and Life Cycle
Video Lesson
Watch this video to learn about the various stages in the life cycle of a seed plant.
Lesson B5: Plant Growth and Life Cycle
Figure B.1.5.1 β The branches and leaves of bonsai trees are cut carefully into specific shapes.
Figure B.1.5.2 β Bonsai trees have tiny trunks.
Bonsai Trees
In Japan and China, a traditional decorative art form involves miniature trees. In Japan, this type of plant art is called bonsai.
To grow a miniature bonsai tree, the gardener changes the amount of space available to the plant. Bonsai are grown in pots to limit the height that the tree can grow. Bonsai gardeners frequently trim the trunk, branches, and leaves of the trees to restrict its growth. Also, bonsai gardeners use wires or clamps to make the branches of the trees grow in particular directions to give artistic shapes to the trees. Note that bonsai is not the name of a certain tree; it is the name of a form of tree art. Perhaps juniper and ficus are the two most favoured trees to use for bonsai, but elm, boxwood, and even crabapple are used, among many others.
In Japan and China, a traditional decorative art form involves miniature trees. In Japan, this type of plant art is called bonsai.
To grow a miniature bonsai tree, the gardener changes the amount of space available to the plant. Bonsai are grown in pots to limit the height that the tree can grow. Bonsai gardeners frequently trim the trunk, branches, and leaves of the trees to restrict its growth. Also, bonsai gardeners use wires or clamps to make the branches of the trees grow in particular directions to give artistic shapes to the trees. Note that bonsai is not the name of a certain tree; it is the name of a form of tree art. Perhaps juniper and ficus are the two most favoured trees to use for bonsai, but elm, boxwood, and even crabapple are used, among many others.
Reading and Materials for This Lesson
Science in Action 7
Materials:
Science in Action 7
Reading: Pages 109-110, 121-124
Materials:
8 bean seeds, 4 small glass jars with lids, paper towels, water
Figure B.1.5.3 β Bonsai trees have interesting shapes.
Figure B.1.5.4 β Bonsai tree artists use wires to make the tree branches grow in specific directions.
Sprouting Seeds
Some types of seedlings are used as food. Sprouts are plants that have just started to grow roots, stems, and leaves.
Most seeds have hard coatings. The seed coat protects the embryo inside the seed. A plant embryo is a baby plant within the seed. When the seed is warm and moist, the hard seed coat softens, the embryo starts to grow, and a seedling sprout pushes from the hard shell.
Plant sprouts contain lots of vitamins and nutrients. Alfalfa sprouts in salads and sandwiches are tasty and nutritious. Thicker crunchy bean sprouts are used in cooked dishes such as stir-frys. Have you tried eating sprouts?
Some types of seedlings are used as food. Sprouts are plants that have just started to grow roots, stems, and leaves.
Most seeds have hard coatings. The seed coat protects the embryo inside the seed. A plant embryo is a baby plant within the seed. When the seed is warm and moist, the hard seed coat softens, the embryo starts to grow, and a seedling sprout pushes from the hard shell.
Plant sprouts contain lots of vitamins and nutrients. Alfalfa sprouts in salads and sandwiches are tasty and nutritious. Thicker crunchy bean sprouts are used in cooked dishes such as stir-frys. Have you tried eating sprouts?
Figure B.1.5.5 β Edible bean sprouts are crunchy and crisp.
Figure B.1.5.6 β Alfalfa sprouts are eaten in sandwiches.
Figure B.1.5.7 β Bean sprouts have small leaves.
Figure B.1.5.8 β Asian cultures use bean sprouts in cooking.
Watch More
Seed Germination
Watch this time-lapsed video of sprouting radish seeds. Which part of the plant starts to grow first?
Watch this time-lapsed video of sprouting radish seeds. Which part of the plant starts to grow first?
Acorn to Tree
Nuts have very hard seed coats. Watch this time-lapsed video of an acorn nut germinating and growing into an oak seedling in eight months.
Nuts have very hard seed coats. Watch this time-lapsed video of an acorn nut germinating and growing into an oak seedling in eight months.
