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Plant Life Cycle Activities: Writing About Science & A Freebie

March 22 By Linda Kamp 21 Comments

Plant life cycle activities-Creative ways to get kids writing about science

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kids love learning about life cycles and studying plants is always a highlight in my classroom. I am always looking for ways to get my students writing more about science and these plant life cycle activities are a creative and fun way to do just that! Making a culminating flower booklet during out plant life cycle study gave my students opportunities to write about what they have learned about photosynthesis, pollination, and how plants make their own food.

Plant Life Cycle Activities

We begin our unit by dissecting seeds. We observe the inside of a seed by first soaking lima beans. Soaking them for about 5 minutes makes it easy to split them open. Students can then use a magnifying glass for a closer look at the inside of the seed. Using pinto beans works too, but I prefer lima beans because of their larger size.

Plant life cycle activities- Observing the inside of a seed science experiment. Part of a complete unit for teaching about plants.

Parts Of A Seed

It’s pretty amazing the parts you can see once you open the bean. My class got very excited that they could actually see the plant embryo.

Plant life cycle activities-Labling the parts of a seed learning lab for 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade

These large beans are perfect for a close up view of the inner workings and labeling the parts of a seed. Last year, I placed one under a document camera which made it even easier to see the seed coat, cotyledon, and the plant embryo.

Observing the Changes

During our plant study, we also germinate seeds and grow lima bean plants. We place our lima bean seeds between damp paper towels (with a little squirt of hand sanitizer to prevent mold) inside a sandwich bag.  We check on them every couple of days and record any changes.

Plant life cycle activities for kids-Seed observation journal.

I recommend leaving the bags open so air can circulate. this helps to prevent mold that can grow on the beans.

Exploring How Leaves Help A Plant

As we learn about plants, we do several learning labs along the way including this one to answer the question,”How do leaves help a plant get light?”

Plant life cycle activities- Science experiement for how leaves help a plant get light . Part of a complete science unit for teaching about plants.

This lesson visual makes for great discussion as students explore how the various leaf shapes help a plant get light. Students look at different types of leaves and compare their shape, size, and outer covering. We predict which leaf types would help a plant get more sunlight. We also ask ourselves, “Can we tell how much light a plant needs by the type and shape of leaf it has?”

Next, we go outside and students work in pairs. They use their hands as leaves to test their predictions and record their observations.  We demonstrated how different leaf shapes helped a plant to get more or less sunlight.
Plant life cycle activities- How does a leaf help a plant get light learning lab.
Plant life cycle activities- Collecting data on how a leaf helps a plant get light. Part of a complete science unit for teaching about plants.

Incorporating Reading Skills in Science

Learning about life cycles lends itself well to identifying causes and effects.  We did this cut and paste activity matching some causes and effects related to pollination, plant needs, and the process of photosynthesis.  I add this to our literacy centers to help students understand the causes and effect involved in a plant’s life cycle.
Plant life cycle activities-Incorporating reading skills, cause & effect. Part of a complete science unit for teaching the plant life cycle for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade.

During our unit we make several mini books to include in our culminating project. After learning and working with plant vocabulary students use the vocabulary as they later explain various processes of the life cycle.

Plant life cycle activities-Working with vocabulary. Part of a complete science unit for teaching the plant life cycle for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade.

In order to manage our time, I spread our activities and lessons out across the curriculum.  Students do some of these activities during our literacy centers.  They research plant facts at the computer center or during our computer lab time, and do some of the writing during our writing block.

These plant science posters serve as a reference for students while they are writing.  I expect them to use the content vocabulary as they write to explain the stages and processes of the life cycle as well as in their learning labs.  We used these anchor charts to help us identify the parts of a plant and to understand the process of photosynthesis.

Plant life cycle activities-Teaching charts for parts of a plant, photosynthesis and the plant life cycle. Part of a complete science unit for teaching students about plants.

