Plant life cycle is always a fun science unit. You get to talk about growing, planting, and nature. Plus, students love digging in and getting their hands dirty when you plant a seed yourself. Here are our favorite plant life cycle activities, projects, and videos to really engage your students and make this lesson fun.
1. Window Watching
If you have great windows and light, then this is a great idea. Your students will love watching the progress each day.
SOURCE: Playdough to Plato
2. Plant Parts 101
You can get so involved when it comes to plant parts, but this anchor chart is a nice simplified version for younger learners. It really focuses on the essentials.
3. Watch it Grow
WeAreTeachers created this time-lapse video, showing fabulous details of how a plant’s root system grows quickly over the course of a few days. Wow! This will really make you want to grab a bean and try it yourself!
4. Foldable Flower
This project is an awesome printable (it’s also FREE) where students can create a flower while also learning the different cycles of a plant.
SOURCE: Teaching Momster
5. Learning Different Plants
This printable is fabulous because it doesn’t just lump all plants and seeds together. It shows the plant life cycle based on an apple, pumpkin, and sunflower. It is a Teachers Pay Teachers item, but we think it’s totally worth it!
SOURCE: Jewel’s School Gems
6. Plants, Animals, and CO2
This anchor chart takes the life cycle concept one step further, showing how plants and animals depend on one another for survival.
7. Fold and Go
The good ole cootie catcher never gets old, and this one is a really cute option from the Teachers Pay Teachers Store, Science Spot.
SOURCE: Science Spot
8. Life Cycle Made Easy
This anchor chart breaks down plant life cycle in an easy-to-understand diagram, focusing on key vocabulary words like germination and pollination. Make this with your students as you go over each step.
9. Plant Cycle Flip Art
This TeachersPayTeachers project is a mix of art of science, and we think it’s well worth the $3! The project is designed to “flip,” revealing additional information beneath each section.
Source: Karen Jones
10. Learning About Tiny Seeds
This YouTube video is a reading of The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle.
11. Bulletin Brilliance
This bulletin board is a great idea starter of what you could do on a much bigger scale. Have your students define what they want to label and feature on the board, and then get them involved in creating it!
12. Writing About Plants
If you want a one-stop shop, you must check out Around the Kampfire’s collection. She is a second grade teacher, and has put together a great set of resources all on this topic, including tips for getting your students to write about plants. There are so many good options to choose from!
13. Claymation and Flowers
Another YouTube video with learning about seeds to flowers, this time in claymation!