Lesson Activity
Sprouting Conditions
Try this experiment to discover the conditions needed to germinate bean seeds.
Materials:
- 8 bean seeds
- 4 small glass jars with lids
- paper towels
-
water
Download:
DOWNLOAD this document. It provides a space for you to write answers to questions later in this activity. It also provides a chart for you to record your observations.
Instructions:
DOWNLOAD this document. It provides a space for you to write answers to questions later in this activity. It also provides a chart for you to record your observations.
Instructions:
Jar 1: Wet seeds in light
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Fold a paper towel and put it in a glass jar.
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Make the paper towel damp with water β but not soaking wet.
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Put two bean seeds in the jar and close the jar.
- Put the jar near a sunny window.
Jar 2: Dry seeds in light
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Fold a paper towel and put it in a glass jar.
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Do not add water to the jar.
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Put two bean seeds in the jar and close the jar.
- Put the jar near a sunny window.
Jar 3: Wet seeds in dark
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Fold a paper towel and put it in a glass jar.
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Make the paper towel damp with water β but not soaking wet.
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Put two bean seeds in the jar and close the jar.
- Put this jar in a dark cupboard.
Jar 4: Dry seeds in dark
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Fold a paper towel and put it in a glass jar.
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Do not add water to the jar.
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Put two bean seeds in the jar and close the jar.
- Put this jar in a dark cupboard.
Watch the following video for instruction tips and ideas for completing this activity.
Hypothesis:
Which jar of bean seeds will germinate the fastest? Why?
Which jar of bean seeds will germinate the slowest? Why?
Which jar of bean seeds will germinate the fastest? Why?
Which jar of bean seeds will germinate the slowest? Why?
Observations:
Once a day for one week, add a little water to the wet paper towels to keep them from drying.
Observe and draw a picture of the bean seeds in the four jars each day for one week. Use a chart such as the following to record your observations:
Once a day for one week, add a little water to the wet paper towels to keep them from drying.
Observe and draw a picture of the bean seeds in the four jars each day for one week. Use a chart such as the following to record your observations:
Questions:
Think about the following questions very carefully. Then, type or write your answers. After you have your answers, click the questions for feedback.
Think about the following questions very carefully. Then, type or write your answers. After you have your answers, click the questions for feedback.
The bean seeds in wet conditions germinated and the bean seeds in dry conditions did not germinate. The hard seed coat must absorb water for the root and stem to start growing.
Watch the following video for a complete explanation of the these results.
Watch the following video for a complete explanation of the these results.
Bean seeds will germinate in both light and dark conditions. The wet bean seeds in both the light and dark conditions germinated.
The amount of light does not matter for bean seed germination because the bean seeds germinated in both the light and the dark. However, bean seeds must be kept moist to germinate. If bean seeds are dry, they do not germinate.
Figure B.1.5.9 β Sunflower seeds are a tasty snack, but they can be crushed to make sunflower oil.
Figure B.1.5.10 β Yellow canola flowers produce seeds from which cooking oil can be pressed.
Edible Seeds
Many of our foods come from seeds. Seeds store food for tiny plant embryos. The stored food provides energy to animals and humans that eat the seeds.
Beans are soaked and cooked to make them soft and edible. Sesame, sunflower, and canola seeds can be crushed to extract cooking oils.
Grains such as barley, oats, rye, rice, and wheat are plant seeds. Flour is made by grinding seeds into a fine powder. Most of our bread uses wheat flour, but other flours are available, too. Wheat seeds contain a protein called gluten, which makes bread dough stretchy and helps it to rise.
Many of our foods come from seeds. Seeds store food for tiny plant embryos. The stored food provides energy to animals and humans that eat the seeds.
Beans are soaked and cooked to make them soft and edible. Sesame, sunflower, and canola seeds can be crushed to extract cooking oils.
Grains such as barley, oats, rye, rice, and wheat are plant seeds. Flour is made by grinding seeds into a fine powder. Most of our bread uses wheat flour, but other flours are available, too. Wheat seeds contain a protein called gluten, which makes bread dough stretchy and helps it to rise.
Figure B.1.5.11 β Oat seeds are cooked and eaten as porridge or delicious cookies.
