Plants go through different stages in their life, starting as a seed. Let’s learn about the life cycle of special plants called vascular plants. These plants have special tissues called xylem and phloem that help them grow.
Vascular plants have special parts that move water, nutrients, and sugars throughout the plant. The xylem works like a straw, pulling water and nutrients from the roots. The phloem moves sugars made during photosynthesis to different parts of the plant.
A seed has three main parts:
The seed coat keeps the seed safe until it’s ready to grow, like when it’s in good soil.
When a seed gets water, it starts to grow. This is called germination. The embryo uses the endosperm for food until it grows leaves. The first part to grow is the root, which goes down into the soil to find water and nutrients. Then, a shoot grows up to find sunlight.
When the plant has leaves, it can do photosynthesis. This is how the plant makes its food. It uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make glucose (a type of sugar) and oxygen. The glucose helps the plant grow strong and healthy.
When plants grow up, they want to make new plants. This starts with pollination. Pollen from the male part of a flower goes to the female part, called the stigma. Animals or the wind help move the pollen. When pollen reaches the ovule, a new seed forms, and the plant life cycle starts again.
Plants are super important because they make oxygen through photosynthesis. They take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen, which we need to breathe. We help plants by giving them carbon dioxide, so we both help each other!
The water cycle is also important. Clouds form when water vapor rises, cools, and turns into tiny droplets. This makes rain, which fills up rivers and lakes.
Clouds come in different types:
Precipitation can be:
Learning about plant life cycles and the water cycle helps us understand how important they are for our world. By taking care of plants and water, we can keep our planet healthy for everyone!
Seed Exploration Activity: Find different seeds from fruits or vegetables at home, like apple seeds or bean seeds. With the help of an adult, carefully open the seeds to observe the seed coat, embryo, and endosperm. Draw what you see and label the parts. Discuss with your family how each part helps the seed grow into a plant.
Germination Experiment: Take a few seeds, like beans or peas, and place them on a damp paper towel inside a clear plastic bag. Tape the bag to a window where it can get sunlight. Observe the seeds daily and note when the root and shoot start to appear. Discuss why water and sunlight are important for the seeds to grow.
Photosynthesis in Action: Go outside and find a plant or tree. Observe its leaves and think about how they use sunlight to make food. With the help of an adult, use a magnifying glass to look closely at the leaves. Can you see any tiny openings? These are called stomata, and they help the plant take in carbon dioxide. Discuss how the plant uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make glucose and oxygen.
