The Life Cycle of a Plant

What is the life cycle of a plant?

A plant goes through a life cycle just like animals!  

In the first stage is the seed.  Inside each seed is a tiny plant and some stored food.  The plant uses the food when it begins to grow!  

In the second stage is the germinated seed.  Germination is the process of which a plant begins to grow from a seed.  When a seed gets water, sunlight, and oxygen, it may start to grow.  The roots start to grow downward into the soil.  

In the third stage is the seedling.  The roots grow longer.  The stem breaks and grows upward toward the sunlight.  It starts to make food for the plants to grow.  There are also some leaves on the stem.  

In the fourth stage is the mature plant.  At this stage, more leaves and stems have grown.  Flowers will also grow and make seeds.  The seeds can make more plants.  

At the final stage is when the plant withers and dies.  Then, the cycle will begin all over again when another seed is planted into the soil.

Research was done through websites:
http://www.turtlediary.com/kids-videos/the-life-cycle-of-plants.html
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/lifecycles.html
http://www.brainpop.com/educators/community/bp-jr-topic/plant-life-cycle/

Instructions

How do plants grow?

For this unit, we are going to study plant life.  We will observe the different parts of plants, what they need to grow, and the life cycle of plants.  There will be 3 groups.  You will work together in groups of five.  Each student will be assigned to a group in class.

For Group A:

1.  You will be responsible for researching the different parts of a   
     plant on the internet. 

2.  You will include a picture of 2 different plants.  For each 
     plant, label at least 4 parts of the plant.  Your plant may be a 
     flower.

3.  For each part of the plant, you will explain how it contributes to 
     the plant's overall growth by explaining what each part does.  
     Your explanation for the role of each part will be at least 2 to 3 
     sentences.

4.  Use at least three different websites for research on your topic.    
     Some websites you may visit are:

http://www.biology4kids.com/files/plants_structure.html

http://www.exploringnature.org/db/detail.php?dbID=26&detID=629

http://www.schooltube.com/video/8b5cd92efbe9708a4a5a/Plant-Parts

For Group B:

1.  You will be responsible for researching what plants need to 
     grow, on the internet.

2.  You will include at least 4 pictures that correctly show what 
     plants need for growth.

3.  Include a summary of your findings.  In your summary, you 
    need to include at least 4 needs that plants need to live and     
    explain why they are essential for plant growth.

4.  Use at least three different websites for research on your topic.  
     Some websites you may visit are:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUBIQ1fTRzI

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/science/living_things/plants/read/1/

http://pbskids.org/video/?guid=f2db2725-0bb1-4d18-afa5-ac345ee048b3

For Group C:

1.  You will be responsible for researching the life cycle of a plant 
     on the internet.

2.  In your research, you will include all of the 5 stages of a plant's 
     life cycle.  

3.  You must explain what occurs at each stage.  There should be at 
     least 2 - 3 sentences of explanation for each stage.

4.  Include a web diagram of a plant's life cycle.

5.  Use at least three different websites for research on your topic.  
     Some websites you may visit are:

http://www.turtlediary.com/kids-videos/the-life-cycle-of-plants.html

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/lifecycles.html

http://www.brainpop.com/educators/community/bp-jr-topic/plant-life-cycle/

Have fun! :)