What You Do:
Learn about the plant life cycle by exploring common fruits for different seeds. Engage students by allowing them to observe fruits with a new perspective.
What You Need:
At least 3 different fruits per student or group
I usually grab an assortment with a variety of seed characteristics:
- Apples (a few seeds on the inside)
- Strawberries (many seeds on the outside)
- Avocado (one big seed)
- Sugar snap peas (neatly arranged row of seeds)
Tools for dissecting fruits:
- Scissors
- Tooth picks
- Tweezers
- Plastic knives
- Magnifying glasses
Be mindful of any food allergies for this activity
Further engagement
Have students dissect fruits and set aside the seeds they find. Ask questions about the number of seeds per fruit and the seed properties (soft vs. hard, big vs. small, round vs. narrow). Ask students why such diversity exists among fruits and their seeds, and why plants need seeds at all. This can lead to a good discussion on plant reproduction and passing on traits.