Free textbooks › Year 2 Science textbook
Primary Science · Year 2Chapter 5 · Seeds and bulbs
Year 2 · Chapter 5

Seeds and bulbs

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • Say that a seed is the start of a new plant
  • Name the stages a bean plant goes through, in order
  • Say that a bulb stores food and grows roots first, then a shoot
  • Measure a plant with a ruler and record it in a table
  • Never eat a seed or a bulb, and wash my hands after soil

You should already know

  • Living, dead and never alive (Year 2, Chapter 2)
  • Food chains (Year 2, Chapter 4)
  • Parts of a plant and the seasons (Year 1 Science)

Where this leads

  • What plants need (Year 2, Chapter 6)
  • Animals and their young (Year 2, Chapter 7)

National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 1 science, Year 2. Content: Observe and describe how seeds grow into mature plants, Observe and describe how bulbs grow into mature plants, Name the stages of growth: seed, seedling, young plant, adult plant, flower, and pod or seed, Measure and record how a plant grows over time.

Exercise P  Do you remember?

1
FIn which season do many plants start to flower in the UK: spring or winter? Write the word.
2
FWhich part of a plant grows above the ground and holds up the leaves: the stem or the root? Write the word.
3
FIs a ball living, dead or never alive? Write the word.
4
PSA tree has 4 flowers. 1 flower falls off. How many flowers are left? Write the number.
5
FCount the leaves on this small plant. Write the number.
5.1

Seeds grow into new plants

Year 2
Observe and describe how seeds grow into mature plants, A seed is the start of a new plant
Video lesson: Seeds grow into new plantsComing soon
In a garden, a seed can grow into a new plant.

A seed is the start of a new plant. Most plants start life as a seed.

Inside a seed there is a tiny plant, waiting to grow. The seed also has a small store of food. The food helps the new plant to grow before it has leaves.

Seeds are made by flowering plants. After the flower, a pod or a fruit grows around the seeds. A bean pod can hold several seeds.

a bean seed
a bean pod with seeds
A bean seed, and a bean pod with its seeds inside.

Key ideas

  • A seed is the start of a new plant.
  • A seed has a tiny plant inside.
  • A seed has a small store of food.
  • Seeds are made by flowering plants.
Worked example 5.1.1
Is a bean seed the start of a new plant? Write yes or no.

Method. Think about what a seed does.

  1. Look at the seed. A seed holds a tiny plant, so it can grow.
    tiny plant inside
  2. Write the answer. A seed is the start of a new plant.
    yes
  3. Write the answer.
    yes

Check. A seed starts a new plant. ✓

Watch out. Only a seed with a tiny plant inside can grow into a plant.

Worked example 5.1.2
How many seeds are in this bean pod? Count each one once.

Method. Count the seeds once each. Touch each one as you count it.

  1. Count them one at a time. Say each number as you touch one.
    1 2 3 4 5
  2. Read the last number. The last number is how many there are.
    5
  3. Write the answer.
    5

Check. Count them again from the other end. You get 5 again. ✓

Watch out. Move each one to one side as you count it, so you do not count it twice.

Worked example 5.1.3
Ali says a seed is a baby plant. Is Ali right? Write yes or no.

Method. Read what Ali says and check it.

  1. Read Ali’s idea. Ali thinks a seed is a small plant that is not grown yet.
    baby plant
  2. Check the seed. A seed has a tiny plant inside, ready to grow.
    tiny plant inside
  3. Write the answer.
    yes

Check. Ali is right: a seed is a baby plant that is not grown yet. ✓

Watch out. A seed is the start of a plant, and the tiny plant inside grows bigger.

Watch out

Watch out: a seed is what grows into a plant. The fruit or the pod around the seeds is not the seed.

Try it at home (with a grown-up). With a grown-up, soak a dry bean in a cup of water overnight. In the morning, look at the bean. Can you see a bump or a crack? Draw what you see. Do not eat the bean. Wash your hands afterwards.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “What do you think is inside this seed?” Let your child touch the soaked bean gently, and look at it with a magnifying glass if you have one.

