How living things grow, live, and die Life Cycle of a Plant How living things grow, live, and die 2nd grade Science

Core Content SC-04-3.4.3 Students will compare a variety of life cycles of plants and animals in order to classify and make inferences about an organism. Plants and animals have life cycles that include the beginning of life, growth and development, reproduction and death. The details of a life cycle are different for different organisms. Models of organisms’ life cycles should be used to classify and make inferences about an organism.

Vocabulary Life Cycle – a series of stages that a plant passes through from seed, seedling, mature plant, and death. Reproduce – the process by which a plant makes more seeds. Seed coat – covers the outside of the seed to protect the tiny plant. Germinate – when a seed begins to grow because it has soaked up enough water and sunlight. Flower – the reproductive structure of the plant. Pollination – happens when pollen is moved from a stamen to a pistil. The flower then begins to make fruit and seeds. Dormant – the stage where the seed is alive, but not growing. Usually in winter.

Stage 1 Most plants begin their life cycle with a seed. A tiny plant and seed food is inside every seed. A seed coat covers the outside of the seed and protects the tiny plant inside.

Stage 2 When the seed gets enough warmth and moisture, it germinates or sprouts. The seed soaks up water, and the seed coats splits open. The seed sprouts. A root grows down into the soil and a little shoot grows up toward the sunlight

Stage 3 As the roots grow, a stem will also appear. The bean uses the food in the seed to grow. Leaves will grow on the stem and the plant will stretch toward the light. At this stage, the plant is called a seedling and it can use photosynthesis to make its own food.

Stage 4 The plant will begin to develop flowers. The flower’s function is to reproduce to make new seeds.

Stage 5 After pollination, the flower will turn into a pod with the seeds inside. Many plants also develop fruit, which covers and protects the seed. When the seed has fully developed, the cycle begins again.

Bean Seed Life Cycle

The Life Cycle of a Plant Use the life cycle diagram sheet. Draw what happens during each of the five stages of a plant’s life cycle. Be sure to explain what happens during each stage.