Free printable seed worksheets for elementary students! Download and print our Parts of a Seed PDF diagrams, labeling activities, vocabulary cards, and cut and paste worksheets. Explore types of seeds and sizes with sorting mats and identification activities, then dive into seed dispersal with charts, sorting games, and a circle book covering all six ways seeds travel. Finish your seed unit study with fun seed science facts, research activities, and a hands-on seed germination experiment for kids. Everything you need to teach seeds is available as a free PDF download below.
Parts of a Seed Printables
Parts of a Seed Diagram (Dicot)
Free printable keyword…..download, print, pdf, as well as keyword variations, modifiers, and adjacent.
Parts of a Seed Diagram (Monocot)
Free printable keyword…..download, print, pdf, as well as keyword variations, modifiers, and adjacent.
Download and print this full-color Parts of a Seed diagram featuring a side-by-side comparison of a corn seed (monocot) and a bean seed (dicot). This classroom-ready anchor chart labels all key seed parts in lowercase for early readers and clearly identifies each seed type. Use as a reference poster during seed science lessons or hang near your science center.
Students color and study the parts of a dicot and monocot seed with this black and white dual diagram showing a corn seed and a bean seed side by side. All parts are labeled in lowercase for early readers. Use as a follow-up to the full-color chart or as a take-home reference page
Label the Parts of a Seed Worksheet
Students cut out seed part labels and paste them onto blank corn and bean seed diagrams with this printable labeling activity. This differentiated worksheet builds vocabulary and diagram skills for seed coat, embryo, cotyledon, radicle, monocot, and dicot. Great for science notebooks or assessment.
Students practice labeling the parts of a seed with this reusable hands-on learning mat. This non-consumable set features a blank bean seed cross-section diagram and printable label cards for seed coat, embryo, cotyledon, and radicle. Laminate for repeated use in science centers or small group activities.
Build seed science vocabulary with this reusable three-part card matching mat. Students place picture cards, word cards, and definition cards in the correct boxes to make a match. This learning center activity works with both the seed parts vocabulary cards and the seed dispersal vocabulary cards.
Parts of a Seed Vocabulary Cards
Students learn the parts of a seed with these printable three-part vocabulary cards featuring a picture, word, and definition for each term. This set covers seed coat, embryo, cotyledon, radicle, monocot, and dicot. Use with the vocabulary mat or as a standalone matching activity. For more free printables, take a look at our Plant Worksheets!
Seed Cross-Section Coloring Page
Preschool and kindergarten students can color this simple seed cross-section coloring page featuring a large bean seed interior. Bold outlines and a simple design make this perfect for early learners who are just beginning to explore what is inside a seed.
Teaching the Parts of a Seed
Every seed has three essential parts that work together: the seed coat, a tough outer covering that protects what’s inside; the embryo, a tiny young plant with the beginnings of a root, stem, and leaves; and the cotyledon, or seed leaf, which stores the food energy the embryo uses to start growing. Soaking lima beans overnight softens the seed coat so students can gently split them open and find each part with their own eyes. Connecting what each part looks like to the job it does helps students see a seed as a living system and builds a strong foundation for understanding germination.
seed coat: the tough outer covering of a seed. It wraps around the inside and keeps the baby plant safe from damage, disease, and drying out!
embryo: the tiny baby plant tucked inside the seed. It holds the beginnings of the root, stem, and first leaves, everything the new plant needs to start growing!
cotyledon: the seed leaf found inside a seed. It stores food energy that the baby plant uses until it can make its own food from sunlight!
radicle: the very first root that grows out of the seed when it sprouts. It reaches down into the soil to hold the seedling in place and soak up water!
monocot: a type of plant whose seeds have only one cotyledon inside. Corn is a common example!
dicot: a type of plant whose seeds have two cotyledons inside. When you split a bean seed in half, each half is a cotyledon!
Types of Seeds Worksheets
Download this full-color sizes of seeds reference chart featuring ten labeled seed illustrations organized into small, medium, and large categories. Students learn to identify sunflower seeds, bean seeds, pea seeds, corn seeds, apple seeds, pumpkin seeds, watermelon seeds, acorns, dandelion seeds, and coconuts by sight. A great anchor chart for any seed science unit.
Students sort ten seed picture cards into small, medium, and large categories on this reusable sorting mat. Laminate the mat and cards for use in science centers or small group instruction. This hands-on seed activity builds classification skills and introduces students to the variety of seed sizes found in nature.
Students use the word bank to identify and label ten seed illustrations on this printable seed identification worksheet. Featuring all ten seed types from the chart and sorting mat, this activity reinforces seed vocabulary and visual recognition skills. Great for science notebooks or independent practice.
Students categorize seeds by shape and color them by code on this engaging printable activity. Seeds are sorted into three shape groups as students color each seed according to the key. A fun and visual way to explore how seed shapes connect to how seeds travel.
