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Plant Facts for Kids

Spring is here, and it’s the perfect season for planting! During this time, students can learn a lot about how plants grow and why they are important to our environment and daily lives. Exploring the world of plants can be fascinating and educational for elementary and middle school students. Learn more about plant facts for kids and activity ideas in this post. You can check out all of the Fact of the Day for Kids here.

TEN PLANT FACTS FOR KIDS

  1. The Titan Arum, known as the “corpse flower,” is one of the largest flowers in the world and can grow up to 10 feet tall.
  2. Plants can communicate with each other through underground networks of fungi known as mycorrhizal networks.
  3. The oldest living tree species is the Methuselah tree, which is about 4,845 years old.
  4. Venus flytraps catch their prey—mostly insects and arachnids—with a trapping structure formed by the terminal portion of the plant’s leaves.
  5. Bamboo can be an extremely rapid growing plant; some species can grow up to 35 inches in just one day.
  6. Sunflowers move throughout the day to face the sun, a behavior known as heliotropism.
  7. A single corn kernel is actually a whole grain and a type of fruit, technically making popcorn a fruit snack.
  8. Over 85% of plant life is found in the ocean.
  9. Potatoes were the first vegetable grown in space.
  10. Coffee plants can live up to 100 years, but they are most productive between the ages of 7 and 20.

ACTIVITY IDEAS TO CELEBRATE PLANTS

Learning about plants is not only educational but also fun! Here are some activities you can do in the classroom or at school:

  • Complete this Plant Word Search puzzle.
  • Create a mini greenhouse with plastic containers to observe how seeds germinate.
  • Start a windowsill garden to grow herbs or simple flowers.
  • Make leaf rubbings to study different leaf patterns and structures.
  • Plant a butterfly garden with native flowers to attract local butterflies.
  • Organize a “green day” where students can bring in plants to share and learn about.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT PLANTS

Thinking about plants can raise some interesting questions. Consider these:

  • How do plants absorb water from the soil?
  • What is photosynthesis and why is it important for plants and humans?
  • Why do some plants have flowers, but others do not?
  • How do different plants adapt to their environments?
  • What can we do to protect endangered plant species?

WOULD YOU RATHER QUESTIONS ABOUT PLANTS

Here are five questions to spark conversation. Would you rather…

  • Plant a vegetable garden or a flower garden?
  • Live in a dense jungle with giant trees or in a desert with cacti?
  • Have the ability to grow plants instantly or have plants that need no water?
  • Eat only raw plant foods for a week or have to plant ten trees every day for a month?
  • Be a tree with long branches or a bush with colorful flowers?

MORE FUN STUFF

Here are more fun ideas to help keep the kids entertained:

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