What is waiting inside a seed?

Have you ever held a bean seed in your hand? It feels hard and smooth, like a pebble. It sits so still, as if nothing is going on at all.

But a seed is not just a pebble. Something is waiting in there, quietly. So what is waiting inside a seed? Let's take a look together.

First, we meet the outside of the seed. That smooth skin is the seed coat, which means the seed's own snug jacket. The seed coat keeps the inside safe from bumps and from drying out.

To peek inside, a grown-up puts a bean in a cup of water for one night. The water soaks in and makes the bean soft and plump. Now the seed coat slides off under your fingers, like a peel.

Under the seed coat, the bean opens into two thick halves. These are the seed leaves, which means the first leaves, packed full of food. Look closely where the two seed leaves meet. What do you think is tucked in there?

Tucked between the seed leaves lies a baby plant! It is tiny, about as long as a grain of rice, and curled up, resting. This baby plant is what the seed has been keeping safe.

The baby plant has two ends. One end is a little root, ready to point down into the soil. The other end holds leaves, folded up as small as crumbs.

The baby plant cannot make its own food yet. So the seed leaves hold its food, like a packed lunch. That lunch stays ready for the day the baby plant wakes up.

The baby plant waits for wet soil and warm days. Until then, it rests inside its seed coat, still and safe.

Inside the seed coat, a baby plant waits between seed leaves full of its food. It rests there, curled up and safe.

So the little bean sits still and smooth, like a pebble. Deep inside its snug jacket, the tiny root and folded leaves rest close to their packed lunch.