Download Resource #3 - Pearlstone Center

Build a Seed
Overview
Based on the wilderness lesson, “Build a Tree” by Joseph Cornell, this lesson is ideal for younger
participants and springtime planting, indoors or outdoors. Using drama, participants learn the
parts of a seed and the necessary elements for growth, busting through the seed coat and germinating
into a seedling (vocabulary optional depending on age). We conclude with a quiet solo seedplanting, focusing our kavana- intention on good wishes and blessings for both the seed and
ourselves.
Definitions
 Seed - 1. the fertilized, matured ovule of a flowering plant, containing an embryo or rudimentary
plant. 2. any propagative part of a plant, including tubers, bulbs, etc., esp. as preserved for growing a
new crop.
 Embryo - 1. the young of a viviparous animal, esp. of a mammal, in the early stages of development
within the womb, in humans up to the end of the second month. 2. Botany . the rudimentary plant
usually contained in the seed. 3. any multicellular animal in a developmental stage preceding birth or
hatching.
 Parts of a Seed (see appendix for diagram)
 Seed Coat – outer layer that protects the seed.
 Endosperm – the “food source” of the seed.
 Cotyledons – the “first leaves” of a seedling, providing the first energy for growth
 Germinate - to develop into a plant or individual, as a seed, spore, or bulb.
 Kavana- spiritual intention
Goals
 Touch and feel seeds, seedlings, and fully grown plants
 Learn different parts of a seed; BE different parts of a seed
 Introduce sun, soil, water and air as necessary components for seeds and all life
 Plant seeds well and send them home with participants
 Bring kavanah-intention to planting, giving wishes and blessings to seeds
Logistics
Audience: Children ages 3-9 (Parents welcome)
Setting: Greenhouse, garden, or farm
Number of Participants: 4-18
Timing: Preparation – 10 minutes, Implementation – 30-45 minutes, Clean-up – 10 minutes
Materials:
 Large seeds that are easy to plant: sunflowers, beans, peas (not carrots or lettuce)
 Planting materials (soil, trays or pots)
 Water
 Ideal but optional: just-germinated seedlings and lots of other plants
Core Competencies - Participants will be able to:
 Act out the parts of a seed and the germination process
 Plant with kavanah-intention and water seeds
Core Concepts - Participants will know:
 All life begins small: plants, animals, people, universe
 Seeds have inside them the parts they need in order to grow: seed coat, food source
(endosperm), leaves (cotyledons)
 Sun, soil, water and air are necessary for all life on earth
Trigger
10 minutes
Lesson Outline
Welcome to the greenhouse (or garden)! Let’s look around—follow me!
 Walk through the garden or greenhouse slowly and see all the new young
plants growing. Touch the tops of the plants, especially areas with lots of young
plants growing close together (lettuce or other greens). Taste a few things.
 How many plants do you think there are here? 100, 1000, 10,000?
 How did all these plants start? As seeds! Plants start out as seeds; what about
animals? Often hatched from eggs, also known as embryos, which is another
kind of seed! What about people—you and me? Also embryos, seeds! Families
are like seeds too– how is your family like a seed? All life starts from something
small, and often it’s seeds
Build a Seed (10 minutes)
 What is a seed? Who wants to be a seed?
 Let’s build a seed: get into groups of three or four—everyone will become part of a seed.
Each small group come up with a name for your seed.
 Seeds are amazing because they are so small but inside they have even smaller parts that
they need in order to grow:
1. Seed coat – the tough outside shell protecting the seed from the outside. Who has a
coat on? Who wants to be the seed coat? Can you play defense? Show us your seed coat
moves! [suggestion—march around your seed-friends and chant: “Defense! Defense!”
2. Endosperm or Food Source—giving the seed energy to grow. Who wants to be the
food source? What do you look like? [suggestion—rub your tummy and say “Yum-yum”
3. Cotyledons or First Leaves—the first leaves to burst out of the seed (germination),
soaking up the sun’s energy to allow for more leaves to grow. Everyone else, you’re the
cotyledons. Get ready to bust out of your seed. 1, 2, 3—go! Reach up high with both
hands together and open up as you stand up to soak in the sun’s rays. Welcome to the
world, we germinated!
 All together now, act out the parts of the seed sound machine, culminating with germination
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Sun, Soil, Water, Air (8 minutes)
That was great. Let’s go see some real seedlings that just germinated. [Recently germinated
sunflowers, beans, or peas are great because you can see the cotyledons growing and often
the seed coat is still attached, about to fall off]. What else does the seed need in order to
grow, besides its own parts inside?
There are four basic things that are VERY important for all life on earth. What are they?
Jingle: “Sun, soil, water, air—everything we eat and everything we wear.
Hebrew jingle: Shemesh, adamah, mayim, aviir—everything we eat and everything we wiir.
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Let’s get to know these four elements more closely:
o Use potting soil or garden soil: invite participants to touch and describe what it feels like.
o Take a deep breath, feeling the air fill up our lungs. We breathe in oxygen and our
carbon dioxide—plants breathe in CO2 and out oxygen. We’re perfect partners. Go
breathe together with a plant.
o Feel the sunlight (and hopefully the warmth).
o What about water? Spritz a little water on them (with teacher permission).
Sing the chant again “Sun, soil…”. Do we like these four elements? Plants do too! They
need them in order to grow. And it’s not just plants—all life on earth depends on them!
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Solo Planting Sit (10 minutes)
Okay, who’s ready to plant? Walk over to seeding area. Planting is a very special thing to
do—we need focus and calm in order to plant. Explain the right planting depth. First
plant seeds for the garden or farm, many seeds over several trays (each child should plant
at least 5 or 6).
Now who wants one to take home? Before you plant, listen to this:
R. Simon said, no seed exists below that does not have an angel in the heavens, who strikes it
and says to it, Grow! -- Midrash Brieshit Rabbah
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Each of you will get a seed and a little pot, and you’ll have a few minutes to find a quiet
spot to plant, just you and your seed. Just like the midrash says, you will be that angel for
the seed you’re planting. Before planting, try to feel kavanah – intention. That means you
can sit quietly for a few moments, look at the seed closely in your hand (or your
parent/chaperone’s hand), and give it a wish or a blessing. You can even tell G!d what you
want for this plant, and since planting is such a special moment, you can say other prayers
to G!d too. You might even hear your seed whisper something back to you, but you’ll have
to listen very closely to understand. [review proper planting technique]. Now, go find a
quiet spot with your seed, take your time, and plant with kavanah-intention [1-3 minutes].
Closing (5 minutes)
Share blessings and wishes given to the seeds. Did anyone’s seed whisper something
back?
Was this the first time you ever planted something? Say shehechianu:
‫ימנּו וְ ִהגִ עָּ נּו ַלזְ מַ ן הַ ֶזה‬
ָּ ְ‫בָּ רּוְך ַא ָּתה יְ ָּי ֶאלֹוהֵ ינּו מֶ לְֶך הַ עֹולָּם שֵ הֵ ְחיָּנּו וְ ִקי‬
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha'olam she'hechiyanu v'ki'y'manu v'higiyanu lazman ha'zeh.
Blessed are You, Lord our G!d, Ruler of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled
us to reach this time. AMEN!
Just one more thing to do—water! [spray everyone with a bit of water, with teacher’s permission]
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Post-Learning / Take Home Piece
Take your seed home, care for it with sun and water, and watch it grow
Play Build-a-Seed with your whole family
Plant lots of seeds, all different kinds, and learn from your garden all year long!
Appendix/Additional Resources
Image from The Robinson Library
http://www.robinsonlibrary.com/science/botany/anatomy/seedparts.htm
Sources Cited
Cornell, Joseph. Sharing the Joy of Nature: Nature Activities for All Ages. Dawn Pubns, 1st edition (June 1989).