How Do Seeds Travel?

Let's Explore the Possibilities!

How Do SeedsTravel?Let's Explore the Possibilities!

First: What Is A Seed?

A seed is the part of a plant that allows the plant to make MORE plants like itself. Seeds allow the plant to reproduce.

Let's look at some seeds!

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Peach Seed

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Maple Leaf Seed Pods

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Koa Tree Seed Pods

What Are Some Ways That Seeds Can Travel?

Wind

When the wind blows, it can loosen a seed from its plant. The seed can then blow far away from it's plant, and land on the ground. Then the seed will grow in its new home.
The Dandelion

Sea

Seeds can fall into streams, rivers, and oceans and float far away. The seeds can either land on new land, or the seeds may be eaten by a hungry bird flying over the water.
The Sea Bean
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Animals

Animals also play a big role in how seeds travel.
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Animals Can Eat Seeds

When an animal eats a plant with seeds, the animal swallows the seeds. The animal travels far away from the plant. The seed leaves the animal's belly, and grows in a new home.
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Animals Can Carry Seeds

Animals can also carry seeds with their fur, or wool. When an animals walks past a plant, the plant can stick its seeds onto the animal's coat. Eventually, the seeds will fall off the animals and grow into new plants!
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Animals Can Plant Seeds

Humans are animals too. Farmers are humans that grow food. Farmers plant seeds into the soil, so that the seeds will grow into plants that we can eat. Can you think of some plants we eat that have seeds?

Jones Valley Farm

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Seed Traveling Mystery

Jones Valley Farm uses a very special soil called Compost. Compost is a type of soil that is made up of rich nutrients. This special soil helps seeds grow into big, healthy plants.

Soil is the seed's home.


Jones Valley Farm makes compost using animal waste from the Birmingham Zoo! The Zoo animals eat a variety of fruits and vegetables.


One day, Farmer Mike was taking care of the Jones Valley Farm tomato patch when he spotted something strange. A cantaloupe vine was growing in the tomato patch, and a small cantaloupe was on the vine! Farmer Mike could not believe his eyes. Jones Valley Farm did not plant cantaloupe seeds! How could a cantaloupe seed have traveled all the way to Jones Valley Farm?

The Importance of Sunshine!

In order for seeds to grow, they need plenty of light. When seeds travel away from their plant, it is important that they find a nice, sunny spot. The seeds that the farmers plant at Jones Valley Farm also need plenty of sunlight. Do you see any trees casting shade onto the farm in these pictures?

Now It's Time To Test How Seeds Fly!

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The Javan Cucumber Seed

The Glider Seed Model
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The Maple Leaf Seed Pod

The Rotocopter Seed Model
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Tree Of Heaven Seeds

The Spinner Seed Model