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Seed Science for Kids

  • Writer: Amy Wung Tsao
    Amy Wung Tsao
  • Mar 27
  • 5 min read

Quick links if you’re too busy to scroll:


Seed Science Videos for Kids:


Seeds Science Books for Kids:


Seed Science Experiments and Activities for Kids:



Kids Science - How Seeds Grow into Plants


“When life hands you dirt, plant seeds.” ~ author Matshona Dhliwayo


Where I live, spring is on the way. I’ve got my carrot, baby spinach, snap peas, and baby bok choy seed packets just waiting to be planted in the ground, and miraculously turn into food. Of course it’s not really magic, it’s science!


I’ve already written about the science behind another part of the plant lifecycle - pollination. After pollination, plants grow fruits with seeds inside. But how do those seeds become another plant?


I’ve gathered up so many fun ways for kids to find the answer to this question! Plus, they’ll get to see seeds grow up close, and will even dissect beans to learn the parts of a seed. This is one topic where it’s just super simple to get hands on with science, so let’s get into it!


(Just a reminder - I am never paid to mention any of these resources; there are no affiliate links.)


Seed Science Videos for Kids


So mesmerizing! There are lots of timelapse videos on YouTube, but this one you can really clearly see the roots and leaves sprouting out from this one little seed.This could be a great intro video to spark surprise and questions in your curious kids. They might be surprised to see how that striped seed coat falls off! They might be wondering if those roots and first two leaves are hiding inside the seed coat from the beginning. They might wonder how many seeds one sunflower can make! 


Giving Plants a New Hairstyle!  from PBS Kids' MegaWow  Follow along with Katie’s fun experiment using grow lights to give her plants a new hairstyle! This is such a great illustration of how plants need light to grow, so much that they’ll bend in all sorts of funny shapes to get to the light! (Teachers, this video supports K-LS1-1.)


How Does a Seed Become a Plant?  from SciShow Kids Learn the parts of the seed (seed coat, embryo, and endosperm), and what that seed needs to grow (water, the right temperature, and the right amount of light). (Teachers, this video supports LS1.A , LS1.B, and K-LS1-1.)


Seed Science Books for Kids


Cover illustration of raccoon against a dark background, looking skeptically at the green smiling seed in its hand. The raccoon has a speech bubble with the title of the book, “Are You a Cheeseburger?”

Are You a Cheeseburger?  by Monica Arnaldo 

Raccoon was hoping to find a cheeseburger, but instead he finds Seed. Will Seed grow into a cheeseburger? Hmm…. Preschoolers will be absolutely charmed by this sweet friendship book, but the story can absolutely kick off conversations and observations about what all seeds need to grow. Keep the science talk going about how seeds only grow the same kind of plant they came from. And of course, be sure to mention to the little ones that cheeseburgers don’t come from seeds! (Teachers, you can even talk about what Seed needs to grow to support NGSS K-LS1-1.)


Cover illustration of a bright big round sun behind a small plant with just two green leaves poking out of the dirt.  Above the plant is the book title “A Seed Grows”.

A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis 

This is a book of very few words, but so many little details to notice! Notice what happens to the seed coat after the seed sprouts leaves. Then notice how the new seeds scatter far enough away to grow a new flower. Kick off a conversation about how many times this seed -> flower -> seed cycle can happen. While it’s simple enough for a preschooler to follow, even older kids can pore over the illustrations and learn a thing or two! (Teachers, this book also shows what plants need to grow, supporting NGSS K-LS1-1.)


Cover illustration of a black suitcase, and overlaid is an image of a large red apple. Around the suitcase are illustrations of other fruits and animals eating fruits. Inside the large red apple is the book title “A Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds.”

A Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds  written by Jean Richards, illustrated by Anca Hariton What a delightful way to think about fruit! A lot of kids might not even realize how many seeds they are eating on the regular, like corn kernels and peas. I love that this book gets kids noticing seeds all around their daily lives, and understanding that the delicious fruit is there to protect the seed on its travels. 


The book ends with a Q&A that answers lots of frequently asked questions for kids, like the difference between fruits and vegetables, and do seeds ever sprout in their tummy? 


Seed Science Activities and Experiments for Kids


Dissect a Bean  with SciShow Kids Get hands-on with seeds and discover the parts of a seed. You only need a dry bean and a cup of water! (Teachers, learning the parts of a seed supports NGSS LS1.A, LS1.B.)



Collage of photos of popcorn seeds growing inside a plastic baggie. The photos are labeled “Day 1, Day 5, and Day 10.

Grow Popcorn Seeds in a Bag  from Special Treat Friday This must be the absolute easiest version of experimenting with growing seeds! You can probably do this literally right now with supplies you have in your kitchen - popcorn kernels, paper towels, and plastic baggies. I would have never thought to grow in plastic baggies, but it really makes the whole process so much more visible to kids. And you might even be able to transfer your corn plants into the garden later to become full grown. 

With enough popcorn baggies and kernels, you can easily experiment with giving seeds lots of sunlight, no sunlight at all, or something in between, and observe the differences! (Teachers, that makes this experiment an easy way to support NGSS K-LS1-1.)



Photo of seven beans laid out on a paper towel, some with and some without seed coats, some that are sprouting and some that aren’t. Text overlay reads “Do seeds need their seed coat to grow? An experiment from Gift of Curiosity.”

Even more Seed Experiments with Temperature, Liquids, Air, and More! from Gift of Curiosity If you are up for growing even more seeds and running multiple experiments at once, these are relatively simple to set up as well! Grow seeds at different temperatures, water with different liquids, grow seeds without access to air, and even grow seeds without their seed coat. (All of these experiments support NGSS K-LS1-1.)



Cover illustration of a girl in red overalls planting a little plant growing out of an eggshell into a garden.

Dig Up Seeds as They Grow with “How a Seed Grows” by Helene Jordan


Here's a science experiment that's almost like an Advent calendar where each day you get to dig up a seed and see how it’s changed. This classic book walks you through the process of growing 12 seeds, then digging them up one by one over several days so they can see for themselves how the seed is changing over time. 


I really think my kids will like that waiting aspect, so I’m gathering eggshells now to try this with my kids over spring break!


(Teachers, learning the parts of a seed supports NGSS LS1.A, LS1.B.)




I hope your kids are lit up with curiosity about the seeds growing all around them!  

Happy spring and keep lighting sparks of curiosity,

Amy Wung Tsao


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