Our class shared a favorite seed exploration activity at the school's science fair this week.
"Do you know what these are?"
"Rocks?" was a frequent guess from students.
We discuss that they do look like rocks... and they're hard like a rock... but these are something else! They're lima beans, and that means they are seeds.
"We want to see if we can find what is hiding inside the seed. Would you like to see? "(Always a unanimous "yes!")
It's difficult to open a hard, dry seed, so we soaked them in water for a day (and added some food coloring to make them easier to see)
Look how much they changed!
Soaking loosens the tough seed coat. Peel it off gently, starting at the side that is curved out
Look! Do you see something poking out?!
Now gently separate the two halves... and there is the baby plant! The thicker part becomes the root and you can see the tiny little leaves 
In the classroom, we first explore the seeds as a group time activity. 
Then we have seed dissection available as an independent work choice on the botany shelf.
Now we are waiting for spring so we can start our garden...
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