Native American Science Lesson Plan. By OLC Ag Extension Leslie R. Henry, Director. Three Sisters Garden Seed Germination Test

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Native American Science Lesson Plan By OLC Ag Extension Leslie R. Henry, Director Lesson: Grades: Three Sisters Garden Seed Germination Test K-12, Adult Education S. D. Educational Standards: Math - SD Math -- 7.

1 Native American Science Lesson Plan By OLC Ag Extension Leslie R. Henry, Director Lesson: Grades: Three Sisters Garden Seed Germination Test K-12, Adult Education S. D. Educational Standards: Math - SD Math -- 7.N.1.1; 9-12.N.2.1 & 9-12.A.2.1 Science- Life Skills: Materials Needed: Time: Activity: Seeds, Planting Medium, Planting Tray s, Water, & Paper for recording 30 to 50 minutes first lesson, daily monitoring (watering, temperature, light, etc.) Students will plant 20 seeds of corn, beans, & squash. They will water and monitor the seed plantings for germination. Plant 20 seeds of each member of the Native American three sister s plants (corn, beans, & squash). Begin by preparing soil for planting seeds. This can be either in the garden (depending on time of year) or in the classroom with plant trays. If using planting trays (Figure 1) fill the trays with soil and plant one seed in each sell. Figure 1: Green House Plant Tray To save on money and recycle collect used lunch milk cartons (enough for 60 seeds). Rinse out the cartons after the milk has been used and let dry. Put a few holes in bottom of carton for drainage. Fill with soil and plant one seed per carton. Plant the seed twice as deep in the soil as 1

the size of the seed. (Larger seeds are planted deeper than small seeds.) Water your cartons or trays. Make sure that you have allowed the excess water to drain out of the trays (cartons).

2 the size of the seed. (Larger seeds are planted deeper than small seeds.) Water your cartons or trays. Make sure that you have allowed the excess water to drain out of the trays (cartons). Place in a window for light or plant grow lab. Monitor for water, light, heat, etc. for the next few weeks. Record the date you see the first seedling emerge. Also, record the last date you see a seedling emerge. Now count how many seedlings of corn, beans, and squash have emerged. Example 1 Record of the Number of Seeds Germinated: Squash 12 Corn 19 Bean 15 Now do the math to figure out your germination rate for each seed type. Example 2 Germination Rate Math: Squash germination rate = (12 20) X 100 = 60% germination Corn germination rate = (19 20) X 100 = 95% germination Bean germination rate = (15 20) X 100 = 75% germination rate 2

3 Another way to figure germination rate if you have a number of seeds that will go into 100 seeds an even number of times is to multiply the by the number of times your seeds planted will go into 100. For example if 20 seeds are planted 20 will go into 100 how many times? Five times So if you have 15 out of 20 you would take 15 x 5 = 75% germination rate. You try it: 19 x 5 = % 12 x 5 = % Record your results here: Squash Corn Bean Now do the math to figure out your germination rate for each seed type. Do your math for germination rate here: Squash germination rate = ( 20) X 100 = % germination Corn germination rate = ( 20) X 100 = % germination Bean germination rate = ( 20) X 100 = % germination 3

4 Why is knowing germination rate of seeds important? When you are planting a three sisters garden to supply food for you, family, and your community it is important to start with good seeds that will provide strong plants which will produce vegetables and fruits that can supply food for winter. Without a good germination rate from the seeds planted you run the risk of not having enough food for winter. If the only seeds you have access to plant have a low germination rate from the above testing you have the chance to adjust your planting rate of the seeds to increase your chance of having a food crop for winter storage. This can be done as follows: Let s take the germination rate of squash in example 1. Only 12 and our germination rate was 60% for the squash seed. I need at least a 95% germination rate to have a successful crop. I have a 35% shortfall in germination to meet the 95% rate. The question is how many more seeds will I need to plant to make a successful planting of squash? Y seeds = 95% 20 seeds 60% Y = unknown number of seeds (This will be what you are trying to find out.) Y seeds = 95% 20 seeds 60% Cross multiply across the equal sign. (Y x 60 = 20 x 95) or (60 x Y = 95 x 20) Solve for Y. 60Y = 1900 Divide both sides by 60 to find Y. Y = = 32 _seeds Twelve more squash seeds will need to be planted to equal a 95% germination grate. The gardener will need to plant 32 seeds of squash to reach a successful germination rate for their garden. Many times gardeners will adjust their planting rate when they have older seeds as many more seeds are no longer alive. You should start with fresh seeds every year for your garden as the seed companies are required to have completed a germination test on all their seeds they sell and this should be at a 55% (carrots) - 80% (cucumber) germination rate depending on the variety of the seed ( 4

5 Let us chart your data: Crop Seed Name Squash, Hubbard -- Blue Corn, Dent Hopi blue Bean, Pole Kentucky Wonder Number of Seeds Out of 20 Germinated (record the number below) Percentage of Seeds Germinated Other Information Exp. Date on seed packet: 2012 Your class may like to adjust the germination testing to see if older seeds germinate at the same rate as new seeds. For example squash seeds from 1995 planting season will they germinate at the same rate as 2012 seeds. You can set up an experiment to test your hypothesis. The class hypothesis may be that they will germinate at the same rate. And the null-hypothesis would be that they will not germinate at the same rate. Which one did your class data support? Trial One: Squash Hubbard Seeds Crop Seed Name Squash, Hubbard -- Blue Squash, Hubbard -- Blue Squash, Hubbard -- Blue Number of Seeds Out of 20 Germinated (record the number below) Percentage of Seeds Germinated Other Information Trial Two: Corn Seeds Trial Three: Bean Seeds Repeat for other seeds. 5

6 Definitions: Three Sisters Corn, beans, & squash Germination seeds sprouting (growing) Germination rate percentage of seeds sprouting Monitor watching Seedling young plant that has just emerged from the seed. Emerged seeds that have grown out of the soil Cross multiply numerator on one side of equal sign times the denominator on the other side of the equal sign. A = B or A x D = B x C C D 6

7 Student Worksheet Grades 7-12 Seed Germination Record your results here: Squash Corn Bean Now do the math to figure out your germination rate for each seed type. Do your math for germination rate here: Squash germination rate = ( 20) X 100 = % germination Corn germination rate = ( 20) X 100 = % germination Bean germination rate = ( 20) X 100 = % germination 7

8 Student Worksheet Grades 7-12 Teachers Answers Sheet Seed Germination Record your results here: Squash Corn Bean Now do the math to figure out your germination rate for each seed type. Do your math for germination rate here: Squash germination rate = ( 20) X 100 = % germination Corn germination rate = ( 20) X 100 = % germination Bean germination rate = ( 20) X 100 = % germination 8

read about seeds third grade

read about seeds third grade Description In this classroom-based lesson, students read real seed packets to learn what a seed needs to grow. They will use observation and language skills to decode the words and graphics on the packet