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Triple Venn Organizer After the students have dissected and observed and recorded their observations of their bean seeds, have them switch seeds and study each others' seeds and compare observations. Cover the bottoms of a large tray with 2 or 3 layers of paper towels or a combination of towels and newspapers. Dampen the paper towels but DON"T soak! Place seeds in separate regions of the try. Cover the try with plastic wrap Apply stick-on labels so you will be able to identify which seeds are which. Draw your set-up in your journal

Students should follow procedures then take notes in their journals of what they’ve done by describing the seeds used, where and how they were placed in the tray or beaker.

When all teams have completed their set-up, make sure the teacher goes from group to group to check on set-up and how set-up was recorded in journals.

Explain to students that they will start each day by taking detailed, written observations of their seeds. They may use measuring devices if they choose such as rulers or graduated cylinders. Tell them it is important to maintain the moisture in their beakers and they can maintain their seeds as long as they like.

1. Take one dry seed. Observe the seed and draw it. Write one or two sentences that describe the seed.

2. Take one seed that has been soaking in water. Compare the wet and dry seeds. What are the differences? (write here)

3. Look at the seed coat on the outside of the seeds. Find the spot where the seed was attached to the pod.

4. Carefully split the wet seed into two parts. Look at the two halves. Find the baby plant (the embryo). Describe how it looks.

5. The baby plant needs food to grow. The food it uses is starch from the seed. Let's find out where the starch is located. Put the split seed on a papertowel. Place a drop of iodine on different parts of the seed and see where the color of the iodine changes color to bluish black. [CAUTION- do not get iodine in your eyes! Be careful as it will also stain your clothes and skin.] These areas are the food storage areas of the seed.

6. Throw papertowel and dissected seed away and clean up desk.