How a Seed Grows

I am a tiny, sleepy secret. I am tucked into a dark, cozy bed of dirt. Sometimes I am as small as a little speck of dust. Sometimes I am as round as a marble. I wait and wait. I sleep and dream of the warm sun and the soft rain. It is very quiet down here in the dark. But I hold a big surprise inside of me. I am a little promise of something beautiful, just waiting for my time to wake up and grow. I am waiting for a special signal to begin my big adventure.

One day, splash. A drop of cool water wakes me up. It feels so good. I start to wiggle and stretch. I send a tiny root down, down, down into the dirt to take a big, long drink. Then, I push a little green sprout up, up, up. I push right through the dark dirt to say hello to the bright, warm sun. A long, long time ago, around 12,000 years ago, people found out about my secret. They learned that if they put me in the ground and gave me water, I would grow. I would grow into yummy food for them to eat. I am how a seed grows. I am the magic of a little thing becoming a big plant.

After I say hello to the sun, I keep growing and growing. I can grow into a sweet, red strawberry with little spots on it. I can grow into a big, strong oak tree with green leaves that rustle in the wind. I can even grow into a bright yellow sunflower that turns its happy face to the sun all day long. Every time you eat a crunchy apple or smell a pretty flower in a garden, you are seeing what I can do. I show everyone that even the smallest things can grow into something wonderful. All it takes is a little patience, some water, and a lot of sunshine.