Exercise 5A  What a seed is

1
FIs a seed the start of a new plant? Write yes or no.
2
FFill the gap: A new plant often starts from a ______. Write one word.
3
FWhich is the start of a new plant: a seed or a leaf? Write the word.
seed
leaf
4
FTrue or false: a seed has a tiny plant inside it. Write true or false.
5
FA seed has a small store of ______ for the young plant. Write one word.
6
FSeeds are made by which part of a plant: the flower or the stem? Write the word.
7
FHow many seeds are in this bean pod? Count each one once.
8
PSMia has 6 seeds. She plants 4 of them. How many seeds are left? Write the number.
9
PSSam plants 5 seeds. 2 of them do not grow. How many seeds grow? Write the number.
10
RAli says a seed is a baby plant. Is Ali right? Write yes or no.
11
RWhy does a seed need a store of food? Write one reason in a few words.
12
PSWorking scientifically. Predict: a dry bean is put in a glass of water overnight. Will it get bigger? Write yes or no.
13
FTrue or false: you can eat a bean seed from the garden. Write true or false.
14
RExplain why a seed is not the same as a stone. Write one reason in a few words.
5.2

The stages of growth

Year 2
Name the stages of growth of a bean plant, in order, Flowers come before the pod and seeds
Video lesson: The stages of growthComing soon
In a park, plants grow through several stages.

A plant grows in stages. A bean plant goes through these stages, in this order:

1. a seed, the start of the plant

2. a seedling, with a shoot and its first leaves

3. a young plant, with more leaves

4. an adult plant, tall and full of leaves

5. a flower

6. a pod with new seeds inside, which can grow into the next plant

seed
seedling
young plant
adult plant
flower
pod with seeds
The stages of a bean plant, from the seed to the pod. Read them from left to right.

Key ideas

  • A plant grows in stages, from seed to adult.
  • A seedling has its first leaves.
  • A flower comes before the pod and the seeds.
  • The pod holds new seeds for the next plant.
Worked example 5.2.1
Which stage comes first: the seed or the flower? Write the word.
seed
flower

Method. Look at the order of the stages.

  1. Check seed. The seed is the start of the plant, so it comes first.
    seed
  2. Check flower. The flower comes after the adult plant, so it comes later.
    flower
  3. Write the answer.
    seed

Check. The seed comes first. ✓

Watch out. Start from the seed and go in order.

Worked example 5.2.2
Which picture has more leaves: the seedling or the young plant? Write the word.
A
B

Method. Count the leaves on each picture.

  1. Count picture A. The seedling has 2 leaves.
    A: 2
  2. Count picture B. The young plant has 3 leaves.
    B: 3
  3. Write the answer.
    young plant

Check. The young plant has more leaves. ✓

Watch out. Count each picture before you choose.

Worked example 5.2.3
Which stage makes the new seeds: the flower or the seedling? Write the word.

Method. Think about which stage comes before the pod.

  1. Check flower. The flower comes before the pod, and the pod holds the seeds.
    flower
  2. Check seedling. A seedling is young and has no flower yet.
    seedling
  3. Write the answer.
    flower

Check. The flower comes before the new seeds. ✓

Watch out. The pod grows after the flower.

Watch out

Watch out: a seedling is not a seed. A seedling has a shoot and leaves coming out of the seed.

Try it at home (with a grown-up). With a grown-up, look at a plant in the garden or park. Can you find its leaves, a flower or a pod? Count the leaves. Do not pick any flowers and do not eat any seeds. Wash your hands afterwards.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “Is this plant a seedling, a young plant or an adult plant?” Let your child count the leaves and say which stage the plant is at.

