How to Teach Plant Parts in Kindergarten with an Easy Science Craft That Sticks

Spring has officially sprung, which means it's the perfect time to dive into plant science! But let’s be real—getting kindergarteners to remember the difference between a stem and a leaf (and not just color everything green) can be a bit of a challenge.

If you've ever caught your students drawing a flower with the roots growing into the sky, you're not alone! Teaching young learners about plant parts doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, it can be fun, visual, and even a little crafty.

Let’s dig into a simple and engaging way to teach plant parts that your students will actually remember—without adding hours of prep to your plate.

🌱 Why Teaching Plant Parts Early Really Matters

Introducing plant parts in kindergarten or first grade lays the foundation for science learning down the road. Here’s why it’s worth the time:

• It builds vocabulary and comprehension around scientific concepts.

• Students develop observation skills and learn how living things grow and change.

• It creates cross-curricular opportunities to tie in reading and writing.

• And let’s not forget—it supports Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for life science!

🎨 Make It Hands-On (Because Worksheets Alone Don’t Cut It)

You already know young learners thrive with visuals, movement, and interaction. A hands-on activity like a labeling craft:

• Reinforces plant vocabulary in a memorable way

• Gives students a chance to show what they’ve learned visually

• Works beautifully for English Language Learners (ELLs) and visual learners

• Doubles as a cute and purposeful bulletin board

Add in a little glue and scissors, and suddenly, you're not just teaching science—you’re creating an experience.

✏️ Add Writing for a Science-ELA Crossover

Looking for a meaningful way to bring writing into your science block? After labeling the plant parts, invite students to write about what each part does and what plants need to grow.

This is a great opportunity to build vocabulary, strengthen sentence structure, and help students make real-world connections.

Use simple sentence starters like:

• The flower is...

• The stem helps the plant...

• The leaves give the plant...

• Plants need water to...

• Plants need sun because...

• Soil helps the plant by...

These prompts make it easy for early writers to express their understanding while reinforcing key science concepts. Plus, their finished work makes a wonderful display or portfolio piece!

...make it accessible for early writers, and you’re sneakily adding more literacy practice into your day.

Bonus idea: Pair the activity with a read-aloud like The Tiny Seed or From Seed to Plant for extra impact!

🪴 The Craft That Makes It All Click

Last year, I introduced plant parts with this Parts of a Plant Informational Craft Writing activity. The results? My students not only loved creating their flowers, but they were also using vocabulary like "stem" and "soil" weeks later during centers and read-alouds.

It’s a printable resource that includes:

• A simple, visual flower craft for labeling plant parts

• Clearly labeled pieces for water, sun, soil, stem, leaves, and flower

• A writing page with lines designed for young writers

• Kid-friendly images and easy-to-cut pieces

• Perfect for bulletin boards, science notebooks, or spring science units

You can use it in a whole group lesson, science center, or even as an assessment tool. Best of all? It's low-prep and print-and-go!

🌻 Ready to Try This in Your Classroom?

Give your students a chance to learn, label, and love the plant parts this season.
👉 Grab the Parts of a Plant Craft and Writing Activity here!
It’s simple, engaging, and guaranteed to brighten up your science lessons—and your classroom walls!