Writing to Explain

I gather lots of informational texts about plants for students to read and use during research. I also use videos from BrainPop Jr. during our lessons. We later write about photosynthesis and how a plant makes it’s own food in mini books.  My students love the novelty of writing in mini books or even on smaller pages.  These then  go inside of our final flower booklets.

 Plant life cycle activities-Writing to define, label, research, and explain. Part of a complete science unit for teaching the plant life cycle for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade.

We used yarn to make the roots of our flowers before writing about the job of the roots.

Plant life cycle activities- Writing about the job of roots. Part of a complete science unit for teaching about plants.

Another piece of our booklets includes writing to explain and researching plant facts. Students read informational books and research facts to include on the back of the flower’s petals.

Plant life cycle activities-Writing to define, label, research, and explain. Part of a complete science unit for teaching the plant life cycle for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade.

 

Once we complete everything, we compile all of our learning and writing in foldable flower booklets.  My students being able to combine all of their learning in one final project. I love it because too! I use these as an assessment and take grades for science, vocabulary, writing,  and even grammar.

Incorporating Art In Science

Because students now understand why a plant’s leaves are green, I like to use that knowledge in an art activity.  Toward the end of the day on a Friday we “paint” with chlorophyll by doing leaf rubbings.

Chlorophyll rubbings-Integrating art into a plant life cycle unit.

I love to tie in art wherever I can.  This year my class learned about Van Gogh’s sunflower paintings during our plant unit. Several of my students wanted their booklets to be sunflowers.

Plant life cycle activities-A complete science unit for teaching about plants for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students. Such a fun way to get kids writing about science!

At the end of our unit we displayed these in our hallway for our end of year open house along with all the activities we did with the frog and butterfly life cycles.  Our parents were delighted with how we turned our hallway into a life cycle writing garden!


Plant life cycle spring bulletin board with foldable flower booklets.

Plant Life Cycle Teaching Resources

All of the plant life cycle activities in this post are part of a complete science unit. Aligned to both CCSS and NGSS for grades 1-3, the unit includes a 9-lesson teaching PowerPoint, activities and science experiments for students to learn about plant needs, adaptations and growth, pollination, photosynthesis, seed dispersal and more. I’ve included detailed lesson plans that make it easier than ever to plan, prep, and teach. Click here to see the complete plant unit.

Plant life cycle activities for kids-Complete science teaching unit study for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students.

Would you like FREE plant posters for your classroom?

FREE Plant life cycle science posters

Drop in in your personal email address and I’ll send them to you! (Your personal email is best-Schools often block outside emails with attachments) Check all of your “other” folders if you don’t see the email.

Pin this post for later so you’ll have it when you plan!
Plant life cycle activities-guiding students to write about science. Part of a complete plants science unit for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade.

For more plant life cycle activities and science ideas, click on the pictures to read these posts!

Seed dispersal activity- A fun science experiment and STEM challenge for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders to learn about exploding seed pods while studying the plant life cycle. Students build a model of this plant adaptation and explore how seeds travel.

Painting with chlorophyll- A fun, science based art activity for kids while learning about photosynthesis and the life cycle of plants.

Butterfly life cycle resources and free printables your students will love!

I hope you’ve found some ideas you can use and fun ways to get your students writing about science!

Happy teaching!

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Related Posts:

  • Plant Life Cycle Activities-Fun, Hands-on Science for KidsPlant Life Cycle Activities-Fun, Hands-on Science for Kids
  • Easy Seed Science Experiments & Parts of a Seed ActivitiesEasy Seed Science Experiments & Parts of a Seed Activities
  • Seed Dispersal Activity: Build an Exploding Seed PodSeed Dispersal Activity: Build an Exploding Seed Pod

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Filed Under: Freebies, Life Cycles, Popular Posts, Science, Writing, Writing About Science Tagged With: experiments, foldable lapbooks, life cycles, plant life cycle, Plants, science, writing

Comments

  1. Mrs. Saoud says

    March 22 at 11:53 pm

    This unit looks amazing!!!! Freesia is one of my favorites!!!!