Exercise 5B  The stages of growth

1
FWhich picture shows the seed? Write the letter.
A
B
C
D
E
F
2
FWhich picture shows the flower? Write the letter.
A
B
C
D
E
F
3
FWhich picture shows the pod with seeds? Write the letter.
A
B
C
D
E
F
4
FWhich picture shows the seedling? Write the letter.
A
B
C
D
E
F
5
FWhich picture shows the adult plant? Write the letter.
A
B
C
D
E
F
6
FWhat stage comes just after the seedling? Write the words.
7
FWhat stage comes just before the flower? Write the words.
8
FWhich comes last: picture A, a seedling, or picture B, a pod? Write the letter.
A
B
9
FHow many leaves are on the young plant? Count each one once.
10
PSHow many more leaves does the adult plant have than the young plant? Write the number.
young plant
adult plant
11
FTrue or false: a flower comes before the pod on a bean plant. Write true or false.
12
PSWorking scientifically. A bean plant has no flowers yet. Will it make a pod with seeds yet? Write yes or no.
13
RExplain why a seedling needs its leaves. Write one reason in a few words.
5.3

Bulbs grow into plants

Year 2
Observe and describe how bulbs grow into mature plants, A bulb stores food, then roots and a shoot grow
Video lesson: Bulbs grow into plantsComing soon
In a garden, some flowers grow from bulbs.

A bulb looks a bit like a small onion. A bulb is not a seed.

A bulb stores food inside it. The food is for the new plant to use as it grows.

First, roots grow down from the bottom of the bulb. Then a green shoot grows up from the top.

In spring, the shoot grows into a plant with a flower. A tulip grows from a bulb.

bulb
roots grow down
shoot grows up
A bulb grows: first the roots go down, then the shoot grows up.

Key ideas

  • A bulb is not a seed. It stores food.
  • Roots grow down first, from the bottom.
  • A shoot grows up from the top of the bulb.
  • A tulip grows from a bulb and has a flower.
Worked example 5.3.1
Is a bulb a seed? Write yes or no.

Method. Think about what a bulb is.

  1. Look at the bulb. A bulb is a plant part that stores food.
    stores food
  2. Check the answer. A seed is different, so a bulb is not a seed.
    no
  3. Write the answer.
    no

Check. A bulb is not a seed. ✓

Watch out. Bulbs and seeds are different, even though both can grow into plants.

Worked example 5.3.2
Which grows down first from a bulb: the roots or the shoot? Write the word.

Method. Think about the order of growth.

  1. Check roots. Roots grow down from the bottom of the bulb first.
    roots
  2. Check shoot. The shoot grows up from the top after the roots.
    shoot
  3. Write the answer.
    roots

Check. The roots grow down first. ✓

Watch out. Roots go down into the soil, the shoot goes up.

Worked example 5.3.3
Which flower grows from a bulb: the tulip or the daisy? Write the word.
tulip
daisy

Method. Think about which flower grows from a bulb.

  1. Check tulip. A tulip grows from a bulb and flowers in spring.
    tulip
  2. Check daisy. A daisy is a flower that grows from a seed, not a bulb.
    daisy
  3. Write the answer.
    tulip

Check. A tulip grows from a bulb. ✓

Watch out. Bulbs grow into flowers such as tulips and daffodils.

Watch out

Watch out: bulbs are not food. Some bulbs, such as daffodil bulbs, are poisonous. Never eat a bulb.

Try it at home (with a grown-up). With a grown-up, plant one tulip or hyacinth bulb in a small pot of compost, in the autumn. Put the pointed end up. Water it a little. Check it once a week. Do not eat any bulb. Wash your hands afterwards.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “Which way will the shoot grow?” Let your child predict first, then check each week. Every planting needs a grown-up.

Exercise 5C  Bulbs and what they need

1
FIs a bulb a seed? Write yes or no.
2
FA bulb stores ______ inside it for the new plant. Write one word.
3
FWhich grows out of the top of a bulb: the roots or the shoot? Write the word.
4
FWhich grows down from the bottom of a bulb: the roots or the shoot? Write the word.
5
FWhich flower grows from a bulb: the tulip or the daisy? Write the word.
tulip
daisy
6
PSSam has 5 bulbs in a bag. He plants 3 of them. How many bulbs are left? Write the number.
7
PSElla puts 2 bulbs in one pot and 4 bulbs in another pot. How many bulbs in all? Write the number.
pot 1
pot 2
8
FWhich letter shows the bulb before any roots grow? Write the letter.
A
B
C
9
PSWorking scientifically. A bulb is planted with its pointed tip up. Which way will the shoot grow: up or down? Write the word.
10
FTrue or false: a bulb is safe to eat. Write true or false.
11
RBen says a daffodil bulb is a tasty snack. Is Ben right? Write yes or no.
12
FGardeners plant tulip bulbs in which season: autumn or spring? Write the word.
13
RExplain why a bulb has food stored inside it. Write one reason in a few words.
14
RAli says a bulb is just a seed that has been planted. Is Ali right? Write yes or no.
5.4

Watching and recording growth

Year 2
Measure and record how a plant grows over time, Use a table to keep the results in order
Video lesson: Watching and recording growthComing soon
In a classroom, pupils measure and record how a plant grows.

