Tomato Life Cycle and Parts of a Tomato Plant Printable and hands on activities (2024)

In this post, we will explore the fascinating world of tomato plants tailored specifically for children. From understanding the life cycle of a tomato plant to learning about its various parts and characteristics, young readers will discover the wonders of nature through engaging and educational printable materials. We will dive into the different types of tomatoes, sparking curiosity and a deeper appreciation for this versatile and delicious fruit. With colorful visuals and interesting facts, this printable resource aims to captivate young minds and cultivate a love for gardening and nature.

About gardening with kids the Montessori way

Gardening with kids the Montessori way is a great way to engage children in hands-on learning. Montessori emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting the natural world, and gardening provides a perfect opportunity for children to connect with nature. Children can learn about plant anatomy, biology, and the cycles of growth and decay. Additionally, they develop practical skills such as planting, watering and harvesting. Montessori gardening encourages children’s independence and self-confidence, as they take responsibility for their plants and observe the results of their efforts. Overall, gardening can be a fun and rewarding experience for children of all ages.

Getting children to grow their food even if it’s just in a plant pot is one of the best ways to get them excited about nourishing their developing bodies with nutritious vegetables. If planting tomatoes with your students is on your to-do list this May, I invite you to download this new freebie with tomato life cycle and parts of a tomato plant posters. Children will work on their sequencing skills, and practice tracing and coloring activities that prepare little hands for writing and help to improve fine motor.

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When exploring gardening with your children you might like to give some of these hands-on activities a go:

1. Watch a video about gardening and plant life cycles. Sew plant life cycle.
2. Prepare a vegetable salad with ingredients of the children’s choice.
3. Explore the food pyramid and gather examples of everyday foods and treats for children to sort.
4. Invite the students to cut up a tomato, and gather magnifying glasses, paper, and pencils for children to explore the seeds and record their observations.
5. Make pizza from scratch.

tomato Life Cycle

Tomatoes have a relatively short life cycle compared to other plants. They generally take between 50 to 90 days to reach maturity, depending on the variety and growing conditions. The life cycle begins with a seed planted in the soil. Within a few days, a small shoot emerges from the soil. As the plant grows, leaves form and stems begin to develop. Tiny yellow flowers soon appear, which later give way to small green fruits. With time, the green fruit ripens and becomes red or yellow, ready to be harvested. Once the fruit is harvested, the plant’s life cycle ends and begins again with new seeds.

About Planting Tomatoes

Planting tomatoes in a classroom can be a wonderful hands-on learning experience for students. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to plant tomatoes in a Montessori classroom:

Step 1: Gather Materials

• Tomato seeds or seedlings
• Small pots or containers
• Potting soil
• Watering can or spray bottle
• Labels or markers
• Garden tools (shovel, rake, watering can)
• Sunlight or grow lights

Step 2: Prepare the Pots

• Fill the pots or containers with potting soil, leaving some space at the top.
• Moisten the soil slightly by watering it before planting the seeds or seedlings.

Step 3: Planting Seeds or Seedlings

• If using seeds, follow the instructions on the seed packet for planting depth and spacing. Plant one or two seeds per pot.
• If using seedlings, gently remove them from their containers and plant them in the center of each pot.

Step 4: Watering and Labeling

• Water the newly planted seeds or seedlings gently with a watering can or spray bottle, being careful not to overwater.
• Label each pot with the type of tomato plant that was planted and the date of planting.

Step 5: Care and Maintenance

• Place the pots in a sunny spot with plenty of natural light, or use grow lights to provide artificial light.
• Water the plants regularly, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.
• Monitor the growth of the plants and make observations with the students as they sprout and grow.

Step 6: Observations and Learning

• Encourage students to observe and document the growth of their tomato plants, noting changes in the plants and recording their observations in a journal or notebook.
• Discuss the life cycle of a tomato plant, the parts of a tomato plant, and the different types of tomatoes with the students as the plants grow.

By following these steps, students will have the opportunity to learn about plant life cycles, gardening, and botany in a hands-on and engaging way in the classroom.

