Teacher's notes Seeds and plants that are suitable for growing indoors or in window boxes include: cress tomatoes strawberries runner beans broad beans avocados radishes sunflowers They provide an ideal opportunity for children to observe germination and the development of seedlings.

Sc2: 3a,3b, 3c, 3d

Ask the children to identify a selection of different seeds. You might use seeds from the following fruits;

• apple
  
• apricot
  
• lemon
  
• sunflower
  
• cherry
  
• avocado
  
• tomato
  
• plum
  
• cucumber
  
• mango
  

Try growing some plants from seed (cress, mung beans, herbs, radishes, courgettes, pumpkins, broad beans, runner beans, peas, lettuces and carrots are all suitable). Ask the children to explain what they'll need and how they'll care for the plants.

The children can be asked to;

• identify different parts of the plant
  
• draw labelled diagrams
  
• record changes in height and appearance
  
• design and conduct experiments about the importance of light, soil, temperature and water
  
• harvest, prepare, cook, eat and evaluate their produce.

Some of the seedlings can and will need to be replanted outside when they are fully sprouted (e.g. sunflowers, beans, peas, pumpkins).

As part of the Grab 5! project, children can also be encouraged to grow their own fresh produce at home.

Grow your own bean sprouts

You will need: An empty yoghurt/cottage cheese pot (with a lid). Dried mung beans

Soak a handful of beans in water overnight.
Put the beans in the yoghurt pot.
Pierce several holes in the lid.
Place the pot in a warm, dark cupboard.
Twice a day, fill the pot with water, replace the lid and then slowly pour out the water.
The beans will be ready to eat in 3 to 4 days.

Grow your own mustard and cress

You will need: Mustard and cress seeds. A plastic bag. An empty pot. A paper towel.

Put the seeds onto a damp paper towel at the bottom of an empty pot.
Put the pot inside a plastic bag and seal.
Place the pot in a dark cupboard.
When the seedlings reach a height of 5cm, remove the pot from the cupboard and place it on a window sill.

Grow an avocado tree

You will need: An avocado stone. A plastic bag. A small plant pot or empty jam jar. Some compost.

Place the avocado stone in a pot of compost with the pointed end sticking out from the soil.
Water the compost and then seal the pot in a plastic bag.
Put the pot on a windowsill.
Remove the bag when the leaves begin to appear.

Investigate what happens to plants when seeds are planted too closely together. Ask the children to design a test to see how overcrowding effects the growth of some radishes. Ask the children to predict the likely results and to record and analyse their findings.

Maths, Data handling