Teaching Types of Seeds
Seeds come in many shapes, sizes, and textures, from small pea seeds to medium bean seeds to large acorns and coconuts, and a seed’s shape often hints at how it travels, like dandelion seeds floating on the wind or coconuts drifting across oceans. Let students sort a handful of real seeds by size, shape, and texture before any worksheets come out. This hands-on sorting builds classifying skills and helps students connect a seed’s structure to how it helps a plant grow and spread.
sunflower seed: A medium-sized, flat seed with a striped shell that grows in the center of a sunflower.
bean seed: A medium-sized, oval or kidney-shaped dicot seed with a smooth coat and two cotyledons inside.
pea seed: A small, round, smooth seed that grows inside a pea pod.
corn seed: A medium-sized, yellow monocot seed (kernel) that grows in rows on a corncob.
acorn: The large, nut-like fruit of an oak tree that holds a seed inside and is topped with a bumpy cap.
dandelion seed: A tiny, lightweight seed attached to a fluffy white parachute that floats on the wind.
coconut: The very large fruit of a coconut palm, with a giant seed inside and a thick husk that helps it float.
Seed Germination Experiment for Kids
Students compare the germination speed of three common seeds. A lima bean seed, a sunflower seed, and an apple seed, with this printable seed science experiment sheet. Students record their hypothesis, follow the procedure, observe daily changes, and draw final observations for each seed type. Includes a science connection about seed dormancy.
Seed Germination Observational Journal
Pair this printable observational journal with the germination experiment to track changes across six observation periods. Each journal page is split into three columns, one per seed type with space for drawings and written observations. Students circle which seed germinated first at the bottom of the final page.
Bean Seed Investigation Worksheet
Students observe, measure, and dissect a real bean seed with this hands-on science investigation sheet. Six guided observation sections lead students through size, color, length, weight, sink or float testing, and a seed dissection drawing. A memorable, concrete introduction to seed anatomy.
Teaching Seed Germination
The seed germination experiment gives students a concrete, hands-on experience with one of the most fundamental processes in plant science. By comparing three different seed types side by side, students discover that seeds are not all the same. They have different structures, different amounts of stored energy, and different requirements for when and how they sprout.
Experiment Overview
QUESTION: Which seed germinates the fastest: a lima bean seed, a sunflower seed, or an apple seed?
MATERIALS: 3 lima bean seeds, 3 sunflower seeds, 3 apple seeds, 9 small cups, potting soil, water, ruler, pencil, observational journal
PROCEDURE:
Step 1: Fill each of the 9 cups with the same amount of potting soil. Label 3 cups “Lima Bean,” 3 cups “Sunflower,” and 3 cups “Apple.”
Step 2: Plant one seed in each labeled cup at the same depth (approximately 1 inch deep).
Step 3: Give each cup the same amount of water. Place all cups in the same location with the same amount of light and warmth.
Step 4: Check each cup every day. Record your observations in the lab journal — note which seeds have sprouted, how tall the sprout is, and what it looks like.
Step 5: After 3 weeks, record your final observations and write your conclusion about which seed germinated the fastest.
What to Look For
Lima bean seeds typically show the first signs of germination within 5–7 days. Students will see the seed coat splitting and a small white root (the radicle) pushing through. Sunflower seeds generally germinate in 7–14 days. Apple seeds are the most important teaching moment in this experiment. Apple seeds require a period of cold stratification (a prolonged exposure to cold and moisture) before they will germinate. Without this cold period, most apple seeds will not sprout during the observation window. Rather than a failed experiment, this becomes a rich discussion about dormancy: seeds have built-in timers that prevent them from sprouting at the wrong time of year.
Science Connection
This experiment directly addresses NGSS 2-LS2-1: Plan and conduct an investigation to determine if plants need sunlight and water to grow. The experiment also introduces students to the concept of variables. The seed type changes, but all other conditions (soil, water, light, warmth, planting depth) stay the same. The apple seed’s dormancy connects to the fun fact about seeds waiting for years before sprouting, completing the conceptual arc of the unit.
Teaching Tip: Purchase raw sunflower seeds (not roasted) and dried lima beans from the grocery store bulk section. For apple seeds, collect them from fresh apples in class. Explain to students ahead of time that apple seeds may need a long cold rest before they are ready to grow. Ask students to predict why the apple seed might behave differently from the others.
Germination Vocabulary
germination: The process by which a seed sprouts and begins to grow into a new plant.
hypothesis: A prediction a scientist makes before conducting an experiment.
variable: The one thing that is changed in an experiment to test how it affects the outcome.
observation: What a scientist notices and records during an experiment.
dormancy: A period of rest for a seed during which it does not sprout even when conditions seem right.
radicle: The first root to emerge from a seed when it begins to germinate.
seedling: A very young plant that has just sprouted from a seed.
Seed Science Facts for Kids
Fun Facts About Seeds for Kids
Download and print this colorful seed science facts poster featuring ten illustrated fact blocks with bold titles and full-sentence facts. Hang near your science center or use as a read-aloud reference during seed science lessons. A great introduction to the Seed Research section.
