Spring is a fantastic time to learn about the life cycle of a plant!
I highly recommend that you take children out into the garden, plant some seeds and track the results! There is great satisfaction in cultivating and tending a garden and it will keep their little hands and hearts busy for hours. Some easy and quick growing plants: Sunflowers, Nasturtium, Peas, Green Beans, Marigolds, Tomatos.
HomeschoolClipart.com has some free plant life cycle printables:
Life Cycle of a Plant Worksheet
Life Cycle of a Plant Coloring Page
We’ve even taken small lima beans and “planted” them in the classroom. Take a wet paper towel and crumple it into a plastic bag. Place a bean down the side of the bag so that it’s able to absorb the water from the towel, but so you can also see it as it grow. Close the bag and tape it up on the window. In a few days your children will be able to observe germination, the first roots, and the sprouting seedling. It’s a wonderful way to get hands on in the classroom.
Parts of a Seed Notebooking Page
Lima beans are perfect for dissecting, and allow children an inside look at the anatomy of a seed. Simply soak the seed for about an hour in some warm water and then provide children with small tweezers and things to inspect. You can usually pop the seeds open with your fingernails and once open children can find the first leaves, the food and the root.
Plant Life Cycle Sequencing Cards
These plant life cycle cards show progression from seed to seedling. Children order the different stages of the seed as roots form and the seedling emerges. We recommend leaving one set intact and cutting the additional set out for playing pieces.
Flower Themed File Folder Games
These educational games have a flower theme and can easily be incorporated into your unit.
HomeschoolClipart.com has some free Flower Anatomy Printables
Parts of a Flower Coloring Page
Garden Crafts & Projects for Kids
Our garden crafts can go alongside key gardening ideas, such as composting, fertilization, spacing, and plant knowledge in general.
For children who take an interested in planting and gardening you might want to print this free Garden Lapbook from Lapbook Lessons. Children can keep track of what they planted, how quickly it’s growing, learn about different tools, insects, and more! Add in some garden science by testing the ph levels of different soil samples around your house.
Suggested Resources for a Unit Study:
Young Scientists will make a terrarium, learn about underground habitats, explore the
different parts of plants, test the soil, design a mini-garden, grow all kinds of seeds,
perform plant experiments, identify bugs and their habitats, make a working sun dial,
and much more. Click Here