Scientists observe closely. They look, measure and write down what they see.

To measure a plant, use a ruler. Start at 0 and measure to the top of the stem. Write the length in centimetres, or cm.

A record table keeps the results in order. Each row shows one week and one height.

WeekHeight (cm)
Week 10
Week 22
Week 35
Week 49
Week 512
A record table. The height of a bean plant, in each week.
051015Week 10Week 22Week 35Week 49Week 512Height of the bean plant (cm)
The same results as a bar chart. Each bar is one week.

Key ideas

  • Measure from 0 to the top of the plant.
  • Write each height in cm, with its week.
  • A table keeps the results in order.
  • Measure at the same time each week.
Worked example 5.4.1
Look at the table. What is the height in Week 3? Write the number.
WeekHeight (cm)
Week 10
Week 22
Week 35
Week 49
Week 512

Method. Find the row for Week 3.

  1. Find the row. Week 3 is the third row of the table.
    Week 3 row
  2. Read the height. The height in Week 3 is 5 cm.
    5 cm
  3. Write the answer.
    5

Check. The height in Week 3 is 5 cm. ✓

Watch out. Read along the row, not down the table.

Worked example 5.4.2
Which week has the tallest plant? Write the week.
WeekHeight (cm)
Week 10
Week 22
Week 35
Week 49
Week 512

Method. Compare the numbers. The biggest number is the most.

  1. Write down each number. Put each number next to its name.
    Week 1 0, Week 2 2, Week 3 5, Week 4 9, Week 5 12
  2. Find the biggest number. 12 is the biggest number.
    biggest: 12
  3. Write the answer. Week 5 has 12.
    Week 5

Check. Every other number is smaller than 12. ✓

Watch out. Check every number, not only the first two.

Worked example 5.4.3
The stem reaches the mark for 4 on the ruler. How many centimetres is it? Write the number.
012345678910

Method. Find where the stem ends on the ruler.

  1. Start at 0. Line up the start of the stem with the 0 on the ruler.
    0
  2. Read the mark where the stem ends. The stem ends at the mark for 4.
    4
  3. Write the answer. The stem is this many centimetres long.
    4

Check. Count along the ruler from 0 to 4. You get 4 again. ✓

Watch out. Start at 0, not at 1. The end of the stem shows the length.

Watch out

Watch out: start measuring at 0, not at 1. The end of the stem shows the height.

Try it at home (with a grown-up). With a grown-up, grow a bean seedling in a clear cup, with damp paper towel and a bean pushed against the glass. Each week, measure it with a ruler and write the height in a table. Do not eat the bean. Wash your hands afterwards.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Help your child put the ruler at 0 every week, and measure at the same time. Ask: “Is it taller than last week?”

