Granny's Garden School

We started our seed sharing program the fall of 2005. First through fourth grade students collect seeds from our gardens in September and October. The seeds are allowed to dry until January when the students package them. We used to used to have students make their own but we decided it was not much more than a craft project for the older grades so Now, we use coin envelopes which they sign after filling. We make the seeds available to other schools in the area that are starting their own garden programs. Now the focus of the lesson is on math and science.

General Instructions

Separating and packaging seeds

Once the seeds are dry, it's time to separate the seed from the chaff. The chaff consists of dried seed coverings and small bits of dried stems, leaves, or petals that can sometimes be confused with the actual seed. We usually do this in January or February.

If you are working with large seeds that are easily identifiable from the chaff, your students will enjoy opening the seed pods to collect seeds or plucking them from a sunflower head. If you will be separating the seed from the chaff, it helps to be able to spread the seeds out on a piece of light colored paper. If the seeds are largish, a pair of tweezers is useful for picking them up. If the seeds are small, you can separate them from some of their chaff by holding the paper at an angle and letting the seed roll down - the chaff generally stays put. A combination of these methods usually results in more or less 100% seed only. If you stored your seed pods in paper bags, you will find many of your seeds have separated from the chaff and have fallen to the bottom of the bag.

Making connections to math or science during your packaging activity

If you are using two different seeds, ask the students to list what is the same and different between the seeds.
Ask the students to estimate the number of seeds in an inch and write them on the board. Then, have the students find the actual number and compare it to the estimate. Extend this by asking the students to estimate the length of one seed and then find the actual length. Next, relate the unit of measurement of the seed to an inch. For example, if the seed is ¼ inch long and 4 seeds equaled one inch, draw a conclusion about how many ¼ inches are in one inch.
Estimate and find the actual amount of seeds in ½ teaspoon.
Ask students what unit of measurement, best measures their seed – inches, centimeters, millimeters.
Check with your teacher about using scales to weigh seeds. The students can estimate the number of seeds in one ounce and find the actual amount. The students can estimate the weight of ½ teaspoon of seeds and find the actual.
Don’t forget to tell the students that a seed is a package of a tiny plant (embryo) and food for the embryo to grow.

About the seed packet

Even if you decide to have students make their own seed packets, you may consider packaging them in coin envelopes first. Over the years we have learned that in their effort to avoid sticky fingers, students sometimes leave gaps that allow seeds to escape the seed packet. Using the small inner envelope provides an extra layer to lock in seeds. Seeds are placed inside the small envelope, which is sealed shut by the student. Then, the students cut out the template, fold the flaps, insert the seed envelope, and glue the flaps down.

Seed Packet templates are available on the Seed Packet Patterns page. A blank template is available for students to write planting and growth information and to write the name of and draw the plant that will grow. You may decide to enter all or some of the plant information in advance. If you are packaging the seeds found on the seed sharing page, the plant information is accessed by clicking the link by the picture. Ask your teacher to make copies of the template for the class to use.

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant." Robert Louis Stevenson

Home

Contact

www.grannysgardenschool.org

Webmaster

Loveland City Schools

Website Hosting provided by http://www.data-detective.com/audio.htm

Continued appreciation to our original website sponsor Ellie Kowalchik of Comey and Shepherd