Plant Life Cycle for Kids: Seed to Flower to Seed (Grades 3 to 5 Science)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. All living things have a life cycle. They are born, grow, reproduce and die. Today we will follow a flowering plant through its whole life cycle.

The cycle begins with a seed. When a seed gets water, air and warmth, it starts to grow. This is called germination. A root grows down, and a shoot grows up.

The young plant is called a seedling. It grows its first true leaves and starts making its own food with sunlight. With time, it becomes a full grown adult plant.

The adult plant makes flowers. Flowers have pollen. Bees, butterflies, birds or the wind carry pollen from one flower to another. This is called pollination, and it lets seeds begin to form.

After pollination, part of the flower grows into a fruit, which protects the new seeds. Apples, bean pods and sunflower heads all hold seeds. Some fruits have one seed, and some have hundreds.

Seeds need to spread out to find room to grow. This is called dispersal. Wind carries dandelion seeds. Animals eat berries and drop the seeds. Burrs stick to fur. Then the cycle starts again.

Now it's your turn. A bee moves pollen from one flower to another. Which stage of the life cycle is this? Pause and try. It is pollination, which helps the plant make seeds.

Great job! Remember, a plant goes from seed to seedling to adult. Flowers are pollinated, fruits hold seeds, and seeds spread to start again. Practice the plant life cycle in the Science Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!