Impatient Flower Pod Exploding

Contributor
Adriane Oneil
Type Category
Instructional Materials
Types
Phenomenon
Note
This resource, vetted by NSTA curators, is provided to teachers along with suggested modifications to make it more in line with the vision of the NGSS. While not considered to be "fully aligned," the resources and expert recommendations provide teachers with concrete examples and expert guidance using the EQuIP rubric to adapted existing resources. Read more here.

Reviews

Description

This 23 second video about an impatient seed pod exploding is a natural phenomena that may be used as a lead into a discussions about another way that seeds disperse.

Intended Audience

Educator and learner
Educational Level
  • Grade 2
  • Upper Elementary
  • Early Elementary
Language
English
Access Restrictions

Free access - The right to view and/or download material without financial, registration, or excessive advertising barriers.

Performance Expectations

2-LS2-2 Develop a simple model that mimics the function of an animal in dispersing seeds or pollinating plants.

Clarification Statement: none

Assessment Boundary: none

This resource was not designed to build towards this performance expectation, but can be used to build towards it using the suggestions provided below.

Comments about Including the Performance Expectation
This video clip is to be used as seed dispersal phenomena and to generate student questions and conversations. Students will use the information gained in the video to begin asking questions about seed dispersal. Investigating these questions will lead to developing simple models that mimic the function of an animal in dispersing seeds or pollinating plants.

Science and Engineering Practices

This resource appears to be designed to build towards this science and engineering practice, though the resource developer has not explicitly stated so.

Comments about Including the Science and Engineering Practice
The phenomenon of an exploding seed pod will naturally generate student questions and curiosity. The instructor allows time for student questions and discussion between peers about what is happening to the plant. Sample Student Questions: What happened to the plant? What part of the plant is being touched? What caused the seed pod to explode? Why does the plant need the pod to explode?

Disciplinary Core Ideas

This resource was not designed to build towards this disciplinary core idea, but can be used to build towards it using the suggestions provided below.

Comments about Including the Disciplinary Core Idea
Through this seed dispersal video, the educator can extend student learning of how different plants in an area disperse seeds and can further strengthen the concept of biodiversity as not all plants reproduce in this manner.

This resource was not designed to build towards this disciplinary core idea, but can be used to build towards it using the suggestions provided below.

Comments about Including the Disciplinary Core Idea
This is an extension of animal involvement in seed dispersal with a discussion of animals touching or moving past seed pods causing the pod to burst.

Crosscutting Concepts

This resource was not designed to build towards this crosscutting concept, but can be used to build towards it using the suggestions provided below.

Comments about Including the Crosscutting Concept
With further discussion, students learn what caused the seeds to be dispersed.

This resource was not designed to build towards this crosscutting concept, but can be used to build towards it using the suggestions provided below.

Comments about Including the Crosscutting Concept
No cross-cutting concept is listed for this performance expectation, but discussion of the structure of the seed or seed pod helps students understand how seeds are dispersed so new plants can grow.

Resource Quality

  • Alignment to the Dimensions of the NGSS: - none -

  • Instructional Supports: - none -

  • Monitoring Student Progress: - none -

  • Quality of Technological Interactivity: Educators are encouraged to have students make observations from the video, leading to discussion and questions among peers about the plant's seed dispersal and how it differs from other plants already discussed.