Free Sample Lesson: How Plants Grow

Unlock the mystery of plant growth for your child with this free lesson on the plant cycle. Download the worksheet, so your little one can label the plant stages and color a plant to life!

DOWNLOAD PLANT CYCLE WORKSHEET

Stage 1: The Seed
Many plants start off as a seed. Inside each seed is an embryo, which is like a plant baby waiting to born. Before that plant baby can grow, it needs to germinate.

Stage 2: Germination
Germination is when the hard shell or skin of the seed is softened or broken so the embryo can get food and water to start growing. Once a seed germinates, the plant baby grows into a seedling.

Stage 3: The Seedling
A seedling is a baby plant that has broken free from its seed. A seedling grows roots that can take nutrients from the soil. A seedling grows taller and taller, breaking through the soil where the seed is planted, to catch sunlight which plants need to grow big and strong. Most plants need four important things to grow: water, sunlight, carbon dioxide, and nutrients from the soil. Once a seedling grows as big as it can, it becomes a mature plant.

Stage 4: Mature Plant
A mature plant has deep roots and a strong stalk so it can grow adult leaves. These leaves catch more sunlight that the plant can turn into food through a process called photosynthesis. Once a plant is all grown up, it can reproduce and make more plants by creating seeds of its own. With each new seed, the miracle of plant life starts all over again!