Cockleburs
Every time you go for a hike, you risk the chance of bringing back some cockleburs! It can make exploring Iowa interesting because they tend to get stuck on animals and clothing.
Location
Runnells, Iowa
Driving Question
- Why do cockleburs stick to you?
Probing Questions
- What is a cocklebur?
- Why are they so hard to get off?
- Do they hurt animals?
- Is it good to pollinate them?
Classroom Suggestions
Students could:
- Go for a hike and see if any cockleburs stick to you
- Bring some cockleburs in to dissect
- Research what kind of habitat you will most likely find cockleburs
Relevant Related Resources
NewsELA: Plant Life - What is a Seed?: This article talks about the life of a seed and how wind and animals pollinate them.
YouTube: How Do Plant Seeds Travel: Watch how wind and plants pollinate seeds.
PBS Kids: Seed Soaring Game: An interactive game for students to play and explore seeds.
Iowa Core Alignment
2-LS2-2:Develop a simple model that mimics the function of an animal in dispersing seeds or pollinating plants
Credit Info
Phenomena submitted by Valorie Grundmeier.
Funding for Iowa Science Phenomena provided by:
