1. Learning Modules for 7th– 12th Grade Life Sciences
Plant Reproduction
Learning Modules for 7th– 12th Grade
Life Sciences

2. Today’s Workshop
Pollen Crime Lab + Seed Dispersal Labs created to teach students about plant reproduction and life cycle
Incorporate two major stages of plant reproduction (fertilization & seed production)
Fun, hands-on activities that incorporate real-life scenarios (forensics & competition)

3. Pollen Crime Scene Activity

4. Why Pollen? Reinforces concepts of plant reproduction
Easily stained and visualized using microscopes
Unique and diverse morphology
Real-world application that appeals to students
Incorporates investigation and experimentation techniques

5. Pre-Lab Presentation Structure of a flower and reproductive organs
Structure of pollen grain
How do scientists use pollen to answer questions about organisms and their environment
Using pollen in crime and accident scenes
Video: time lapse pollen grain
germination

6. Pollen Crime Scene Activity
Examine the pollen structure from four plant sources and determine the guilty suspect of an assault.

7. Flowers found at each suspect’s home
Each lab group:
Pre-made slide:
Flowers found at each suspect’s home
Victim
Suspect 1
Suspect 2
Suspect 3

8. Worksheet

9. Learning Objectives
Use experimental and investigatory techniques (create hypotheses, collect data, draw conclusions)
Improve microscopy skills
Identify and distinguish unique biological species
Recognize real-life applications of plant biology

10. California Learning Standards
7th Grade Life Sciences:
Structure and Function in Living Systems (5 a, f)
Investigation and Experimentation (7 a, c, d)
High School Biology:
Genetics (2b)
Ecology (6a)
Evolution (7d)

11. Assessment Worksheets, lab write-ups Exam questions, quizzes
Building upon learned knowledge on subsequent activities

13. Seed Dispersal Activities
Objectives:
Educate students about an important stage of plant
reproduction
Teach students how to recognize the different mechanisms
plants use to disperse their seeds
Incorporate material pertaining to plant competition and
inbreeding depression

14. Name That Diaspore!! (Seed Dispersal Lab I)
Students will be presented with a diverse array of plant diaspores and will be asked to determine the mechanism by which they are likely to disperse.
*Diaspore = seed + any additional tissues that assist in dispersal

15. Worksheet

16. Build Your Own Diaspore! (Seed Dispersal Lab II)
Students will be given craft materials (construction paper, glue, paper clips, etc.) to construct their own plant diaspores that will ride the wind.
Each group of students will compete their seeds to determine which model is m the most efficient wind-disperser.

17. Worksheet

18. High School Modifications
Pollen Activity:
Include more details about plant reproduction: double fertilization, autogamy vs. allogamy, mating systems, meiosis & mitosis, gametophytes & sporophytes
Seed Dispersal Activities:
Inbreeding depression, plant competition and other ecological mechanisms, more details in plant physiology

19. Questions?