lesson
Seeds move away
1 · Learn
Seed dispersal means seeds spreading away from the parent plant. This can reduce competition for light, water and space.
Seeds may travel by wind, animals or other methods. A dandelion's light structures can help its seeds move in air. Some hooked fruits catch on animals' fur. The structures help explain the method.
2 · Worked example
I compare a hooked fruit and a winged seed in photographs. I predict different ways they may travel because their shapes differ.
3 · Your turn
Why might it help a seed to grow away from its parent plant?
Check your answer
It may have less competition with the parent and nearby seedlings for space, light and water.
4 · Apply your learning
Design two paper seed models and compare how they fall from the same low height indoors. Explain the limits of your model.
Adult guidance and safety
No tasting, throwing real seeds or releasing invasive species. Paper models are not evidence about every species.
Open your writing and drawing pad
Write, draw or show your working. Use a mouse, pen or finger. This pad is not a submitted answer.
Not saved to your account. Download your drawing as PNG and your typed notes as TXT before leaving or refreshing. They are separate files. Do not enter private information.
Open a picture saved on this device to draw on it again. Opening replaces the drawing, but Undo can restore it. PNG only, up to 4 MB and 4096 × 4096 pixels. The picture stays in this browser; it is not uploaded. Paper lines in a saved picture become part of that picture.
Clear the drawing? Your typed notes will stay. You can undo this action.
Your pad is empty.
Open a UTF-8 TXT file from this device, up to 40 KB and 10,000 characters. It stays in this browser. Opening can be undone until you type again. Downloads keep a new copy; they do not change the file you opened.
Replace the notes on this page with the opened file? Download the current notes first if you want to keep them.
Typed notes are not submitted answers.
My observation notebook
With an adult, look at a safe real example or a checked photograph. Name the example and say which you used. Record what you actually notice. Do not taste plants or materials, approach unknown animals or invent missing observations.
Ask your teacher for support with the method and recording. A prediction is what you think might happen; an observation is what you actually see, hear or feel safely.
Keep your notebook: use Download notebook before leaving. Nothing is sent to the website or saved to your account. Reopen the downloaded notebook here to add another day's record. Do not include names, addresses or other private information.
Your records on this page
No observations recorded yet. Look first, then add one.
Reopening adds records; it does not replace your current records. Up to 50 records per notebook. Keep your downloads somewhere private. Editing this notebook does not submit work or complete a lesson.
Practice this lesson
Lesson resources
Browse the available practice activities and worksheets for this lesson.
Your progress