Watch More
How Is Flour Made?
Watch this video to see how grain is harvested and ground into flour.
Watch this video to see how grain is harvested and ground into flour.
What is Gluten?
Many people eat gluten-free diets because they have sensitivity to gluten or they have a more serious condition called celiac disease. Watch this video to learn more about gluten and celiac disease.
Many people eat gluten-free diets because they have sensitivity to gluten or they have a more serious condition called celiac disease. Watch this video to learn more about gluten and celiac disease.
Figure B.1.5.12 β The Haudenosaunee First Nations people grew, stored, and ate corn.
Figure B.1.5.13 β Corn kernels are the seeds of the corn plant.
Corn Seeds
People like to eat corn-on-the-cob. In Alberta, corn grown near the town of Taber has a reputation for being very sweet and tasty. Residents of northern Alberta consider Peace River corn to be sweet and delicious, too!
Corn is native to North America. It was first farmed thousands of years ago by people in Mexico. Corn farming spread north to the Iroquois, or Haudenosaunee First Nations people, who lived near the St. Lawrence River in Ontario and Quebec.
Today, corn is the top-grown crop in the United States, and the third most-grown crop in Canada. Corn is a popular crop because it has so many uses. Dried corn seeds can be used in various ways, including being heated and popped as popcorn. Cooking oil can be extracted from corn; corn syrup is a valued sweetener. Dried corn seeds contain a lot of starch that can be processed into cornstarch. Cornstarch is a powder used in cooking to thicken sauces and to make puddings, and it is used in many processed foods. In fact, you can find parts of corn in many products, including foods, cosmetics, adhesives, toothpaste, candies, diapers, and tires. A new and interesting use of cornstarch is to make biodegradable plastics. Also, corn is converted into a clean-burning fuel called ethanol, which is added to gasoline. Corn is a useful crop!
People like to eat corn-on-the-cob. In Alberta, corn grown near the town of Taber has a reputation for being very sweet and tasty. Residents of northern Alberta consider Peace River corn to be sweet and delicious, too!
Corn is native to North America. It was first farmed thousands of years ago by people in Mexico. Corn farming spread north to the Iroquois, or Haudenosaunee First Nations people, who lived near the St. Lawrence River in Ontario and Quebec.
Today, corn is the top-grown crop in the United States, and the third most-grown crop in Canada. Corn is a popular crop because it has so many uses. Dried corn seeds can be used in various ways, including being heated and popped as popcorn. Cooking oil can be extracted from corn; corn syrup is a valued sweetener. Dried corn seeds contain a lot of starch that can be processed into cornstarch. Cornstarch is a powder used in cooking to thicken sauces and to make puddings, and it is used in many processed foods. In fact, you can find parts of corn in many products, including foods, cosmetics, adhesives, toothpaste, candies, diapers, and tires. A new and interesting use of cornstarch is to make biodegradable plastics. Also, corn is converted into a clean-burning fuel called ethanol, which is added to gasoline. Corn is a useful crop!
Figure B.1.5.14 β Corn is the most grown grain crop in the world.
Figure B.1.5.15 β Cornstarch is a fine powder made from ground dried corn kernels.
Watch More
Why Does Popcorn Pop?
This video explains why popcorn pops.
This video explains why popcorn pops.
Corn Plastics
How is cornstarch made into biodegradable plastics? Watch this video to find out.
How is cornstarch made into biodegradable plastics? Watch this video to find out.
Connections
Connections: Health and Wellness
>> High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener made from cornstarch. High fructose corn syrup might be written on a food label as glucose-fructose. It is similar to sugar.
High fructose corn syrup is added to many processed foods. Soft drinks, cereals, flavoured yogurts, ketchup, salad dressing, and candy bars usually contain added sugar or high fructose corn syrup, for example.
Eating too much sugar or high fructose corn syrup can lead to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Limit the amount of sweets you eat is a good idea -- and brush your teeth regularly, too.
>> High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener made from cornstarch. High fructose corn syrup might be written on a food label as glucose-fructose. It is similar to sugar.
