Plant Life Cycle
Background Information & Activities

© 1999-2013 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

How does a seed grow? In this movie, you’ll learn about the life cycle of a plant. You’ll explore how a seed can germinate and sprout, grow into a seedling, and then turn into to adult plant. Adult plants can grow flowers and, when the flowers are pollinated, they can turn into fruit with seeds inside. After the fruit ripens, it can fall to the ground and the seeds inside can grow into new plants.

A life cycle shows how a living thing grows, changes, and reproduces itself. 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 or hull, 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. Sometimes the seed coat is still clinging to the sprout when it surfaces. 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 skin and flesh of the fruit protects the seeds and after the fruit ripens and decays, 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. Seeds for other plants, such as dandelions, are formed with small, light tufts of hair that enable them to float in the air. Plants can also use water to disperse their seeds. Lotus flower and mangrove plants drop their seeds into water, where they travel before taking root. Seeds of many plants often end up in streams, rivers, lakes, and even oceans—and can travel to different places. This is why some deserted islands have coconut 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.

See more lesson plans and resources: BrainPOP Educators.

Plant Life Cycle Teacher Activities

© 1999-2013 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 basil, sweet alyssum, bean plants, or 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? Do the seedlings need to be thinned? 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 quinoa. They can also find seeds commonly used in cooking, such as poppy seeds or sesame seeds. Some children can present 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? Why are some hulls or shells harder than others? 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? You might also compare the amount of seeds found in your pumpkin to the amount found in an apple. Which has more seeds? Why might that be?

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

© 1999-2013 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, and to learn to recognize and enjoy natural foods. 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, if making a poster, draws an image of the seed as an adult plant. 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. If you’re growing different types of plants, ask your child why they think some seeds need more room in the ground than other ones, and why some are planted more deeply while others are planted just beneath the soil’s surface. 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.