Plant Adaptations Activities for Kids

These classroom activities are designed to complement the Plant Adaptations topic page on BrainPOP Jr.

Phototropism
Observe how plants will grow toward a light source. If possible, bring seeds for students to plant in pots. Have students research the type of plant and what it needs to survive. How much water does it need? What kind of soil does the plant need? Then place the plants near—but not too close to—a sunny window. You may want to use a grow lamp if a sunny window is not available. Have students observe how the plant changes and grows. You can assign students to care for the plant and have them draw pictures or take photographs to track the plant’s progress. Watch how the plant grows toward the light source!

Needs for Seeds

Have students save the seeds of every fruit they eat during the week. They can collect apple seeds, orange seeds, or even an avocado seed. Encourage them to collect as many different seeds as possible. Then have students compare and contrast their seeds. Why might some seeds be small? Why might others be large? Why might a watermelon have many seeds while an apple has just a few? Why might a strawberry have seeds on the outside? Discuss these adaptations together, perhaps creating a class display that can be added to throughout the year. You can also store each seed type and a short summary of student observations about it in a zip-close bag, stapling the bags together to create a book. This activity also encourages healthy eating habits!