A tree branch full of red maple leaves, sometimes called helicopters, in the foreground. The National Air and Space Museum in the background.

Ages 6+ | 30 mins | Observation | Screen Free

Go on a nature hunt.

Walk around your neighborhood and nearby parks and see if you can find these plants and seeds that depend on the wind for survival. 

If you can't find some, check again in different seasons. 

What You'll  Need: 

  • Optional: List of seeds. You can use this page, or print out a copy.
  • Optional: Phone or camera for taking pictures

See what you can find!

Parachute-type seeds

A dandelion plant stands in the grass, it's yellow head with angular leaves protruding from a green stem.

Dandelion Plant

The fluffy white part of a dandelion plant before the seeds blow away.

Dandelion Seed Head

A single dandelion seed with a feathery parachute like top floats in the breeze.

Dandelion Seed

Feathery parachute of soft hairs

Helicopter Seeds

A tree branch full of red maple leaves, sometimes called helicopters, in the foreground. The National Air and Space Museum in the background.
A green maple seed, known as a "helicopter seed." It looks like a leaf in the shape of two lungs.
Bunches of red maple leaves, known as helicopters, on a tree limb.

Hint: Some common trees that have helicopter seeds are ash, maple, and sycamore.

Wings

A hand holds two small seed leaves. You can see the rounded seed in the center of the larger seed.

Winged seed from an elm tree

Seeds hang from a tree branch. You can see the rounded seed in the leaf.

Winged seed from ash tree

Fluff

A plan that looks like white fluff or white mesh over twigs, with seeds in it.

Milkweed Seed

A plant with a bulb of small purple flowers at the top.

Milkweed Plant

Share and Reflect

  • Where did you find the most wind seeds (lawn, sidewalk, fence)?
  • How does wind help a plant survive?

We want to hear from you!

Optional

About This Learning Resource

Age and Grade

Age: 6+

Grade: K-5

Subject and Topics

Science

Duration

30 mins

Usage Rights

You are free to use this resource for personal and educational purposes, with attribution. (CC BY-NC)

What do plants have to do with aircraft?

Plants use the wind to move pollen, spores and seeds which allow for more plants and trees to grow and spread. 

  • Red maple seeds, called samaras spin like tiny helicopters when they fall from the tree. The wind can carry them farther because of this.
  • A dandelion seed has a fuzzy top (called a pappus) that makes a special air bubble above it, helping the seed stay in the air for a long time.
  • River birch trees have catkins that dangle like tassels; tiny winged seeds catch breezes.

Engineers study how air moves around wings and rotor blades so they can build the best aircraft.

A young man shows off his eclipse viewing mask, created by adding a paper plate to eclipse glasses.

Soar Together

Soar Together offers family days at the National Air and Space Museum's two locations, as well as activities like this one for families to do anywhere.

Soar Together is made possible by the generous support of the Northrop Grumman Foundation.

More About Soar Together

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Explore the connection between parachutes and seed that travel on the wind in this original story.