Tomato Printable

You are invited to download the tomato plant pack – learning printables for preschool, kindergarten and grade 1 students. Use this resource with clear true-to-life images and photographs to create hands-on botany activities for your students. Children will learn stages of the tomato plant life cycle, and parts of the tomato plant, practice sequencing skills and work to improve their concentration and fine motor skills.

These resources are designed to engage and educate children about the tomato plant life cycle, parts of a tomato plant, types of tomatoes, and tomato plant characteristics.

The 3-part cards, information cards, and student booklets provide hands-on and interactive learning experiences, making complex concepts easy to understand and retain. Students will enjoy exploring the stages of a tomato plant’s life cycle, identifying the different parts of a plant, discovering various types of tomatoes, and learning about the characteristics that make tomato plants unique.
These printables are perfect for enhancing lessons on plant science, botany, and healthy eating in the classroom. Inspire curiosity, promote hands-on learning, and foster a love for nature with these tomato plant Montessori printables!

HERE IS WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Tomato plant life cycle diagram
• Tomato plant life cycle 3 part cards
• Tomato plant life cycle coloring, cutting, and pasting worksheet (color and blackline)
• Tomato plant life cycle tracing strips
• Tomato plant life cycle information cards
• Parts of the Tomato Plant diagram
• Parts of the Tomato Plant diagram minus labels
• Parts of the Tomato Plant labels
• Parts of the Tomato Plant information cards
• Parts of the Tomato Plant tracing & independent writing worksheet
• Parts of the Tomato Plant student booklet (independent writing)
• Types of Tomatoes 3 part cards
• Types of Tomatoes information cards
• Tomato Plant characteristics color poster
• Tomato Plant characteristics black line poster
• Tomato Plant characteristics mat
• Tomato Plant characteristics color cards
• Tomato Plant characteristics tracing & coloring student booklet
• Tomato Plant characteristics student booklet
• Tomato Plant information poster
• My Book About Tomato Plants
• Tomato Plant anatomy diagram adjective activity.

Age:Preschool ages 3 – 8 years

Subjects and uses in the classroom: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Gardening, Nature Table, Science Centers, Fine motor, Prewriting, Botany Shelves

Recommendations:

Parts of a tomato plant – Gather books on the plant life cycle and gardening for children to explore. Print posters and label cards on cardstock and laminate. Cut individual label cards.

Attach clear velcro to the poster without labels and label cards. Velco will come in especially handy if you decide to take your work outdoors. Having an additional challenge for little fingers is always welcomed when working with young children!

Present the poster – name all parts and invite the students to share their thoughts on the various functions of each part. Then read each label and invite the student to match it to the corresponding part of the tomato plant.

Life cycle poster – print on cardstock and laminate. Present all stages of the tomato plant life cycle. Invite the children to retell them or tell their own story that features all the stages.

Tomato plant life cycle 3- part cards – Print on cardstock and laminate if you wish to preserve colors and card quality for future use. Place picture cards in a column and invite the children to match the picture to the picture and the word to the word.

Tomato plant life cycle line art – supply scissors, glue, and coloring pencils. Invite the student to color and cut cards and glue them into the correct sequence.

Tomato plant tracing and coloring worksheets – print on cardstock and laminate. Supply an erasable pen. Invite the child to trace the words and color corresponding images. Alternatively, print pages on regular printing paper and slide them into plastic pockets.

Other resources to help you explore gardening with your students

Leaf Shapes 3 Part Cards Blackline Student Worksheets

Leaf Shapes – 3-part card activity and handwriting sheets. The printable features photographs and clipart.

There are two printables included with this resource. You can choose which is more suitable in your classroom:

1) Leaf shapes 3-part cards, definition cards, and a student booklet with a black and white line for coloring and independent handwriting practice.
This printable features clipart images and photographs of 14 leaf shapes.

2) Leaf shapes learning mats:
2 work mats with 7 types of leaf shapes each (first mat: reniform, spatulate, obcordate, sagittate, hastate, cordate, aciculate; second mat: orbiculate, linear, deltoid, ovate, lanceolate, elliptical, obovate ).
2 work mats with description cards.
14 picture and 14 label cards.
student printouts with black and white photographs, print, cursive tracing fonts and blank for coloring and practicing handwriting.
The printable is suitable for children aged 3-7

Purchase this resource here or find it on Teachers Pay Teachers

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