The Life Cycle of a Plant

The Life Cycle of a Plant

Written by: Lauren Matteo and Melissa Skweres

Third Grade Science

Standard 3.1.3.A2 Describe the basic needs of living things and their dependence on light, food, air, water, and shelter.

The parts of the plant are the: flowers, leaves, stem, roots, and fruit.

The life cycle of a plant starts with the seed. A seed can be dropped to the ground by fruits or can be transferred by animals or wind.

The seed is created by pollination of the plants. Bees and other animals take the pollen from one plant and transfer it to another plant. 

The seed from the plant needs soil to grow. The soil provides nutrients to the seed. 

As the seed grows, it sprouts a seedling towards the top of the soil, reaching for the sun. The seed also sprouts roots, that grow deeper into the soil, creating the foundation for the plant. 

The soil gets it nutrients from decomposing fruits. This gives the seedling food before it reaches the sun. The seedling also needs water to grow.

Once the seedling breaks through the soil, it begins to grow a longer stem and leaves above the ground.

The leaves collect sunlight and the roots collect water. In the stem, the energy from the sunlight and the water are used to make food. This process is called Photosynthesis.

The plant then grows a flower, this flower then provides a fruit to distribute the seeds and to help with pollination. Then the cycle starts over again.