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Home Education K-12 Lesson Clearinghouse Pre K-2 Green Thumb Challenge K-2 How Many Seeds

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Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse

How Many Seeds

Lesson Description:
Students will guess how many seeds are in a cucumber and then count to find out.

Procedure:
  1. Ask the class if they have ever cut open a cucumber? What’s inside? Then ask the class how many seeds they think are in a cucumber. Ask for a show of hands for those who think there are 5 seeds, those who think there are 20 seeds, and about 50.
  2.  Let’s find out: divide the class into groups of two. then cut the cucumbers in half for the students.
  3. Hand out the cucumbers, spoons, and cups for each student. Explain that their job is to remove the seeds and place them into the cup. Once they have removed all the seeds, each group can count how many seeds they have.
  4. Once the students have finished counting, ask them what their total number of seeds was and record on the board. then ask the class what their strategy was for counting the seeds? By 1’s? by 2’s? Also ask if they think the size of the cucumber determines the number of seeds.
  5. Afterwards the students can eat their cucumbers.
Adaptations:
  • The activity can be shortened or lengthened depending on the size of fruit or vegetable used. pumpkins are great for a larger activity during October, and apples work well for a shorter activity or during apple picking season.
  • Before cutting the cucumbers, students can measure and record the length and circumference in the widest part of the cucumber.
  • Make more groups and cut cumcumbers into smaller pieces.
Lesson Type:
  • Group Work
  • Other
Sustainability Topic:
  • Gardening
GEF Program Category:
  • Green Thumb Challenge
Time Needed:
30 minutes
Materials Needed:
  • cucumber
  • a knife for cutting the cucumber
  • spoon
  • cup
Submitted By:
Green Education Foundation
School or Group:
GEF
Contact Email:
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
Located in: Green Thumb Challenge K-2

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