• setting up
• setting up
• setting up
• setting up

• seeds growing
• seeds growing

• measuring seeds
• measuring seeds

• recording the data

Title: Growth of Bean Seeds: Qualitative and Quantitative Observations

Purpose:

• to observe the change in appearance and growth of bean seeds
• to chart the growth of bean seeds
• to comment on factors associated with changes that occur when a seed grows into a plant

Background information on the transformation of seeds into plants may be found:

• pages 530~531 of your text (Biology:The Unity and Diversity of Life by Starr and Taggart
• the textbook website
  http://www.brookscole.com/biology/member/student/genbio.html
• Seed Germination
  http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/builders/lessons/less/les8/germination.htm

Materials:

• pinto bean seeds
• paper towels
• plastic cups
• water
• marking pens or stickers
• data charts

Procedure:

1. Place folded paper towel in plastic cup as illustrated in the photograph
2. Place 5 beans in between the paper towel and the wall of the cup
3. Number each bean on the outside of the cup with marking pen or stickers
4. Place your name on the cup
5. Add sufficient water to moisten the paper towel, but not to allow liquid to stand in the bottom of the cup
6. Prepare 5 data charts similar to the one illustrated below
7. Record observations daily for 4 weeks
8. Chart the growth of the seeds..You must decide how to represent the overall change from seed to plant using your data

Data:

Results: This will be your data charts and summary chart/graph

Analysis & Discussion:

• Summarize what you did
• Describe the transformation from seed to bean plant
• Develop a hypothesis about the transformtion of bean seeds to bean plant
• Suggest improvements in the set up, record-keeping, etc

Conclusion:

• a one sentence testable statement

Reflection:

• personal comment

Extension:

• Select one of the resources below
• Describe the website
• Discuss briefly the value of knowing the biology of seeds

Resources:

• United States Department of Agriculture
  • http://www.usda.gov/
• Nuñas Beans
  • http://users.penn.com/~dan/popbean.html
  • you have to see these beans!
• Front Range Seed Analysts
  • http://www.frsa.org/
  • information on seed testing
  • images of flower seeds
• Society for International Seed Technologists
  • http://www.seedtechnology.net/
  • yes, this is a job!!!!!!
  • read about it here!
• How Beans Grow and a History of Beans
• http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/1492/beans.html
• How Corn Grows
  • http://www.ag.iastate.edu/departments/agronomy/corngrows.html
  • images and description of corn growning from seed
• Plants in Motion
• http://sunflower.bio.indiana.edu/~rhangart/plantsinmotion.html
• movies of growing plants
• Types of Bean Seeds
  • http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/pulsecrops/bhd03s01.html
  • Scroll down to see images of different types of bean seeds
  • This site is from the Manitoba Agriculture and Food Crops Site
• Growing Beans in Western Australia
  • http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/technical_subjects/B/beans.htm
  • Information on how to grow beans......in Australia
• Nebraska Dry Bean Commission
  • http://www.nebraskadrybean.com/html/beans.html
  • Information on the production of beans in the United States
• American Crop Protection Association
  • http://www.acpa.org/
• Heirloom Beans from the Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center
• http://www.heirlooms.org/beans.html
• images of beans in the pod
• Growing Beans in Illinois
  • http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/veggies/beans1.html#1
• Bean Flowers
  • http://www.earthfoot.org/backyard/fl_beans.html
• Bean History
  • http://teach1.cses.vt.edu/cses3444/3444lec17.html
• Agriculture in the Classroom~Beans
  • http://www.fb.org/nefb/ag-ed/dry_beans.html
• Agriculture in the Classroom~Corn
  • http://www.fb.org/nefb/ag-ed/corn.html
• Agriculture in the Classroom~Oats
  • http://www.fb.org/nefb/ag-ed/oats.html
• Agriculture in the Classroom~Soybeans
  • http://www.fb.org/nefb/ag-ed/soybeans.html
• Agriculture in the Classroom~Wheat
  • http://www.fb.org/nefb/ag-ed/wheat.html
• Agriculture in the Classroom~Sugar Beets
  • http://www.fb.org/nefb/ag-ed/beets.html
• Agriculture in the Classroom~Alfalfa
  • http://www.fb.org/nefb/ag-ed/alfalfa.html
• Agriculture in the Classroom~sorghum
  • http://www.fb.org/nefb/ag-ed/sorghum.html
• Bean and Corn Recipes
• http://oneida-nation.net/frfood-index-page.html
• Judith's Garden
• http://members.home.net/jdenuno/Garden.htm