Exploring seeds in the foods we eat
LESSON 1
Children explore seeds in the foods we eat.
The story, “A Seed Is Sleepy,” by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long.
A variety of fruits and vegetables that contain seeds.
A variety of nuts and seeds we eat
Cutting board and knife
Materials
Gather materials for the lesson
Prepare a plate with a variety of fruits, nuts, and seeds for your child to explore.
Preparations
Collect and Connect
Five Tough and Tiny Seeds
Five tough and tiny seeds sat on a slender reed,
Waiting for springtime winds to blow– Woosh! Woosh!
One landed on the ground, sniffed by a happy hound,
Then there were four tough, tiny seeds.
Four tough and tiny seeds sat on a slender reed,
Waiting for springtime winds to blow– Woosh! Woosh!
One landed near a lake, beside a wriggly snake,
Then there were three tough, tiny seeds.
Three tough and tiny seeds sat on a slender reed,
Waiting for springtime winds to blow– Woosh! Woosh!
One landed near a tree, buzzed by a bumblebee,
Then there were two tough, tiny seeds.
Two tough and tiny seeds sat on a slender reed,
Waiting for springtime winds to blow– Woosh! Woosh!
One landed by a road, next to a slimy toad,
Then there was one tough, tiny seed.
One tough and tiny seeds sat on a slender reed,
Waiting for springtime winds to blow– Woosh! Woosh!
It landed on a rock, next to a watchful hawk,
Then there were no tough, tiny seeds.
Five tough and tiny seeds, blown from a slender reed,
Raindrops are falling from the sky– Drip! Drop!
With bright and warmer days, now comes the month of May,
Now it’s the time for seeds to grow.
Five seeds begin to sprout, just as the sun comes out,
What will they all turn out to be?
Growing taller by the hour, each one a different flower,
That’s what became of five tough, tiny seeds.
Facilitate children's exploration and identification of different foods that contain or are seeds.
Guide children's understanding of the concept of "something in common" among the foods.
Pose questions to prompt children's curiosity and understanding.
Initiate a discussion with children about the presence of seeds in the foods.
Support children in tidying up the exploration area after the activity.
Read "A Seed Is Sleepy" to children and use the story to enhance their understanding of seeds.
Objectives for Teachers
Children explore and identify different foods that contain or are seeds.
Children participate in a detective-style activity to uncover shared traits.
Children discuss and learn about seeds present in the foods.
Children participate in tidying up the exploration area.
Children engage in reading "A Seed Is Sleepy" to learn more about seeds.
Children grasp the concept that seeds are found in various places, not just in foods.
Objectives for Children
Activity Flow
Introduction: Begin by presenting a plate of prepared fruits, nuts, and seeds. Engage your child by asking if they recognize any of the items. Allow them to point and respond. If they're eager to eat right away, reassure them that they'll have a chance to taste each food in a moment.
Before your child starts exploring the foods, explain that today, they'll be playing the role of a detective. Just like detectives use clues to solve mysteries, they'll be uncovering something special about these foods. Tell your child the clue- All of these foods have something in common. This means they share a similarity or something that is the same. Let's work together to figure it out.
Exploration and questions: While your child explores and tastes the items, guide them with questions:
Are they the same color?
Do they all taste the same?
Are they all fruits? (Remember, some items we think of as vegetables are technically fruits because they originate from flowers and contain seeds.)
Can we eat all of them? (Yes, they all share this common trait, although we might not eat every part of each item.)
Use this as an opportunity to draw attention to seeds if they haven't noticed yet. Gradually, help them understand that each food contains seeds or is a seed. Ask if they know what a seed is and what seeds need to grow.
4. Conclusion: After the activity, work together to tidy up the fruits and nuts.
5. Find a comfortable spot to read "A Seed Is Sleepy" by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long.
Turn to the page with different seed illustrations. Take a moment to explore the various seeds together. Explain that seeds are found in many places, not just in the foods we eat. This story will help them learn more about seeds. Read the story together, pausing on each page to find seeds and define unfamiliar words. For younger children, it might be helpful to read the phrases and then explain their meanings in simpler terms in your own words. After reading, let your child know that the next lesson will delve deeper into seeds and how they grow!
