Burrs Stuck in Student’s Hair

This second grade student has burrs stuck in her hair. This demonstrates how some seeds -- burrs -- are specifically designed to disperse in different ways, in this case, latching on to organisms to travel. 

• How do animals help spread seeds?

• Why don’t all seeds look the same?
• How do seeds get from one place to another? 

Students could:

• Examine different types of seeds and compare structures using Venn diagrams.
• Predict how they think the seed is dispersed and why.
• Sort seeds into groups based on their structure and/or method of dispersal.
• Justify how they think different type travels based on its physical attributes.
• Examine one teacher-provided seed and create a model of an animal to disperse the seed.
• Design a model of a seed with specific attributes that are designed to disperse using wind, water, gravity, or animals.

• PBS LearningMedia | Nature Cat: Seed Soaring: Interactive online game for students to explore how the structure of a dandelion seed helps with seed dispersal.
• PBS LearningMedia | Nature Cat: Travelin' Seeds: Daisy tries to figure out how a flower that she didn’t plant ended up growing in her garden. (12-minute video)
• Elinor Wonders Why | The Seed of an Idea: While outside, Elinor observes that velcro is very similar to a burr seed that is stuck to Ari’s shirt.
• PBS LearningMedia | Plum Landing: Seed Racer: Interactive online game for students to explore different ways seeds are dispersed.
• PBS LearningMedia | KQED Science: Sock Seeds: Three-minute video in which students plant a sock that has seeds stuck to it to see if the seeds will grow.