Two Truths & a Lie: Seed Science
Teachers read three statements on each card and students identify the one lie hidden among two truths. This engaging seed science game features six cards covering seed anatomy, monocots and dicots, seed dispersal, germination, and amazing seed facts. The lie is printed in red on each card.
Seeds KWL+Q Research Worksheet
Students record what they know, wonder, learn, and still want to ask about seeds with this printable KWLQ graphic organizer. Use at the beginning and end of your seed unit to show student growth, or assign as an independent research activity paired with the fun facts poster.
Students put their research skills to the test with this nine-cell seed fact finder worksheet. Each cell contains a unique research prompt including drawing a seed, finding a wild statistic, discovering a seed joke, and identifying the world’s most unusual seed. A fun and open-ended research activity for any seed science unit.
Once students have gathered their seed facts, they can organize and record them in this four-section seed research report layer book. Students write about seed descriptions, how seeds travel, what seeds need to grow, and the seed life cycle. A simple and engaging first research report for elementary students.
Amazing Seed Facts
Seeds Can Wait for Years: Scientists grew a healthy date palm from a 2,000-year-old seed found near the Dead Sea.
The World’s Biggest Seed: The coco de mer palm tree makes the largest seed on Earth, weighing up to about 40 pounds.
Built-In Lunchbox: Most seeds carry their own food supply that feeds the baby plant until it can make food from sunlight.
Some Seeds Explode: The sandbox tree’s pods burst open and launch seeds at up to 150 miles per hour, faster than a car on the highway.
One Plant, Thousands of Seeds: A single sunflower head can produce more than 2,000 seeds.
Ocean Travelers: Coconuts can float across oceans and still sprout when they wash ashore.
Accidental Gardeners: Squirrels bury acorns to eat later, and the ones they forget can grow into new oak trees.
No Sun Needed (Yet): Most seeds need water, warmth, and oxygen to sprout, but they don’t need sunlight until their first leaves appear.
Tiny but Mighty: Orchid seeds are so tiny they float like dust, and a single pod can hold millions of them.
Monocots and Dicots: Corn seeds have one cotyledon, while bean seeds have two.
Seed Dispersal Worksheets
How Seeds Travel: Seed Dispersal Methods Chart
Download and print this full-color seed dispersal methods chart featuring all six ways seeds travel away from their parent plant. Each method is shown with an illustration, a bold label, and a one-sentence description. This anchor chart covers wind, water, animal (eaten), animal (hitchhiking), self-dispersal, and gravity dispersal.
Students sort twelve seed example cards onto a reusable six-section seed dispersal sorting mat. This hands-on seed dispersal activity covers dandelion, maple samara, coconut, lotus, berry, apple, burr, sticker weed, touch-me-not, witch hazel, acorn, and chestnut. Laminate for repeated use at science stations.
Students draw a line to match each seed or plant to its correct dispersal method on this printable seed dispersal matching worksheet. Featuring six seed examples and six dispersal method labels, this activity reinforces the vocabulary and concepts introduced in the dispersal chart. For more FREE printable science worksheets take a look at our Flower Worksheets.
Students create a six-circle seed dispersal book featuring one dispersal method per circle. Each circle includes a clipart illustration and the dispersal method label. Students color, cut, and assemble this take-home reference tool covering wind, water, gravity, animal (hitchhiking), self-dispersal, and animal (eaten).
Teaching How Seeds Travel
Seeds travel away from their parent plant, a process called dispersal, so new plants aren’t crowded together competing for light, water, and nutrients. They spread by wind, like dandelion parachutes and spinning maple samaras; by water, like floating coconuts; by animals that eat fruit or carry hitchhiking burrs; by bursting seed pods, like the touch-me-not; and by gravity, like falling acorns. Take students on a “sock walk” with old socks pulled over their shoes to collect hitchhiking seeds, and they’ll quickly see how a seed’s shape matches the way it travels.
dispersal: The process of seeds spreading away from the parent plant to a new place where they can grow.
wind dispersal: When seeds are carried to a new place by the wind. Examples: dandelion, maple samara.
water dispersal: When seeds float on water to reach a new location. Example: coconut.
animal dispersal: When animals carry seeds by eating fruit and leaving the seeds in their droppings, carrying seeds on their fur or clothing, or burying seeds and forgetting them. Examples: berries, burrs, acorns.
self-dispersal: When a plant launches its own seeds as pressure builds inside a seed pod until it bursts open. Example: touch-me-not.
gravity dispersal: When heavy seeds fall from the parent plant straight to the ground below, sometimes rolling a short distance away. Examples: acorns, chestnuts.
burr: A prickly seed case covered in tiny hooks that cling to fur or clothing to travel to new places.
samara: A winged seed case that spins like a helicopter blade as it falls. Example: maple tree seed.
seed pod: A protective case that holds seeds inside until they are ready to be released.
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