Lesson Summary
Students will see the Brassica rapa’s life cycle come to its “end” (or new beginning) when they harvest the pods (separate from the plant, pick the crop) and thresh out the seeds (separate the seeds from the pods). Students count the number of seeds produced and compare this number to the number from which the plants originated (4). At this point they have seen the complete plant life cycle (from seed to seed).
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Teacher Background
The pods will require 1 – 2 weeks to dry out completely. The children will notice changes, including the brown color, brittleness, fully developed pods, dried up and smaller leaves, and skinnier stems.
Set-up/Management Tips
Have students think about threshing the seeds from one cell at a time. Remind them that the plant actually developed from just one seed, yet it produced (hopefully) many more. Perhaps this will bring about a discussion about why there is/is not over-population of certain plant species. Perhaps students will have further questions about how many seeds different plants produce that can be research on books or Internet or through a classroom guest who is more knowledgeable in that area.
Literacy Support
Books Available Through VAST Mediagraphies (see Literacy Links)
Cycles of Life: Growing Things by Carolyn Scrace
How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro
Scientific Vocabulary
The following words are key vocabulary words that will be introduced in this lesson and reinforced throughout the unit:
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