High fructose corn syrup is added to many processed foods. Soft drinks, cereals, flavoured yogurts, ketchup, salad dressing, and candy bars usually contain added sugar or high fructose corn syrup, for example.
Eating too much sugar or high fructose corn syrup can lead to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Limit the amount of sweets you eat is a good idea -- and brush your teeth regularly, too.
Watch More
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Whatβs the difference between sugar and high fructose corn syrup? Watch this video to learn more.
Whatβs the difference between sugar and high fructose corn syrup? Watch this video to learn more.
Fruit
Fruit is produced from the flowers of adult plants. Fruit trees such as apple trees and cherry trees produce flowers early in the spring. After a flower is pollinated, it forms seeds. Fleshy, sweet fruit forms around the seeds.
Not all fruit grows on trees. Cranberries grow on very short shrubs in bogs. Pineapples grow from plants on the ground. Pineapple flowers join together to make one big pineapple fruit.
Figure B.1.5.16 β Some fruits, such as strawberries, have seeds on the outside.
Figure B.1.5.17 β Some fruits, such as peaches, have seeds inside the fruit.
Figure B.1.5.18 β Pineapple fruit starts as a red flower.
Watch More
Fruit
Cranberry farmers flood cranberry bogs to grow and harvest cranberries. Watch this video to find out more about how cranberries are grown.
Cranberry farmers flood cranberry bogs to grow and harvest cranberries. Watch this video to find out more about how cranberries are grown.
This video explains how pineapples are grown and harvested.
Make sure you have understood everything in this lesson. Use the Self-Check below, and the Self-Check & Lesson Review Tips to guide your learning.
Unit B Lesson 5 Self-Check
Instructions
Complete the following 6 steps.
Don't skip steps β if you do them in order, you will confirm your
understanding of this lesson and create a study bank for the future.
- DOWNLOAD the self-check quiz by clicking here.
- ANSWER all the questions on the downloaded quiz in the spaces provided. Think carefully before typing your answers. Review this lesson if you need to. Save your quiz when you are done.
- COMPARE your answers with the suggested "Self-Check Quiz Answers" below. WAIT! You didn't skip step 2, did you? It's very important to carefully write out your own answers before checking the suggested answers.
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REVISE your quiz answers if you need to. If you answered all the questions correctly, you can skip this step. Revise means to change, fix, and add extra notes if you need to. This quiz is NOT FOR MARKS, so it is perfectly OK to correct
any mistakes you made. This will make your self-check quiz an excellent study tool you can use later.
- SAVE your quiz to a folder on your computer, or to your Private Files. That way you will know where it is for later studying.
- CHECK with your teacher if you need to. If after completing all these steps you are still not sure about the questions or your answers, you should ask for more feedback from your teacher. To do this, post in the Course Questions Forum, or send your teacher an email. In either case, attach your completed quiz and ask; "Can you look at this quiz and give me some feedback please?" They will be happy to help you!
Self-Check Time!
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Self-Check Quiz Answers
Click each of the suggested answers below, and carefully compare your answers to the suggested answers.
If you have not done the quiz yet β STOP β and go back to step 1 above. Do not look at the answers without first trying the questions.
Seeds require water to germinate. Water softens the hard seed coat so the seedling can break through and start to grow. Peat moss keeps water in the soil so adequate water is available for the seed to germinate.
Putting seedlings outside exposes them to outdoor growing conditions. The seedlings are exposed to more sunlight, which helps them photosynthesize more. Exposing seedlings to wind and rain helps them grow stronger stems and leaves as they adjust
to outdoor conditions.
Pumpkins are large and grow on long vines. By planting pumpkin seedlings away from other plants, the pumpkin plants have enough room to expand. They will not be competing with other plants for soil nutrients and water.
Thinning carrot seedlings gives more space for each carrot to grow. More space for each carrot lets them collect nutrients and water without competing with nearby carrots. With more nutrients and water, carrots can grow larger and longer.
Root vegetables grow large roots into the ground. Digging up the soil breaks the soil into smaller pieces. This lets the root vegetable push through the soil more easily, giving the roots the space the need to grow.