Life Cycle of a Plant Worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve the Life Cycle of a Plant labeling task step by step.

We are given a diagram with six stages in a circular flow, and we need to label each stage using the correct word from this box:

Words to choose from:
- pollination
- sprouting
- seedling
- planting
- mature plant
- fruiting
- germination

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Step 1: Understand the life cycle of a plant

The typical life cycle of a flowering plant goes like this:

1. Planting – A seed is placed into the soil.
2. Germination – The seed absorbs water and begins to grow; the root emerges first.
3. Sprouting – The shoot breaks through the soil surface.
4. Seedling – The young plant grows leaves and stems.
5. Mature plant – The plant reaches full size and develops flowers.
6. Pollination – Pollen moves from one flower to another (or within the same flower), enabling fertilization.
7. Fruiting – After pollination, the flower develops into a fruit containing seeds.
8. Then, the cycle repeats when seeds are dispersed and planted.

Note: In the diagram, there are six circles, so some steps may be combined or simplified.

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Step 2: Analyze the Diagram

Let’s go around the cycle clockwise, starting from the top.

#### Top circle:
- Shows soil with a seed (no plant visible).
- This is the planting stage — the seed is placed in the soil.
✔ Label: planting

#### Moving clockwise:
- Next circle shows a tiny green shoot emerging from the soil.
- This is germination — the seed starts to grow.
✔ Label: germination

#### Next:
- A small plant with two leaves, still small.
- This is a seedling.
✔ Label: seedling

#### Next:
- A larger plant with leaves but no flowers yet.
- This is growing into a mature plant.
✔ Label: mature plant

#### Next:
- Two yellow flowers shown.
- This is the pollination stage — flowers are open for pollination.
✔ Label: pollination

#### Last:
- A plant with flowers turning into fruits/seeds.
- This is fruiting — after pollination, the plant produces fruit with seeds.
✔ Label: fruiting

Wait! But the diagram has only six stages, and we have seven words. Let's check carefully.

Looking again at the diagram:

- The top circle has soil with a seed → planting
- Then germination (shoot emerging)
- Then seedling (small plant)
- Then mature plant (larger plant)
- Then pollination (flowers)
- Then fruiting (fruits forming)

But wait — fruiting comes *after* pollination, so it should follow pollination.

But the arrow from pollination leads to fruiting, then back to planting?

Yes — that makes sense.

So let’s map them correctly:

1. Top: Seed in soil → planting
2. Right side: Shoot coming out → germination
3. Bottom right: Small plant → seedling
4. Bottom center: Larger plant → mature plant
5. Bottom left: Flowers → pollination
6. Left side: Fruits forming → fruiting

Then the cycle continues back to planting.

But now we have all 6 boxes labeled, and we used:

- planting
- germination
- seedling
- mature plant
- pollination
- fruiting

That’s 6 labels. The word "sprouting" is also in the box — but we didn’t use it.

Hmm — is "sprouting" the same as "germination"?

Let’s clarify:

- Germination: The process where the seed starts to grow (root and shoot develop).
- Sprouting: Often used interchangeably, but sometimes refers specifically to the shoot emerging above ground.

In many educational contexts, especially for kids, "sprouting" is used to describe the emergence of the shoot.

But here, the diagram shows:

- One stage: seed underground → germination
- Next: shoot breaking through soil → sprouting

So perhaps "sprouting" should be used instead of "germination"?

But look at the words in the box:

> pollination, sprouting, seedling, planting, mature plant, fruiting, germination

So both sprouting and germination are listed.

This means we must distinguish between them.

Let’s refine:

- Planting: Seed placed in soil → ✔
- Germination: Seed absorbs water, root grows down → but not visible above ground
- Sprouting: Shoot breaks through soil → visible above ground
- Seedling: Young plant with leaves
- Mature plant: Fully grown
- Pollination: Flowers bloom and transfer pollen
- Fruiting: Fruit forms with seeds

Now, in the diagram:

1. Top: Soil with seed → planting
2. Next (clockwise): A tiny green shoot just emerging → this is sprouting
- But wait — if the shoot is emerging, is it germination or sprouting?

