The document discusses how to set up an experiment growing corn, pea, and bean seeds. Clear cups are filled with vermiculite and a paper towel, and seeds are planted according to instructions. Corn seeds are planted with the white side facing the cup. Pea seeds are wrinkled initially and become smooth as they absorb water. Bean seeds are planted with the hilum facing down. Photographs show the progression of roots and stems emerging for each seed type.

1. Corn, Peas, Beans
SEED GROWTH

2. SETTING UP THE SEEDS - VERMICULITE
To set up the experiment:
• Use clear cups and insert a
brown paper towel (seed roots
show up better) into a plastic
cup.
• Fill cup with vermiculite making
sure the paper towel is pressed
up against the clear cup.
• Put seed between the cup and
paper towel (be careful to place
each seed according to the
directions that follow).
• Add water, just enough to keep
the paper towel moist. .
• Place in a sunny spot in the
classroom.
Purchase Vermiculite at any home improvement store in the garden section. It is
a substance that will hold the water but not absorb the water. It contains no
nutrients and will not aid the plant in growing past seed germination.

3. CORN – PARTS OF THE SEED
Image from: http://analytical.wikia.com/wiki/Endosperm
Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

4. CORN
Plant the white side of
the corn towards the
cup as this is where the
seed starts the root.
Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

5. CORN
Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

6. CORN
The corn seed begins to germinate.
Some seeds will not germinate like this seed. This is a good opportunity begin
a discussion of why this seed did not germinate.
Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

7. CORN
Stem is starting to grow
Roots are starting to grow
Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

8. CORN
Stem continues to grow
Roots continue to grow
Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

9. CORN
The stem continues to grow
The roots continue to grow
Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

10. PEAS – PARTS OF THE SEED
Image from: http://www.seedbiology.de/structure.asp

11. PEAS
The pea seeds are wrinkled prior
to planting. Make sure to point
this out to the students so they
can make the observation of the
seed absorbing water and
becoming smooth.
Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

12. PEAS
Notice how the
pea seed is
wrinkled.
Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

13. PEAS
As the seed begins to
germinate it takes up water and
the seed loses it’s wrinkles and
becomes smooth.
Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

14. PEAS
The root and stem
break through the
seed coat and
begins to grow.
Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken
by Carrie Reynolds

15. PEAS
The root begins to grow down while the stem
begins to grow up.
STEM
ROOTS
Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

16. PEAS
Stem continues to grow
Roots
continue
to grow
Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

17. PEAS
The stem begins to develop leaves.
The roots continue to grow.
Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

18. PEAS
The stem continues to grow leaves.
The roots continue to grow.
Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

19. BEANS
Testa or seed
coat - provides
protection to the
seed prior to
germination.
Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds
Images from: http://herbarium.desu.edu/pfk/page1/page2/page2.html and
http://qinglovesbiology.blogspot.com/2011/04/34-plant-fertilisation.html

20. BEAN - PARTS OF THE SEED
Cotyledon – provides
the nutrition to the
developing plant.
Radicle or
embryonic root
– Develops into
the root of the
plant.
Plumule or shoot -
Image from: http://homeschoolblogger.com/preparation/727274/
develops into the first set of
leaves as the plant grows.

21. BEANS
Plant with the hilum
facing down.
Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

22. BEANS
The embryonic root begins it’s downward decent.
Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

23. BEANS
The testa
(seed coat)
softens as
water is
absorbed and
the stem and
roots break
through the
seed coat.
Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynold

24. BEANS
The stem continues to grow
The roots
continue to
grow
Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

25. BEANS
The seed coat
begins to
become dry
allowing the
stem and
plumule to
break through
the coat and
grow.
The roots
continue to
grow.
Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

26. BEANS
The plumule
have developed
into the first true
leaves of the
plant.
Notice the
cotyledons, they
are providing the
nutrition the plant
needs to begin to
grow. Soon they
will become
depleted, dry up
and fall off the
plant.
Photos from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

27. BEANS
The cotyledons will soon dry up and fall off the plant.
Photo from EDU 615, Science; taken by Carrie Reynolds

28. RESOURCES
 http://analytical.wikia.com/wiki/Endosperm
 http://www.seedbiology.de/structure.asp
 http://herbarium.desu.edu/pfk/page1/page2/pag
e2.html
 http://qinglovesbiology.blogspot.com/2011/04/34
-plant-fertilisation.html
 http://homeschoolblogger.com/preparation/7272
74/
 Photographs from Oglethorpe University, EDU
615 – Inquiring into Science, taken by Carrie
Reynolds