There are many things that you can do to experiment with the way seeds disperse. These following experiments will help you to understand this process better.
Experiment 1: How Are Seeds Different
Seeds have different shapes and you have learned that these shapes
determine how the seed disperses. This experiment will help you classify
what
seeds use animals, water, and wind.
Step 1. Collect many kinds of seeds. Look at the seeds. How are the
seeds
different?
Step 2. Put the seeds into groups according to how you think the seeds
are
dispersed-by animal, by wind, by water.
Step 3. Look up the seeds in an encyclopedia or take the seeds to your
parents or your teacher to see if how you grouped them is right.
Experiment 2 Building your own helicopter seed
You will need a strip of paper, scissors, and a paper clip.
Step 1. First you need to fold the paper in half the long way. Then
you
will need to unfold it.
Step 2. Now, cut a little less than halfway down along the fold.
Refold
the uncut part of the paper like you did before. Fold down the two cut
strips
so they look like wings. Your helicopter should now look like a T.
Step 3. Put the paper clip on the bottom of the uncut part.
Step 4. Now drop the paper. How does the helicopter move? Try dropping
it
in front of a fan. What happens then? How is this an example of how
wind
helps seed dispersal?
Go to Seed!
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