Science Fenns K-5Grades K to 5
A bare pecan tree in winter on the left and the same tree full of green leaves in summer on the right, with a creek between them.

Science / All lessons / Living Things and Where They Live

Weather and Plants

Dormancy and the seasons.

Lesson 35 of 41

Try this first

Before we start

Today’s story

Weather and Plants

A pecan tree stands bare in January. No leaves. No nuts. It looks dead. But it is not dead.

The tree is dormant. That means it is resting. Dormancy is a long pause in growth. Cold weather or very dry weather tells many plants to rest. Seeds can be dormant too. They wait in the soil until warm rain arrives.

When temperature and water return, the plant wakes up. Here are the steps.

See it

Five steps. Every time.

    Hands on

    Wake Up, Seed

    20 minutes plus 5 days · Do this with a grown-up nearby

    You need

    • Dry bean seeds
    • Two paper towels
    • Two zip bags
    • Water
    • A refrigerator
    • A marker

    Do this

    1. Wet both paper towels.
    2. Put a few seeds in each bag with a wet towel.
    3. Label one bag Warm and one Cold.
    4. Set the Warm bag on a shelf and the Cold bag in the fridge.
    5. Check each bag every day.
    6. Write what you see.
    Write or draw: A table with the day and what each bag looks like.

    Watch for: Notice which seeds sprout first. Notice what the cold does.

    Safety: Do not eat the seeds. Wash hands when done.

    Same every time

    Three rules

    Rule 1Dormant is not dead.

    The plant is resting.

    Rule 2Plants respond to weather.

    Cold, heat and water change them.

    Rule 3Look closely.

    Buds hide on bare branches.

    Grandpa Fenn’s notebook

    Say it like a scientist

    dormant
    Resting. A plant that is not growing for a while.
    seed
    A small package with a tiny plant and food inside.
    bud
    A small bump on a stem that will open into a leaf or flower.
    season
    One part of the year, like winter or spring.

    Poppy’s quiz

    Six questions

    Tap an answer. Green means right. You will see why.

    Talk about it

    Say it out loud

    • How do you know a bare tree is alive? What could you check?
    • Which plants near you look different in winter and summer?
    Did you know

    Some desert seeds can wait years for a rain.

    Someone who does this

    A botanist studies how plants respond to weather.

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