martinzoo

Jump to Comments

We always come back to Science. Our best days are always the Science days. GB loves them.

Today we did two seed dissections. He has been learning about the process of plant reproduction.

This procedure was to show him that the seeds come complete with their own little embryo and plenty of food — all built right in.

First, we soaked the seeds over night to make them easier to split.

This photo clearly shows the seed coat on our lima bean (dicot).

Even without using the stereoscope you could clearly see the embryo, but the stereoscope makes it so much more vivid. Don’t you think? I mean just look at that detail. The embryo is at the top of the photo and all the rest of the bean is the stored food for the embryo.

Vocabulary Definitions:

Seed Coat – Protects the inside of the seed.

Embryo – the beginning of the new plant.

Stored Food – a plant uses stored food until it grows leaves that can make food.

Monocot – a type of seed that has only one cotyledon.

Dicot – a type of seed that has two cotyledons.

Cotyledon – Leaf-like structure that absorbs and digest food stored in the seed.

Germination – the process of growing a new plant from a seed.

This is the inside of a corn kernel (monocot). You can see the embryo right there in the center of the kernel with the stored food all around.

I know I’m old now.

And I can’t be a student.

But I really love this stuff.

I’m so glad I get to homeschool with my little buddy!

Share This