How Plants Grow
A seed needs water, sunlight and soil to grow into a plant.
Every plant starts as a tiny seed. With water and warm soil, a root pokes down and a sprout pushes up. Leaves catch sunlight to make food, the stem carries water up, and soon there may be flowers and new seeds!
Words to know
Tap a picture to hear it.
Did you know?
- Roots grow down and stems grow up, even if you plant the seed upside down!
- A sunflower can grow taller than a grown-up.
- Plants drink water through their roots, like sipping through a straw.
- Bees carry pollen from flower to flower so new seeds can grow.
Try it! Hands-on activities
Simple things to do together with stuff you already have.
Printables
Play
Read together
Stories to read aloud that go with this topic.
Talk about it
Questions to ask while you read, play or walk.
- What would happen to a plant kept in a dark closet?
- Which parts of plants do we eat? (carrot = root, celery = stem, lettuce = leaf)
- How is a seed like an egg?
For teachers
What this topic supports:
- NGSS K-LS1-1: plants need water and light to live and grow
- NGSS 1-LS1-1 (preview): plant and animal parts help them survive (a design standard; here, noticing what each plant part does)
- NGSS 2-LS2-1 (preview): investigate whether plants need sunlight and water