    Reply
  2. Jen R says

    March 23 at 12:02 pm

    Ummm…I love ALL of this!! What a fantastic post…and unit!!.

    Reply
  3. Nancy says

    March 29 at 9:08 pm

    REALLY cool unit!! Thank you for sharing. One little correction: the plant you called freesia is actually a fuschia. They are two VERY different plants!

    Reply
  4. Karen Ganon says

    March 30 at 2:32 am

    What a lot of learning was going on in your class! Thanks for the posters!

    Reply
  5. Mrs. Yazzie's Classroom News says

    March 30 at 3:21 am

    So amazing. I have to read more than once just to take it all in! Love! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Carol Haug says

    March 30 at 11:40 am

    The activities and amazing. They are focused, meaningful and cute. What an amazing unit!

    Reply
  7. Linda says

    March 30 at 2:39 pm

    Oh, Nancy you're right! It IS a fuscia! Thank you!

    Reply
  8. Linda Kluss says

    April 6 at 7:12 pm

    These activities look awesome & I'm going to buy the unit on TPT! What is your culminating activity?

    Reply
  9. Linda says

    April 6 at 7:18 pm

    Hi Linda! The culminating activity is putting all the writing together in the flower booklet.
    I hope your kiddos enjoy it as much as mine do!

    Reply
  10. Catherine says

    April 15 at 3:25 pm

    Hi Linda,
    I just found your blog through Pinterest! I just love your fuscia — so pretty! I live in Las Vegas and was wondering how you keep your fuscia so pretty (and alive in the desert heat)? I want one here, but don't know how it would survive in the summer heat. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
    Catherine

    Reply
  11. Carly says

    May 2 at 1:17 am

    just wondering…. do you have a rubric for the flower booklet?

    Reply
  12. Linda says

    May 2 at 1:21 am

    HI Carly,
    Unfortunately, I don't have a rubric for the flower booklet. It's a great idea though, thanks so much for asking!

    Reply
  13. marigel says

    August 26 at 9:56 am

    Magnífico. Amazing. Very useful. From Spain.

    Reply
  14. Harlie says

    May 17 at 11:32 am

    What standards is this lesson and unit aligned to?

    Reply
    • Linda says

      May 18 at 12:15 pm

      Hi Harley,
      There are multiple lessons in the unit that can easily be aligned to your state’s science standards as well as several informational reading and writing standards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. I did not include a science standards alignment page with the unit as each state has different standards. If you use C.C.S.S. the informational writing activities align to W.2 and W.7. I hope this helps, and thanks so much for asking!

      Reply
  15. Amy says

    August 5 at 8:06 am

    Hello,

    I am just wondering if this unit is editable as I’m in the UK so the spellings may vary. I might not also be allowed to use that font due to school policy. Would love to buy this unit as it’s my first class and I want the children to experience fun lessons with me.

    Warmest wishes,

    Amy

    Reply
    • Linda says

      August 6 at 8:57 am

      Hi Amy,
      The unit is not editable but if you would email me at kamp.linda@gmail.com I will see if I can help you further.

      Reply
  16. lorena says

    April 18 at 10:02 am

    Hello,

    I would like to get my freebie for subscription..What do I have to do?
    Thanks a lot!
    lorenn

    Reply
    • Linda says

      April 18 at 10:16 am

      Hi Lorena! You will need to subscribe in the form at the bottom of the post. Next, check your inbox and be sure to check your promotions, social, and spam folders if you don’t see the confirmation email in your inbox. That email will have a link to download the free poster pack. Thanks so much for subscribing!

      Reply
  17. CHARU VIPUL JAIN says

    December 15 at 1:15 am

    Hi, This one is a great resource to work with children on plants. I have opted for the newsletters and subscribed. But I didn’t receive the poster pack.

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Linda says

      December 15 at 6:31 am

      Hi Charu,
      I just checked and an email was sent for you to confirm your subscription. Be sure to check your spam, promotions, and social folders (especially with Gmail) for that email. Once you click the link to confirm your subscription, a window will pop up with your poster download.

      Linda

      Reply

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