In biology:
- Germination includes the entire process from seed activation to emergence.
- Sprouting is often used synonymously, but sometimes refers to the visible emergence.

But in this context, since the diagram shows the shoot coming up, it's more likely sprouting.

But the term "germination" is broader.

Let’s examine the image carefully:

- The second stage (from top) shows a tiny shoot pushing up — this is emergence, so sprouting is better.

But then what about germination?

Possibility: Maybe germination is the first stage, before the shoot appears?

But the first stage is planting — seed in soil.

Then germination could be the next step — the internal process.

But the second image shows the shoot — which is sprouting.

So maybe:

- Planting: seed in soil
- Germination: seed beginning to grow (underground)
- Sprouting: shoot appears above ground

But the diagram only shows one stage between planting and seedling — it shows shoot emerging.

So perhaps the two stages are:

- Germination = seed starting to grow (not visible)
- Sprouting = shoot coming up

But the diagram doesn't show an underground stage — it shows the shoot already out.

Therefore, the stage with the shoot emerging is best labeled sprouting.

But then what about germination?

Wait — perhaps "germination" is used for the entire process, and "sprouting" is a subset.

But in many curricula, they use:

1. Planting
2. Germination (includes sprouting)
3. Seedling
4. Mature plant
5. Pollination
6. Fruiting

So maybe "sprouting" is redundant.

But both are listed — so we must pick one.

Let’s look at the positions:

Let’s number the circles clockwise:

1. Top: Seed in soil → planting
2. Top-right: Shoot emerging → sprouting? Or germination?
3. Bottom-right: Small plant → seedling
4. Bottom-center: Larger plant → mature plant
5. Bottom-left: Flowers → pollination
6. Left: Fruits → fruiting

Now, germination typically happens before the shoot appears.

But the second circle shows the shoot emerging, so it's after germination.

So the process of germination occurs during the transition from planting to sprouting.

But the diagram only has one stage for that.

So perhaps the second stage is germination, and sprouting is part of it.

But the word "sprouting" is in the list — so it must be used.

Alternative idea: Maybe "germination" is used for the initial growth, and "sprouting" is the next step.

But in standard diagrams, they often combine them.

Wait — perhaps the top-right stage is germination, and the bottom-right is seedling.

But germination usually refers to the beginning of growth, while seedling is the young plant.

So:

- Planting: seed placed
- Germination: seed starts to grow (root and shoot begin)
- Sprouting: shoot emerges
- Seedling: young plant with leaves
- Mature plant: full-grown
- Pollination: flowers
- Fruiting: fruit with seeds

But the diagram has only six stages, so we can’t have seven.

So likely, "germination" and "sprouting" are being used for the same stage, but we must pick one.

But both are in the box — so probably one of them is not used, or they are synonyms.

But in most educational materials, "germination" is the correct term for the process of a seed starting to grow.

"Sprouting" is often used for beans or plants where you see the shoot come up.

But in this diagram, the second stage shows a shoot emerging — so it's sprouting.

And the word "germination" might be intended for the transition, but not a separate stage.

But let’s look at the answer key logic.

Let’s try matching based on common textbook diagrams.

Standard life cycle stages:

1. Seed → planting
2. Germination → seed grows root and shoot
3. Seedling → young plant
4. Mature plant → adult plant
5. Flowering/pollination → flowers open
6. Fruiting → fruit forms

So the second stage is germination.

Even though the shoot is visible, it's still part of germination.

So "germination" is the best term for the second stage.

Then "sprouting" might be a distractor, or perhaps "sprouting" is used for the same thing.

But in the box, both are listed — so we must pick one.

Alternatively, maybe "sprouting" is meant for the seedling stage?

No — seedling is the plant.

Let’s re-express the diagram:

From the top:

1. Top: Seed in soil → planting
2. Top-right: Shoot emerging → germination (since germination includes emergence)
3. Bottom-right: Small plant → seedling
4. Bottom-center: Larger plant → mature plant
5. Bottom-left: Flowers → pollination
6. Left: Fruits → fruiting

Then back to planting.

Now, the word "sprouting" is unused.

But the problem says: "choose the correct word from the box."

There are 7 words, 6 stages — so one will be left out.

So likely, "sprouting" is not needed, or it's a synonym.

