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 → This is planting.
- But wait — the next stage has a tiny green shoot coming out → that’s germination.

Actually, let's look carefully at the images:

1. Top center: Soil with a seed → likely planting.
2. Top right: A small green shoot emerging → germination.
3. Right middle: A small plant with two leaves → seedling.
4. Bottom right: A larger plant with leaves → mature plant.
5. Bottom left: A plant with yellow flowers → pollination.
6. Left middle: Two yellow flowers and a fruit forming → fruiting.
7. Back to the top: Seeds fall from fruit → then back to planting?

Wait — the diagram shows six stages, but the cycle starts with planting.

Let’s number them clockwise:

1. Top center: Seed in soil → planting
2. Top right: Shoot emerging → germination
3. Right middle: Small plant → seedling
4. Bottom right: Larger plant → mature plant
5. Bottom left: Flower → pollination
6. Left middle: Fruit with seeds → fruiting

But wait — fruiting comes after pollination, so let’s check the order.

Actually, the arrows show:

- From planting → germination → seedling → mature plant → pollination → fruiting → back to planting

Yes! That makes sense.

So now, match each image to the correct term:

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Final Labels:

Let’s assign each circle:

1. Top center: Seed in soil → planting
2. Top right: Shoot emerging from soil → germination
3. Right middle: Young plant with leaves → seedling
4. Bottom right: Taller plant → mature plant
5. Bottom left: Flowers → pollination
6. Left middle: Fruit developing → fruiting

Wait — the left middle shows a fruit with seeds inside, and an arrow going to the top (seed in soil). So yes, fruiting produces seeds that can be planted.

Now, check if all words are used:

Used:
- planting ✔
- germination ✔
- seedling ✔
- mature plant ✔
- pollination ✔
- fruiting ✔
- sprouting ✘

Wait — sprouting is in the list, but not used?

Let’s double-check.

Is sprouting different from germination?

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

In many educational contexts, germination includes both root and shoot emergence.

But here, we have two stages:
- One with just the seed underground? No — the top right shows a small shoot emerging → that could be sprouting.

But the word germination is more accurate for the initial growth phase.

However, in this diagram, "sprouting" might be intended for the shoot breaking the surface.

But looking at the words available, we have both germination and sprouting.

So perhaps:

- Top right: germination (seed starts growing)
- Right middle: sprouting (shoot above ground) → but that would make it a seedling

But the right middle image is labeled as a seedling, which is a young plant.

Wait — the labels are under each circle.

So we must match the image to the correct term.

Let’s go image by image:

1. Top center: Seed in soil → planting
2. Top right: Seed with small shoot emerging → germination (or sprouting?)
- But germination is the biological process of the seed beginning to grow.
- Sprouting often refers to the visible shoot emerging.
- However, "germination" is the standard term used in science for the whole process.
- But "sprouting" is also acceptable in some contexts.

But the word "sprouting" is listed — so maybe it's meant to be used.

But let’s see the next stage:

3. Right middle: Small plant with two leaves → seedling

So "sprouting" might refer to the emergence of the shoot, which is shown in top right.

But germination includes the entire process from seed to early shoot.

In most curricula, germination is used for the seed starting to grow, and seedling is the young plant.

So:

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

But what about sprouting?

It’s not used yet.

Wait — maybe sprouting is the same as germination? But they’re both listed.

Possibility: "sprouting" is a synonym for germination, but since both are options, perhaps the diagram expects sprouting for the emerging shoot.

But let’s look again.

Standard terminology:

- Planting: placing seed in soil
- Germination: seed absorbs water, root and shoot develop
- Sprouting: shoot emerges above ground (often used informally)
- Seedling: young plant with first true leaves
- Mature plant: fully grown
- Pollination: transfer of pollen
- Fruiting: development of fruit with seeds

But in this diagram:

- Top right: shoot just emerging → sprouting
- Right middle: small plant → seedling

So maybe:

- Top right: sprouting
- Right middle: seedling

Then germination would be missing.

But germination is the process before sprouting.

But the top center is planting, then top right is germination?

Wait — the top center shows a seed in soil, and arrow points to top right, which shows a shoot emerging.

So the process from seed to shoot is germination.

Thus, top right should be germination.

But sprouting is a part of germination.

So why is sprouting in the list?

Perhaps it's a mistake, or perhaps the diagram uses sprouting for the emergence.

But in most biology texts, germination includes the entire process.

Let’s check the word box again:

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

All seven words.

We have six circles.

So one word will be unused.

Wait — six circles, but seven words → one word won’t be used.

So one of the words is extra.

But the task says: “Label each stage... choosing the correct word from the box.”

So only six of the seven words are used.

So one is extra.

Which one?

Let’s try to assign:

1. Top center: Seed in soil → planting ✔
2. Top right: Shoot emerging → germination ✔ (this is the start of growth)
3. Right middle: Small plant → seedling ✔
4. Bottom right: Mature plant → mature plant ✔
5. Bottom left: Flowers → pollination ✔
6. Left middle: Fruit with seeds → fruiting ✔

That’s six used.

Remaining: sprouting

So sprouting is not used.

But why is it in the list?

Possibly because sprouting and germination are similar, but in this context, germination is the correct scientific term for the process of the seed growing.

Alternatively, maybe the top right is sprouting, and germination is not used.

But germination is the proper term.

Moreover, sprouting usually refers to the above-ground part, while germination includes root and shoot.

In the top right image, we see a shoot, but no root — but roots are underground.

So it’s hard to tell.

But in most educational diagrams, germination is used for the stage where the seed starts to grow, even if only the shoot is visible.

Also, sprouting is often used in food contexts (e.g., sprouted beans), not typically in plant life cycles.

Therefore, the correct labels are:

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Final Answer:

1. Top center (seed in soil) → planting
2. Top right (shoot emerging) → germination
3. Right middle (small plant) → seedling
4. Bottom right (tall plant) → mature plant
5. Bottom left (flowers) → pollination
6. Left middle (fruit with seeds) → fruiting

Unused word: sprouting

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Summary of Labels:

| Circle | Image Description | Label |
|--------|-------------------|-------|
| Top center | Seed in soil | planting |
| Top right | Shoot emerging from soil | germination |
| Right middle | Small plant with leaves | seedling |
| Bottom right | Larger plant | mature plant |
| Bottom left | Flowers | pollination |
| Left middle | Fruit with seeds | fruiting |

✔ All stages are correctly labeled using the most appropriate scientific terms.

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

Unused word: sprouting