Learning about seeds is a magical way to connect kids to nature. This seed-growing activity is simple, low-mess, and perfect for teaching preschoolers how plants start life. Your child will see the different parts of a seed, observe germination up close, and even grow their own plants.
Materials needed
- Seed coloring page (get yours from here)
- Crayons
- Bean seeds + other seeds you’d like to sprout (e.g., sunflower, marigold, peas, corn, pumpkin)
- Paper towel
- Sandwich-sized Ziplock bag
- Water
- Optional: Magnifying glass
- Optional: Potting soil and pots or garden space
Step 1: Explore the parts of a seed
- Start with a seed coloring page (Get access to our accompanying materials).
- Explain: A seed is a container for a baby plant and the food it needs to grow until it can make its own food from sunlight.
- Point out and label each part on the coloring page.
- Let your child color the page and examine real seeds at the same time.
Optional: Glue one of each seed type onto the coloring page — this works well in a nature journal (if you started one during your bird-watching project!).
Step 2: Start the seed sprouting experiment
- Fold a paper towel and place it inside the Ziplock bag.
- Add enough water to saturate the towel without pooling water at the bottom.
- Lay a couple of each type of seed on top of the towel.
- Seal the bag and place it in a warm, safe location.
- Check daily for sprouts. Use a magnifying glass to spot tiny leaves, roots, and the seed’s stored food source.
Step 3: Continue growing your plants
If you’d like, transfer your seedlings into pots or garden soil and keep caring for them. Watch them develop into full plants, producing leaves, stems, and flowers.
Teaching moments
- If sprouting different types of seeds, record how long each takes to germinate.
- If transplanting to soil, take daily photos or drawings of growth stages and add them to your nature journal.
- Introduce the concept that different seeds grow at different speeds and under different conditions.
Extension activity: comparing seeds and eggs
Show your child how seeds are similar to chicken eggs:
- Outer coating: Shell (egg) vs. seed coat
- Food source: Yolk (egg) vs. stored food in seed
- Baby inside: Chick embryo (egg) vs. plant embryo (seed)
If questions arise about where the baby chick is, explain that grocery store eggs are not fertilized, so they won’t grow into chicks, just as seeds won’t grow without water. You can show the blastodisc, a small white dot on the yolk, which is where the chick would develop if fertilized.
This project brings science to life in a way little ones can touch, see, and track over time. It builds observation skills, introduces plant biology, and sparks curiosity about the natural world, all while fitting easily into a homeschool routine.