Germination is a time of great change. Observing these changes closely is a new experience for most students. Recording the seed changes they are observing is very challenging for students. They learn to use words, numbers and drawings, to document ways the seed is changing. Students know the seeds are different from day to day but they struggle to be specific about the differences they notice.

When students begin work with seeds, they do not always "see" the early changes that take place in the germination process. Through careful observation of seeds in the plastic bags and on the agar plates, these changes become more apparent. The seed photographs also help students to see and think about these differences, particularly those that juxtapose seeds at different stages of development (e. g., after 0, 26 and 40 hours after 10 hours of soaking). In addition, when asked to document change, they suggest that "size, shape, and color" could be useful indicators. They learn to pay attention to the emergence of new structures. As students become more familiar with germination and the seed structures and how this might be consistently represented (e.g., daily root length).