Seed Saving Storage Engineering Design Lesson Plan Template
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4The Story of Seeds: Seed Saving Storage Engineering Design
Literature: The Story of Seeds
Posted: Maureen Foelkl
Grade/ Grade Band: 3-5
by Nancy F. Castaldo
Purpose: Seed harvesting, collection and storage are practices to preserve biodiversity in the
agroecosystem. Students will explore the practice of seed storage using organic heirloom seeds from their
geographical region.
Performance Expectation(s): 3-5-ETS1-3. Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled
and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved
Disciplinary Core Idea: 3-LS4-4. Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when
the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change.
Prior Student Knowledge: Students need to have an understanding of how a famine can impact a
population. A background knowledge of Gregor Mendel, Luther Burbank, Nikolai Vavilov and Dr. El
Sheikh will bring understanding to the importance of research in the preservation of seeds.
If using technology, students should be familiar with tablet applications.
Materials:
The Story of Seeds, from Mendel's Garden to Your Plate, and How There's More of Less to eat
Around the World; Nancy F. Castaldo
organic heirloom seeds (this lesson uses Glass Gem Corn) from your USDA Plant Hardiness
Zone
bunch of organic, heirloom rainbow carrots. (Available at most natural food centers.)
tablet computers or other devices for data collection and photography
Notability by Ginger Labs, tablet application (cloud storage service, e.g., Google Drive)
student data sheet (download into digital notebook)
communication rubric
hand lenses
student science notebook or digital notebook
color pencils, crayons and other medium for illustrating
glue, scissors, construction paper, duct tape or other materials for creative designing
reused, repurposed and recycled materials for students to create new storage containers
measuring tools, Ex: thermometers, hygrometers, rulers, etc.
LESSON PLAN – 5-E Model
ENGAGE:
Introduce students to the book, The Story of Seeds by Nancy F. Castaldo. Access prior knowledge on
how a seed grows using the visual from the cover of the text. Ask students to discuss what kind of seed is
on the cover. "What evidence shows you that this is a corn plant seed?" Have students make connections
as they share within a whole group setting. Make sure to record student responses on chart paper for
future vocabulary reference.
Next, read the first paragraph in chapter one. Clarify the word famine prior to the reading of the text.
Focus in on the question, "What if you were facing a great famine, as they did in Ireland?" Have students
turn and talk about what they might do if there were a famine in their community? Read pages 34- 36
explaining the crop failure that caused the great hunger in Ireland.
Teach vocabulary: genetically identical variety, resistant and blight. Then read the last paragraph on
page 37. What does crop diversity mean in this paragraph? What is monoculture farming? What evidence
supports your thinking?
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