5th Grade Science

Photosynthesis & Plant Science Lab

Explore plant anatomy, trace seed germination and growth stages, calculate plant energy production, and test your science knowledge!

Interactive Plant Anatomy

Click the mint markers on the flower diagram below to inspect how roots, stems, leaves, and petals sustain living plants.

Anatomy of a flowering plant
Hotspots Explored: 0 / 4

The Plant Growth Lifecycle

Click through the horizontal stages or use the left and right navigation arrows to explore plant development step-by-step!

1
2
3
4
Stage 1 of 4 Underground Phase

Seed Germination

Protected inside its durable seed coat, the embryo absorbs water from soil, swells, and sends its primary root (radicle) anchoring downward to harvest water and minerals.

Stage 2 of 4 Emergence Phase

Sprout & Seedling Emergence

The young shoot breaks through the soil surface pushing toward sunlight. Unfurling its initial seed leaves (cotyledons), the seedling begins its first photosynthesis reactions.

Stage 3 of 4 Maturation Phase

Vegetative Stem & Leaf Growth

The central stem thickens and grows taller while broad true leaves expand. Inside the stem, xylem tubes transport water upward while phloem channels circulate glucose food throughout the plant.

Stage 4 of 4 Reproductive Phase

Flowering & Seed Production

The mature plant blooms colorful petals and produces nectar to attract pollinators. Once fertilized, seeds develop to launch the next generation of the plant life cycle!

Step 1 / 4

Photosynthesis Energy Simulator

Adjust daily sunlight hours and water volume to calculate estimated daily oxygen production and plant growth rate!

Science Formula: Plants combine carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and solar energy inside chloroplasts to manufacture glucose food and release fresh oxygen (O2)!
Daily Oxygen Production
20 grams
Estimated Growth Rate
Optimal Growth 🌱

Review

Complete the botanical summary below by selecting the correct plant science terms for each blank.

Plants are essential producers that make their own food through a chemical process called . Inside plant cells, green pigments known as chlorophyll capture sunlight energy. The roots absorb vital water from the soil, while microscopic leaf pores called stomata take in from the air. As a result of this chemical reaction, the plant produces glucose for nourishment and releases breathable back into the atmosphere for animals and humans to use.