Exercise 5D  Measuring and recording

1
FWhat is the height in Week 2? Write the number.
WeekHeight (cm)
Week 10
Week 2?
Week 35
Week 49
Week 512
2
FWhat is the height in Week 5? Write the number.
WeekHeight (cm)
Week 10
Week 22
Week 35
Week 49
Week 5?
3
FWhich week has the shortest plant? Write the week.
WeekHeight (cm)
Week 10
Week 22
Week 35
Week 49
Week 512
4
FWhich week has the tallest plant? Write the week.
WeekHeight (cm)
Week 10
Week 22
Week 35
Week 49
Week 512
5
PSHow much did the plant grow from Week 4 to Week 5? Write the number.
WeekHeight (cm)
Week 10
Week 22
Week 35
Week 49
Week 512
6
PSHow much did the plant grow from Week 2 to Week 4? Write the number.
WeekHeight (cm)
Week 10
Week 22
Week 35
Week 49
Week 512
7
FHow many centimetres long is this stem? Write the number.
012345678910
8
FRead the ruler. Where does the stem end? Write the number of cm.
012345678910
9
PSThe stem is lined up with the ruler from 0. What length is it? Write the number.
012345678910
10
PSBen’s plant is 6 cm tall. Sam’s plant is 4 cm tall. How many centimetres taller is Ben’s plant? Write the number.
11
PSWorking scientifically. Why should we measure at the same time each week? Write one word: fair or fast.
12
PSWorking scientifically. Predict: will the plant be taller in Week 6? Write yes or no.
WeekHeight (cm)
Week 10
Week 22
Week 35
Week 49
Week 512
13
RBen says the plant grew 5 cm from Week 3 to Week 4. Is Ben right? Write yes or no.
WeekHeight (cm)
Week 10
Week 22
Week 35
Week 49
Week 512
5.5

Seeds and bulbs: comparing

Year 2
Compare seeds and bulbs: both grow into plants, Seeds and bulbs start in different ways
Video lesson: Seeds and bulbs: comparingComing soon
A garden shop sells seeds and bulbs.

Seeds and bulbs can both grow into new plants. They start in different ways.

A seed holds a tiny plant and a small store of food. A bulb already has a shoot inside, and it stores food.

Both grow roots first, and then a shoot. Both can grow into a plant with a flower.

Gardeners plant tulip bulbs in autumn. They flower in spring.

seed
bulb
tulip
A seed, a bulb and a tulip. Seeds and bulbs can both grow into plants.

Key ideas

  • Seeds and bulbs can both grow into plants.
  • A seed holds a tiny plant inside.
  • A bulb stores food and looks like an onion.
  • Both grow roots first, then a shoot.
Worked example 5.5.1
Do seeds and bulbs both grow into plants? Write yes or no.
seed
bulb

Method. Think about what seeds and bulbs do.

  1. Think about seeds. Seeds grow into new plants.
    seed: plant
  2. Think about bulbs. Bulbs grow into plants that flower.
    bulb: plant
  3. Write the answer.
    yes

Check. Seeds and bulbs can both grow into plants. ✓

Watch out. Both are a start of a plant, in different ways.

Worked example 5.5.2
Which one looks like a small onion: a seed or a bulb? Write the word.
seed
bulb

Method. Think about which one has papery layers.

  1. Check seed. A seed is a small oval with a tiny plant inside.
    seed
  2. Check bulb. A bulb has papery layers, like a small onion.
    bulb
  3. Write the answer.
    bulb

Check. A bulb looks like a small onion. ✓

Watch out. Seeds are small ovals, not layered.

Worked example 5.5.3
Gardeners plant tulip bulbs in which season: autumn or spring? Write the word.

Method. Think about when the bulbs go in the soil.

  1. Check autumn. Tulip bulbs go in the soil in autumn, and flower in spring.
    autumn
  2. Check spring. Spring is when the tulips flower, not when the bulbs are planted.
    spring
  3. Write the answer.
    autumn

Check. Tulip bulbs are planted in autumn. ✓

Watch out. The bulbs stay in the soil over winter.

Watch out

Watch out: a seed is not a bulb, even though both can grow into plants. Learn the difference.

Try it at home (with a grown-up). With a grown-up, look at seed packets and bulbs at home, or in a garden centre. Sort them into two groups: seeds and bulbs. Do not open the packets to taste anything. Wash your hands afterwards.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “Is this a seed or a bulb? How do you know?” Let your child explain the difference in their own words.