But let’s consider: maybe "sprouting" is the correct term for the second stage.

In some curricula, "germination" is used for the internal process, and "sprouting" for the visible emergence.

But in this case, the second stage shows the shoot emerging, so it's sprouting.

Then what is germination?

Perhaps germination is the very first step, but it's not shown — only planting is shown.

So planting is the act, and germination is the process.

But the diagram has a circle for "seed in soil" — that’s planting.

Then the next stage is germination or sprouting.

But since the shoot is just coming out, it's sprouting.

And germination is the entire process, including root growth.

So perhaps "germination" is better.

Let’s search for common answers.

Upon checking standard worksheets, the typical labeling is:

1. Planting
2. Germination
3. Seedling
4. Mature plant
5. Pollination
6. Fruiting

And "sprouting" is not always included.

So likely, "sprouting" is not used, and "germination" is the correct term for the second stage.

But the word "sprouting" is in the box — so it must be used somewhere.

Wait — maybe the second stage is sprouting, and germination is not used.

But that seems odd.

Alternatively, maybe the top-right stage is germination, and the bottom-right is seedling, etc.

Let’s try assigning:

- Top: planting
- Top-right: germination
- Bottom-right: seedling
- Bottom-center: mature plant
- Bottom-left: pollination
- Left: fruiting

Then "sprouting" is left out.

But why include it?

Unless...

Wait — maybe the second stage is sprouting, and germination is not used.

But that would be unusual.

Another possibility: "sprouting" is the same as "germination" in this context.

But the box has both — so likely, one is a distractor.

But the instruction says: "label each stage... choosing the correct word from the box."

There are 6 stages, 7 words — so one will not be used.

So we can leave one out.

Now, looking at the images:

- Top: seed in soil → planting
- Top-right: shoot emerging → sprouting or germination
- Bottom-right: small plant → seedling
- Bottom-center: larger plant → mature plant
- Bottom-left: flowers → pollination
- Left: fruits → fruiting

Now, "sprouting" is often used for the emergence of the shoot, while "germination" is the overall process.

So the second stage is best labeled sprouting.

Then "germination" is not used.

But that seems odd.

Alternatively, maybe the second stage is germination, and "sprouting" is not used.

But let’s look at the flow:

After planting, the seed germinates — so the next stage is germination.

Then it becomes a seedling.

So the second stage is germination.

Even though the shoot is visible, it's part of germination.

So I think the intended answer is:

1. Top: planting
2. Top-right: germination
3. Bottom-right: seedling
4. Bottom-center: mature plant
5. Bottom-left: pollination
6. Left: fruiting

And "sprouting" is not used.

But why include it?

Perhaps in some versions, "sprouting" is used.

But based on standard science education, "germination" is the correct term.

So final labeling:

- Top: planting
- Top-right: germination
- Bottom-right: seedling
- Bottom-center: mature plant
- Bottom-left: pollination
- Left: fruiting

And "sprouting" is the extra word.

But let’s double-check with the image.

If the top-right circle shows the shoot emerging, and the bottom-right shows a small plant with leaves, then:

- Germination = the process of the seed growing, including shoot emergence
- Seedling = the young plant

So germination is appropriate for the second stage.

Thus, "sprouting" is not needed.

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✔ Final Answer:

Label the stages as follows:

1. Top circle (seed in soil): planting
2. Top-right circle (shoot emerging): germination
3. Bottom-right circle (small plant): seedling
4. Bottom-center circle (larger plant): mature plant
5. Bottom-left circle (flowers): pollination
6. Left circle (fruits): fruiting

Word not used: sprouting

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Explanation:

- Planting: The seed is placed in the soil.
- Germination: The seed begins to grow; the root and shoot emerge.
- Seedling: The young plant with its first true leaves.
- Mature plant: The fully grown plant capable of reproduction.
- Pollination: Transfer of pollen from male to female parts of the flower.
- Fruiting: The development of fruit containing seeds after pollination.

"Sprouting" is often used informally for the emergence of the shoot, but in formal biology, "germination" encompasses the entire process, including sprouting. Therefore, "germination" is the correct scientific term for the stage after planting.

Thus, the correct labels are as above.