Marie,
Growing cress seeds is popular activity, and separating the concepts of germination vs growth is structured in the curriculum where Infants are expected to “explore conditions for growth of bulbs and seeds” and 1st and 2nd class extend this with “explore, through the growing of seeds, the
need of plants for water and heat (design, make or adapt a suitable container for growing seeds) & investigate how plants respond to light”
I’d be very clear in distinguishing between what is needed to get a seed to start to grow (germination) vs keeping the plant growing once it has sprouted.
I used to mark Junior Cycle science and many of those students were still confused about germination vs growth.