Plant Life Cycle
Background Information & Activities

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A life cycle shows how a living thing grows and changes. While plants life cycles are continuous, the study of one plant’s life begins with the seed. We recommend watching the Parts of a Plant movie together as a review. Though we introduce the seed as a plant part that can grow into a new plant, it is important that children understand that plants can also grow from cuttings, bulbs, tuber pieces, or runners. Some seeds have an outer layer called a seed coat, which provides protection and nourishment for the embryo inside. When a seed germinates, a small root begins to grow downward and a shoot grows upward. When the shoot breaks the surface, the plant is called a sprout. The sprout uses water and nutrients from the soil along with sunlight and air to grow and change into a seedling. A seedling is a small plant with few leaves that is vulnerable to the elements. Eventually the seedling changes into a young adult plant. At this stage, the plant is bigger and may have more leaves. Thin branches will develop on young adult trees. Over time, the young adult plant will grow into an adult plant, which is sexually mature and has the ability to reproduce through spores or flowers. After flowers are pollinated, they enlarge and turn into fruit with seeds inside. The fruit protects the seeds and after it ripens, the seeds can start the life cycle all over again. Because there are so many threats to both seeds and seedlings, a plant will often produce large amounts of seeds to insure some will survive.

Many animals like birds, squirrels, deer, and bears eat fruit and their seeds. Some seeds can pass through their digestive tracts and get left behind in a different place. Seed dispersal allows plants to grow in different places and allows for a diversity of life in any given area. Wind can also disperse seeds to new places. Many trees, such as the maple, grow seeds with small “wings” that allow them to utilize the wind to travel to new places. Other seeds such as dandelions grow seeds with small, light tufts of hair that enable them to float in the air. Plants can also use water to disperse their seeds. Seeds of plants often end up in streams, rivers, lakes, and even oceans and travel to different places. This is why some deserted islands have coconuts trees; coconuts can travel miles in the ocean and wind up on land elsewhere.

Encourage your children to think of the life cycle of different plants and the importance of plants to our world. Understanding how living things grow and change will help your children understand their environment and the importance of caring for it.

Plant Life Cycle Teacher Activities – Click Here!

Plant Life Cycle Family Activities – Click Here!

Plant Life Cycle Teacher Activities

© 1999-2009 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Class Plant

Plant a seed together as a class and observe how it grows. You can purchase inexpensive seeds that grow well indoors, such as bean plants and marigolds, from a nursery, gardening supply store, or even your local grocery store. Conduct research as a class to determine the best way to grow the seeds. How far do they need to be below the surface of the soil? What do they need to germinate? How often should the seeds be watered? Then plant the seeds together and keep a log that records dates, observations, and measurements of the plant. You may wish to plant the seeds in a clear plastic cup and plant the seed near the side so students can observe the seed sprout.

So Many Seeds

Have each student sign up to bring in a different kind of seed from home. Students can bring in different fruits to class such as apples, peas, raspberries, oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, and peaches. Have them bring in grains like whole oats, corn, wild rice, or other common seeds used in cooking, such as poppy seeds or sesame seeds. Some children can bring in a variety of tree nuts like almonds and walnuts, preferably in their shells. Please make sure students do not have allergies to any of the fruits and nuts you present to the class. Split open the fruits and observe the seeds together. Compare and contrast their appearance and discuss each fruit and seed together. Why are seeds hard? How do you think these seeds move? Why do you think there are so many seeds? Students can write their ideas down in their notebooks and sketch the seeds and fruit.

Seed Estimates

Bring in a pumpkin and have small groups of students estimate the number of seeds that are inside. Have groups write down their predictions and then have the groups count out the seeds. How can they count the seeds faster? Some groups may choose to count the seeds in arrays or count by tens. How did their estimates compare to the actual number of pumpkin seeds? Why do you think a pumpkin would have so many seeds?

Seed Scavenger

Write a list of items your children can find outside, including a seed, flower, fruit, seedling, young adult plant, and adult plant. Choose different examples of plant life around the schoolyard or you can take your children on a field trip to a garden or nursery. Small groups of students or partners can find the items on the list and describe in words or sketch what they find.

Plant Life Cycle Family Activities

© 1999-2009 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Seed Collection

Encourage your child to eat different kinds of fruit and vegetables and collect the seeds. This will be a great opportunity for your child to practice healthy eating habits. You can make a list of vegetables and fruits for your child to eat in order to collect seeds. Then your child can store the seeds in an egg carton or glue them to make a poster. Make sure your child labels where the seeds came from and as an added math link, count the number of seeds from each fruit and add different numbers of seeds together.

Garden Variety Experiment

If possible, plant seeds with your child in your yard, park, or a community garden. Buy a package of seeds and count the number of seeds you plant together. Then observe and record how many seeds actually grow. Have your child explain why some fruits and vegetables have so many seeds. You may want to add to the experiment by varying the amount of water you give to the seeds and how much light the seeds receive. Encourage your child to record regular observations and make connections.