This series of activities gives pupils an opportunity to explore different aspects of fruits and seeds and to understand how (and why) they are dispersed.

The activities presented here are suitable for pupils in age range 5 to 11 (e.g. Key Stages 1 and 2, Scottish Primary P1 to P7 or equivalent), but should be adapted to suit the age and ability of the pupils. You will find that information given on the FSC fold out chart may be of interest to any age group . . . even adults!

An introductory exercise to encourage observation of fruits and seeds and to think about their dispersal is given in OSMOSIS 23 (Primary).

Some of the activities below (including the "Sultana game") are incorporated into the booklet Plants for primary pupils - Reproduction and life cycles Part 2: Pollination, fertilisation,fruits and seeds dispersal. This is also linked to a CD with a range of drawings illustrating fruits, seeds and their dispersal. This is available as a published booklet (with accompanying CD) and also on the SAPS website.

The FSC fold out chart is available from FSC Publications, The Annexe, Preston Montford Lane, Shrewsbury SY4 1DU (tel: 01743 852140 or 0845 345 4072, email: publications@field-studies-council.org, website: www.field-studies-council.org)

 

This website section offers you the following activities, worksheets and other support material.

Suggestions on how to use the FSC fold out chart A guide to fruits and seed dispersal

Images of all drawings of fruits and seeds as given on the FSC fold out chart
These can be downloaded and incorporated into worksheets, or used as you wish with your teaching material.
(Note that the copyright agreement allows these to be used for teaching purposes ONLY.)

Fruits and seeds and how they are dispersed . . . some ideas to explore for KS2 (download as pdf) (Osmosis 23 - Primary)
Worksheet - questions about fruits and seeds (observation)

Constructing a key to fruit dispersal mechanisms
Worksheet - Fruit fact file
Worksheet - Character table

Example* of Fruit fact file
Example* of Character table
Example* of a key constructed from a character table

(*These examples are by courtesy of Ursuline Preparatory School, 18 The Downs, Wimbledon SW20 8HR)

The sultana game
a useful introduction to some of the concepts linked to seed dispersal, particularly for younger pupils

Plants for primary pupils - Reproduction and life cycles
Part 2: Pollination, fertilisation, fruits and seed dispersal
includes a modified version of the "Sultana game" and range of activities related to fruits and seed dispersal, some of which link with other items listed on this web page

Acknowledgements - SAPS wishes to thank Dr Anne Bebbington (formerly of The Field Studies Council, Juniper Hall, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6DA) for providing these materials and agreeing to make them available on the SAPS website.