Activities for How to Teach the Life Cycle of a Plant to a Preschooler

Germination

• Teach preschoolers about germination. A seed goes through a transformation process with the help of water and heat from the sun to grow into a budding plant. Gather materials needed, such as an assortment of plant seeds, several glass baby food jars and potting soil. Display several pictures of plants in various stages of growth for students to view.

  Discuss with students the germination process and how a seed starts growing into a plant. Do an experiment with seeds to demonstrate the process of germination. Have each preschooler place a seed in a glass baby food jar. In some jars, sprinkle a layer of potting soil over the seed, and in others leave the seed without soil. Water the seeds and place some in a sunny spot and others where they won't get any sun. Watch the seeds over the next few days and keep notes on what happens, making sure to keep the seeds watered. Do the seeds without soil germinate? Do the seeds without sun germinate as quickly as those in the sun?

  Have students draw a picture about the experiment they did with the seeds and the process of germination.

Plant Life Cycle

• Teach students about how fruits and vegetables go through a growth and regrowth process, or life cycle. A large glass bowl or a five-gallon fish tank, a small pumpkin and potting soil are needed to do the experiment.

  Gather students around the materials and talk about how some plants grow fruits and vegetables. Discuss what happens to the fruit and vegetables if they aren’t picked off the plant. The fruits and vegetables decompose. The seeds from the plant then settle into the ground and in spring will grow new plants.

  Demonstrate the life cycle of a plant using the pumpkin by placing a layer of potting soil at the bottom of the clear glass bowl or fish tank. Place the pumpkin on top of the soil in a sunny place in the classroom where it can be observed for several days. Watch as the pumpkin decomposes. Keep the soil moist, observe the changes to the pumpkin and watch for the seeds to germinate and grow a new pumpkin plant.

  Have students draw a picture about the life cycle of a plant to take home and share with others.