Seeds and Seeds — Class 5 EVS (CBSE)
Based on the NCERT Looking Around Grade 5 textbook. Discover how seeds grow and travel, then solve the practice set.
1. Why this chapter matters
A tiny seed can grow into a huge tree. But how? This chapter explores the amazing journey of a seed — from planting to germination to becoming a full plant. Students learn what a seed needs to grow, how seeds are dispersed (travel) to new places, and about a very special plant — the pitcher plant, which eats insects. Understanding seeds helps us appreciate where our food comes from.
2. Parts of a seed
A seed has three main parts:
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Seed coat | The outer covering. Protects the seed. |
| Cotyledon | The food store. Provides energy for the baby plant. |
| Embryo | The baby plant. Will grow into roots and shoots. |
Example: A bean seed split open shows the two cotyledons (halves) and the tiny embryo in between.
3. Seed germination
Germination is the process by which a seed grows into a new plant.
What a seed needs to germinate
- Water — Softens the seed coat and activates growth.
- Air — The embryo needs oxygen to grow.
- Warmth — The right temperature (not too hot, not too cold).
- Sunlight — Needed after germination for the plant to make food.
Steps of germination
- The seed absorbs water and swells.
- The seed coat breaks open.
- The root grows downward (into the soil).
- The shoot grows upward (towards the light).
- The first leaves appear and start making food through photosynthesis.
4. Seed dispersal
Seeds need to travel away from the parent plant so they have space to grow. This is called dispersal.
| Method | How it works | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | Light seeds with wings or hair are carried by wind | Dandelion, maple, cotton |
| Water | Seeds float on water to new places | Coconut, lotus |
| Animals | Seeds stick to fur or are eaten and passed out | Cocklebur, mango, guava |
| Explosion | Pods burst open and throw seeds | Balsam, peas |
5. Pitcher plant — an insectivorous plant
Most plants make their own food through photosynthesis. But the pitcher plant grows in soil that lacks nutrients. So it eats insects!
How it works
- The pitcher-shaped leaf has a sweet-smelling liquid at the bottom.
- An insect is attracted by the smell and lands on the pitcher.
- The inside walls are slippery — the insect falls into the liquid.
- The plant digests the insect and absorbs nutrients.
The pitcher plant is called an insectivorous plant (insect-eating plant).
6. Activity corner
Activity 1: Soak 10 moong or chana seeds overnight. Wrap them in a wet cotton cloth. Observe them each day for a week. Draw the changes you see — root, shoot, leaves.
Activity 2: Collect different types of seeds (mango, apple, orange, cucumber, sunflower). Cut them open and look for the seed coat, cotyledon, and embryo (use a magnifying glass).
Activity 3: Find five seeds that are dispersed by wind. Draw each one and write how it travels.
7. Common mistakes
- Mistake: Thinking seeds need sunlight to germinate Fix: Seeds germinate underground where there is no light. Sunlight is needed after the shoot emerges.
- Mistake: Believing all plants make food only through photosynthesis Fix: Pitcher plants also eat insects for nutrients because the soil they grow in is poor.
- Mistake: Confusing 'seed' with 'fruit' Fix: A seed grows into a new plant. A fruit contains seeds (e.g., mango is a fruit, the inside hard part is the seed).
8. Key facts
- A seed has three parts: seed coat, cotyledon (food), embryo (baby plant).
- Germination needs: water, air, warmth. Sunlight is needed after germination.
- Seed dispersal methods: wind, water, animals, explosion.
- Pitcher plants eat insects to get nutrients from poor soil.
- Different seeds have different sizes, shapes, and dispersal methods.
- Plants produce many seeds to ensure some survive.
9. Self-test
- What are the three main parts of a seed?
- What does a seed need to germinate?
- Name two methods of seed dispersal.
- How does the pitcher plant get its food?
- Why do plants need to disperse their seeds?
10. Answer key
-
What are the three main parts of a seed? Answer: Seed coat (outer covering), cotyledon (food store), and embryo (baby plant).
-
What does a seed need to germinate? Answer: Water, air (oxygen), and warmth. Sunlight is needed after germination.
-
Name two methods of seed dispersal. Answer: Wind and water (also animals and explosion).
-
How does the pitcher plant get its food? Answer: The pitcher plant traps and digests insects to get nutrients from the poor soil where it grows.
-
Why do plants need to disperse their seeds? Answer: So that seeds have space to grow without competing with the parent plant for sunlight, water, and nutrients.
11. Quick revision
- Seed = seed coat + cotyledon + embryo.
- Germination needs: water + air + warmth.
- Dispersal: wind, water, animals, explosion.
- Pitcher plant = insectivorous (eats insects).
- Not all plants need rich soil — some adapt to poor soil by eating insects.
- Every seed carries a baby plant inside, waiting for the right conditions.
- Observe seeds around you — they come in amazing shapes and sizes.