Exercise 5E  Comparing seeds and bulbs

1
FWhich one looks like a small onion: a seed or a bulb? Write the word.
seed
bulb
2
FDo seeds grow into new plants? Write yes or no.
3
FWhich one stores food for the new plant: a bulb or a leaf? Write the word.
bulb
leaf
4
FTulips flower in which season: spring or autumn? Write the word.
5
FName a plant that grows from a bulb. Write one word.
6
PSIn a tray there are 4 seeds and 3 bulbs. How many things are in the tray? Write the number.
seeds
bulbs
7
FIn the same tray, how many are seeds? Count each seed once.
8
FIs it safe to put a bulb in your mouth? Write yes or no.
9
PSWorking scientifically. Plan a test to compare a seed and a bulb. What would you measure each week? Write one word.
seed
bulb
10
RAli says seeds and bulbs can never grow into plants. Is Ali right? Write yes or no.
seed
bulb
11
RExplain how you can tell a bulb from a seed. Write one reason in a few words.
seed
bulb
12
FWhich grows first from a seed: the roots or the shoot? Write the word.
13
PSElla has 6 seeds and 2 bulbs. How many more seeds than bulbs? Write the number.
seeds
bulbs
14
RExplain why a bulb can have a head start on growing. Write one reason in a few words.

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
SeedThe start of a new plant. It holds a tiny plant and a store of food.
StagesSeed, seedling, young plant, adult plant, flower, then a pod with seeds.
BulbA plant part that stores food. Roots grow down first, then a shoot grows up.
Growth recordMeasure from 0 with a ruler, in cm, and write each height in a table.
SafetyNever eat a seed or a bulb. Wash your hands after touching soil.

Can you…?

  • I can say that a seed is the start of a new plant
  • I can name the stages of a bean plant, in order
  • I can say that a bulb stores food and grows roots first
  • I can measure a plant with a ruler and record it in a table
  • I never eat a seed or a bulb, and I wash my hands after soil

Key terms

seed
the start of a new plant, with a tiny plant and a store of food inside
seedling
a very young plant with a shoot and its first leaves
young plant
a plant with more leaves, growing bigger
adult plant
a tall plant with many leaves, not yet flowering
pod
the fruit of a bean plant, with seeds inside it
bulb
a plant part that looks like a small onion and stores food
shoot
the green part that grows up out of the soil
roots
the parts that grow down into the soil and take in water
centimetre (cm)
a unit of length used to measure a plant with a ruler

Exercise 5Z  Check-up

1
What is the first stage of a bean plant? Write one word.
2
Which stage comes just after the seedling? Write the words.
3
Which picture shows the adult plant? Write the letter.
A
B
C
D
E
F
4
How many leaves are on the seedling? Count each one once.
5
What comes out of a pod? Write the word.
6
Which grows down from the bottom of a planted bulb first: the roots or the shoot? Write the word.
7
Measure the stem. How many centimetres long is it? Write the number.
012345678910
8
In which week was the plant 9 cm tall? Write the week.
WeekHeight (cm)
Week 10
Week 22
Week 35
Week 49
Week 512
9
Mia has 8 seeds and plants 3 of them. How many seeds are left? Write the number.
10
Explain why we use the same ruler each week. Write one reason in a few words.

Total 14 marks. Allow about 14 minutes.

Exercise 5X  End-of-chapter quiz

1
FWhat is the first stage of a bean plant? Write one word.[1 mark]
2
FWhich stage comes just before the flower: the seedling or the adult plant? Write the words.[1 mark]
3
FCount the seeds in this bean pod. Count each one once.[1 mark]
4
FCount the leaves on the young plant. Count each one once.[1 mark]
5
FWhich grows up out of the top of a bulb: the roots or the shoot? Write the word.[1 mark]
6
PSElla plants 3 bulbs in one pot and 3 bulbs in another pot. How many bulbs in all? Write the number.[2 marks]
pot 1
pot 2
7
FMeasure the stem. How many centimetres long is it? Write the number.[1 mark]
012345678910
8
RBen says a daffodil bulb is safe to eat. Is Ben right? Write yes or no.[2 marks]
9
PSHow much did the plant grow from Week 1 to Week 3? Write the number.[2 marks]
WeekHeight (cm)
Week 10
Week 22
Week 35
Week 49
Week 512
10
RExplain why a flower comes before the pod. Write one reason in a few words.[2 marks]
← Chapter 4: Food chainsChapter 6: What plants need →

Want a tutor to go through this chapter with your child?

Same tutor, same time, every week, live online. The first session is a free introduction.

💬 Book a Free Intro on WhatsApp
Chat on WhatsApp