🔬 ScienceGrade 3Lesson 1
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Plant Life Cycles

How to use: Download the PDF to print the worksheet. Then use this page to repeat activities and check answers.

Learning Objectives

  • 1Describe the stages of a plant life cycle in order
  • 2Identify the role of seeds, roots, and flowers in plant growth
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Mini Lesson

Plants go through a series of changes from a tiny seed to a mature plant that produces new seeds. This repeating pattern is called a life cycle. Every plant follows similar stages, though the speed and appearance of each stage can differ.

Stages of a Plant Life Cycle

  1. Seed — the starting point, containing everything needed to grow.
  2. Germination — the seed absorbs water, splits open, and a root grows down.
  3. Seedling — a young shoot pushes through the soil and tiny leaves appear.
  4. Young plant — leaves grow larger, collecting sunlight for food (photosynthesis).
  5. Mature plant — the plant reaches full size and flowers bloom.
  6. Pollination and fruit — flowers are pollinated and fruit forms around seeds.
  7. New seeds — the fruit releases seeds that will start new plants.

Key Parts and Their Roles

  • Roots — anchor the plant and absorb water and minerals from the soil.
  • Stem — carries water and nutrients up to the leaves.
  • Leaves — make food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide (photosynthesis).
  • Flowers — attract pollinators so seeds can form.
  • Seeds — contain the new plant embryo; start the cycle again.
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Remember: seeds need water, warmth, and air to germinate — they do not need sunlight until the shoot appears.

Vocabulary
Life cycle
The repeating series of changes a living thing goes through from start to starte.g. A plant's life cycle begins and ends with a seed.
Germination
When a seed takes in water and starts to grow a root and shoote.g. Germination begins after the seed soaks up water.
Seedling
A young plant that has just grown out of the soile.g. The seedling has two tiny green leaves.
Pollination
When pollen moves from one flower to another so seeds can forme.g. Bees help with pollination as they visit flowers.
Photosynthesis
How leaves use sunlight, water, and air to make food for the plante.g. Photosynthesis happens in green leaves during the day.
Plant Life Cycle — 7 stagesSeven stages of the plant life cycle shown left to right: seed, germinate, seedling, young plant, flowers, fruit, new seed, connected by arrows.Plant Life Cycle1Seed2Germ.3Seedling4Young5Flowers6Fruit7New SeedThe cycle repeats — fruit releases new seeds.
Seed to Seedling — underground cross-sectionCross-section showing a seed underground with root growing down and shoot growing up.Seed to SeedlingSoil SurfaceSeedRootShoot
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Guided Practice

Pick a word from the Trace menu and look at the model. Use Copy mode to write it yourself on the lined pad, or switch to Trace if you want to pass over the ghost letters. Tap 🔍 Bigger for a fullscreen practice canvas.

Tracing Pad

Tip: As you trace, think about how each word relates to today’s topic.

Now type any 3 different words from the Trace menu above. Look back if you need to — this is typing practice, not a memory test.
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Exercises

Drag the cards into the correct order to show the stages of a plant life cycle.

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Pick the best answer.

1. What is the first stage of a plant life cycle?

2. What process allows a seed to begin growing?

3. Which part of the plant makes food using sunlight?

4. What is the role of the root?

5. What happens after a flower is pollinated?

6. What do seeds need to germinate?

7. Which stage comes after the seedling stage?

8. What is photosynthesis?

9. Why do plants produce flowers?

10. How does a plant life cycle continue after fruit forms?

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Assessment

Parent / Teacher Checklist

Lesson 2 →