Cockleburs Stuck to Clothing

Every time you go for a hike, you risk the chance of bringing back some cockleburs. It can make exploring Iowa interesting because they tend to get stuck on animals and clothing. Cockleburs use this method of attaching to animals (humans included) to disperse seeds.

Image

Runnells

Iowa Core Standard

2-LS2-2

Develop a simple model that mimics the function of an animal in dispersing seeds or pollinating plants

Driving Question

Why do cockleburs stick to you?

Probing Questions

What is a cocklebur?
Why are they so hard to get off?
Do they hurt animals?
Is it good to pollinate them?

Classroom Suggestions

Students could:

Go for a hike and see if any cockleburs stick to you.
Bring some cockleburs in to dissect.
Research what kind of habitat you will most likely find cockleburs.

Resources

PBS LearningMedia | Makers: Velcro: Looking at both burrs and Velcro (registered trademark) under a magnifying glass, the children discover that both are covered with tiny hooks. They learn the inventor of Velcro (registered trademark) was actually inspired by a walk in the woods with his dog.
PBS Kids: Seed Soaring Game: An interactive game for students to play and explore seeds.
Elinor Wonders Why | The Seed of an Idea: While outside, Elinor observes that velcro is very similar to a burr seed that is stuck to Ari's shirt.

Contributors

Submitted by Valorie Grundmeier.